Palm Villa - RBL 144 [1920-1982] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Palm Villa - RBL 144 [1920-1982]

Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1920-01-01
Date Place demolished: 
1982-01-01

Palm Villa was originally owned by MK LO, leased in 1919.  He and his brother MW, started the law firm Lo & Lo

During the Japanese invasion of 1941 the Palm Villa was used as a defensive position.

MK Lo died in 1959.

MK's brother MW Lo, appears to have given his cousin Bruce Lee permission to use the tennis courts to film "Enter the Dragon". 

The tennis courts of Palm Villa were redeveloped into Pacific View.

Mme. Sze
|
 
 
 
Ho Kom Tong
|
Robert Ho Tung
|
 
Lo Cheung Shiu
|
Grace Ho
|
Victoria Ho
 
=
 
MK Lo
 
MW Lo
 
Bruce Lee        

Photos that show this place

Comments

Palm Villa was one of the major locations where Hong Kong defenders met up during the December defence of the colony in 1941.

"Palm Villa was one of the major locations where Hong Kong defenders met up during the December defence of the colony in 1941".

Wonder where this came from?

I'm just wondering what the ownership of the estate was after MK died. I'm assuming it became the property of his various kin (6 children with his wife, Victoria)?

According to Eric Peter Ho's book. The Lo's also bought Stanley Lodge in 1936.

 

There is a 1955 Deed of Settlement in the PRO.  Will have to go there and take a look.

philk, I too am curious about the ownership of Palm Villa and the Lo family business interests in general.  I rarely read much about them these days.  Are they still major private property owners in HK?

Part of Palm Villa - RBL 144
Part of Palm Villa - RBL 144
Part of Palm Villa - RBL 144

Are those recent?

Yes, the structure is still there, thanks!

No access to public then?

you can bushwhack through the trees to get there. It sits on the outside of the American Club grounds. A little known fact about this structure is that it was used as a dressing room by Bruce Lee and co-star Ahna Capri during the filming of Enter the Dragon. It's a shame someone has put a large hole in the side.

I have shifted the marker now. 

philk, 

Thanks for your reply. Actually, I have been there a couple of days ago. 

Is the stairs beside American Club is blocked recently ?

I would like to visit the old structure on Saturday.

The easiest way to access it is to descend from Tai Tam Road through the man-made slopes east of Pacific View to the pebble beach, and then through a rather clear footpath west of the beach to the terrace of the ruin.

They illegally locked the gate and put up an intimidating  sign.

However you can easily jump the fence there at TynTam road.  Lots of people are doing that.