Hotel Merlin [1962-1982]
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Submitted by Admin on Sun, 2009-10-11 21:53
Current condition:
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed:
1962-01-01
Date Place demolished:
1982-01-01
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Comments
Dates for Hotel Merlin
I found a couple of mentions on the internet:
Any other information out there about this hotel?
Used by the government
Vanessa notes this was one of the hotels used by government employees and their families while waiting for accomodation to become ready.
Air pollution in the 60s
I remember staying at the Hotel Merlin in 1970 en route to the US. My family stayed there as we were passing back through for a week in HK after a nine month stint in Thailand. After just an hour on Nathan road, our nose hairs were black from the filthy air. Clean air ? Hah. Not if you lived in TST or Mong Kok.
Demolished in 1982
Notes from history page of HSH website:
Opened in 1962
Google Books entry for "Commerce, industry, finance: the official guide and directory on commerce, industry and finance in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong" shows:
New hotels which opened in 1962 were the Park (450 rooms) and the Merlin with 180 rooms, both in Kowloon. Hotels to be opened this year include the 660-room Mandarin and the 1,000 room Hongkong Hilton on the Island, the 800-room President and the 166-room Empress in Kowloon.
Merlin Hotel Hongkong
This fine hotel was situated corner Nathan Road and close to the old Kowloon Train Station. I was staying there in 1963 before boarding a train at Kowloon Station to Lowu, crossing the bridge by foot and, after customs control and immigration, boarding a chinese train to Kanton. Outside the Merlin Hotel one could hire a Rikshah for shopping tours in Kowloon.
Hotel Merlin
In 1963, the hotel was used as a temporary production office by Richard Brooks and co whilst they were filming Lord Jim.
Hotel Merlin
Merlin Hotel
Well remember the Merlin. Was a stopover venue for US press correspondents travelling to and from Vietnam. Bought my first rather battered black Leica M3 in the bar there from a war photographer short of cash to settle his booze bill.
H.