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1950s Wanchai Road
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Submitted by Admin
Date picture taken (may be approximate):
Sunday, January 1, 1950
Gallery:
Connections:
- 1950s Wanchai Road shows Place Junction of Fleming, Johnston, and Wanchai Roads [????- ]
- 1950s Wanchai Road shows Place No. 2 Police Station / Salvation Army Building, Johnston Rd, Wanchai [1868-c.1962]
- 1950s Wanchai Road shows Street Johnston Road [1851- ]
Comments
1910s Praya East (Wanchai Road)
The building on the corner of Praya East and Wanchai Road served as a Police Station.
Police Station
Wanchai Police Station
The current Wanchai Police Station (aka No. 2 Police Station) on Gloucester Road was occupied in 1932 after the completion of the Praya East Reclamation in 1929.
More information on the old numbering system of police stations on Hong Kong Island can be viewd on these links:
http://sc.info.gov.hk/gb/www.police.gov.hk/offbeat/780/eng/f05.htm
Old Police station
I think the old building at the junction of Wanchai Road and Johnston Road was used by the Kempetei during the Japanese occupation. On the triangular piece of land right next to the old building was erected a large pill-box in which a sentry stood all day, staring westward down Johnston Road.
Re: Old Police Station
The pillbox was situated at the eastern junction of Johnston and Hennessy Roads near the petrol station as seen here: http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/agsphoto&C...
Old Police Station
Thanks, moddsey. I apologise for misleading you. The large pillbox was indeed at the eastern junction of Johnston and Hennessy Roads, and was built as part of the defence. I was referring to a very solid looking concrete structure put up by the Japanese next to the old Police Station at the junction of Johnston and Wanchai Roads. It was apparently intended as a sentry post, but was far more substantial than a normal sentry box. That is why I (incorrectly) referred to it as a pillbox. A sentry would normally be on duty there, staring solemnly down Johnston Road, and passers-by were not encouraged to linger.