Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park [1947-1997] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park [1947-1997]

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Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2010-10-14 20:44
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
c.1947-06-01 (Month, Day are approximate)
Date Place demolished: 
1997-03-31

An article on page 3 of the Hong Kong Sunday Herald, 1950-04-02, "Laichikok Amusement Park to be expanded" notes that the park first opened in the summer of 1947"

"It began, exclusively as a swimming pavilion where the numerous bathing pools became the main attraction. Boating is another popular recreation in the park, which also boasts of a skating rink and attractive kiosks for meals and refreshments."

It said the expansion project would be finished by August:

"The elaborate project involves the erection of two stage and cinema theatres—one in the open air—a floating dance floor and a Fair Playground with "wheel" rides, coasters and merry-go-rounds."

Thanks to moddsey for finding this article.

Demolition date taken from the Wikipedia article about this park.

Tags: 
Amusement park
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Photos that show this place

1947
1947
1950
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Comments

Submitted by Klaus on Wed, 2019-05-01 05:25.

More photos are on Flickr here.

Submitted by David on Sun, 2021-06-20 14:35.

This aerial photo was taken in 1947, about when the park was opened. I've marked the swimming pools in blue, roller-skating rink in purple, and pavilions in red. In the middle is a lake, with some small structure at its centre.

1947.1-HK-Maps-Lai-Chi-Kok-Aerial-views.jpg

 

This photo from the 1950s shows the southern swimming pool at the right, and just the corner of the northern pool at the left. A large shiny building, highlighted in yellow, has been added in the lake, and many other buildings have appeared on the opposite side of the lake.

1950s-Lai-Chi-Kok-Amusement-Park.jpg

 

A 1957 map shows a similar layout, and that the north section of the lake has been filled in.

1957-1-1-200-Lai-Chi-Kok-161-SE-B-(Ed-1957).jpg

 

Another aerial photo from 1963 shows many changes: the swimming pools, roller-skating rink, and most of the pavilions are gone, and it looks as though the rest of the lake has been filled in.

1963.2-HK-Maps-Lai-Chi-Kok-Aerial-views.jpg

Submitted by Andrew Suddaby on Mon, 2021-06-21 04:48.

Hi David,

Interesting photographs.  The large shiny building that you mention looks very much like the 'ship-shaped' building that appears on one of Malcolm Trousdale's photographs.

Unusual building.
Unusual building., by Malcolm Trousdale

  As far as I can see the pools that you have highlighted in blue on the map don't seem to have any sign of a springboard or the distinctive wall and roof(?) with the bamboo(?) growing through a hole in it.  I think that Peter's memory is accurate and that the springboard girl pool was at one of the houses way up on the hillside.  Andrew