Temporary Library Section, Old City Hall [1933-1949] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Temporary Library Section, Old City Hall [1933-1949]

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Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-09-06 22:40
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1933-01-01
Date Place demolished: 
1949-02-28

If you look at this Hedda Morrison photo from 1946, there's an ugly little building about where City Hall used to stand. I assumed it was somehow a piece of the old building that escaped the demolition, but have since found it was built seperately.

Note the strange cutout in nearest corner of the building? I think that's the shape of City Hall's East Wing. So the little building was built in the City Hall courtyard, and wrapped around the east wing of City Hall. Here's the article that describes it (China Mail, 1936-09-24 , pg 6):

The section which is now used as the public library will not be affected at present, the demolition plans providing only for the removal of the eastern and northern block. The library section is a new Structure erected by the bank when they moved into City Hall.

I'm guessing dates:

  • 1933 construction, when HSBC demolished the West wing of the old City Hall
  • 1948 demolition, in time for Bank of China to be built
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Photos that show this place

1933
1935
1936
See more photos of this place

Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Mon, 2010-09-06 23:58.

Taken during or after the construction of the 3rd generation HSBC in 1935. Shows how the annexe and the City Hall looked like before the demolition of the latter. Note the waste ground of the Beaconsfield Arcade site.

1930s Queen's Road Central (eastern end)

 

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-09-09 10:01.

There it is!

Thanks Moddsey, that wraps it up nicely.

Submitted by 80sKid on Mon, 2011-12-05 15:14.

Looks like from the newspaper article we can give 1949 as demolition date

Submitted by David on Mon, 2011-12-05 16:21.

1949 it is!

Thanks, David