Bank of China Building / Central House / Kai Ming Building [1921-1980] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Bank of China Building / Central House / Kai Ming Building [1921-1980]

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Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2013-06-14 17:09
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1921-01-01
Date Place demolished: 
1980-01-01

Building on western corner of Duddell Street / Queen's Road Central (QRC) junction. When it was built this site was 4, QRC. In the 1960s the road was re-numbered and this site's address changed to 10, QRC.

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Photos that show this place

1925
1930
1941
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Comments

Submitted by David on Thu, 2014-04-10 21:32.

It's the first building on the left in this photo:

Central

Any information welcome.

Regards, David

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2014-04-11 04:43.

On a 1959 BOAC Street Map of Central, it is listed as Central House.

Submitted by David on Sat, 2014-04-12 09:53.

I did a search on its old address, 4 Queen's Road Central, (view online) that turns up some more names:

  • 1913 - Cheong Lee, Furniture
  • 1925 - China Bank Building
  • 1963, 1964 - Central House
  • 1994 - Beaconsfield House
I'll guess that the 1913 name refers to an earlier building on this site, and the 1994 name refers to a different site after the road was re-numbered. So maybe this was originally the China Bank Building, before they moved to the building next to HSBC post-WW2.

Submitted by moddsey on Wed, 2015-01-14 20:23.

HKGRO PWD Annual Reports

The previous building at 4 Queens Road Central was demolished in 1919 with a new one erected in 1921. It appears to have been known as the Bank of China Building.

The building at 6 Queen's Road Central was completed in 1922.

Submitted by David on Sun, 2014-04-13 15:24.

Thanks Moddsey, I've added in the completion date, and made a guess at 1980 for the demolition date, based on the next building on this site.

Please can you give a link to, or name of the HKGRO document you found this in? 

Regards, David

Submitted by David on Mon, 2015-01-12 14:58.

Thanks to Alan for pointing out that in the 1960s, maps show this as "Kai Ming Building", eg: http://gwulo.com/atom/12699

Regards, David

Submitted by David on Wed, 2015-01-14 14:23.

First I thought these were two names for the same building, but a post on Uwants (thanks to Jessica for the link) shows them as adjacent buildings: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204712365182434&set=p.10204712...

This 1959 map agrees, and also shows them as adjacent buildings, numbers 4 and 6 QRC:

1959 BOAC Street Map of Central

But then this 1960s map confuses things:

1960s Map of Central

It shows the outline of two buildings, but just a single name and number: "Kai Ming Building  HK-60". I'm not sure if the two buildings were combined into one around then, or if it is just careless numbering on the map. Does anyone remember the Central House name lasting into the 1960s?

Regards, David

Submitted by annelisec on Mon, 2016-09-12 13:13.
1950s Map of Central District
1950s Map of Central District, by Moddsey