Anne Black Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters [1965-2015]
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Hong Kong Red Cross released a fact sheet on its new headquarters:
The HKRC Headquarters in Admiralty had been in use since 1965. With the rapid expansion of HKRC services in recent years in response to society changes and rising diverse needs, and to match Government’s land use planning for the Admiralty headquarters site, the HKRC Headquarters confirmed to be relocated to Hoi Ting Road, West Kowloon in 2010.[Completion Date: September 2015]
The 3-storey HKRC Headquarters, located in 33 Harcourt Road, Admiralty, commenced operation in 1965, which was the tallest building in the district at that time. In early years, the headquarters of blood donation and the blood bank were on the ground floor, they were relocated to King’s Park Rise, Kowloon later on.
So this building was torn down the make way for new ones. The HQ officially closed an September 11th, 2015. My guess for demolition date is end of 2015.
Photos that show this place
 1960 |
 1964 |
 1965 |
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History
From a Hong Kong Red Cross press release.
Its available in Chinese only
紅十字會金鐘總部完成50年歷史任務
(香港‧2015年9月11日) 多年來，交通報告經常說「紅隧塞車塞到紅十字會」，此一說法可能很快便要改，因為香港紅十字會(紅十字會)位於金鐘總部的運作將於今天(9月11日)正式結束，順利完成50年的歷史任務。
早期總部服務為主
紅十字會位於金鐘夏慤道33號的總部自1965年開始運作，當年附近沒有現在的高樓大廈、政府總部，反而旁邊是政府的直昇機停機坪及後方為英軍天馬艦海軍基地，樓高三層的紅十字會是當時區內最高的大廈。由於位置獨特，早年附近沒有太多其他建築物，附近亦沒有斑馬線，令紅十字會義工及公眾人士前來總部都不太便利，往往都要危險地跑過馬路。
早年，紅十字會總部地下曾是捐血總部及血庫，大樓外牆掛上「捐血救人」的橫額，因為附近為英軍船隊的碼頭，所以當時捐血人士很多是外國軍人及水兵。後來，雖然輸血服務中心總部遷往九龍京士柏，但地下有一段時間還維持是本會其中一個捐血服務中心，方便義工及公眾人士前來總部活動時亦可以捐血。
及後紅十字會服務增多與部門擴充，總部的捐血服務中心、禮堂、訓練課室等都逐漸改裝為辦公室，而不同的活動、比賽、急救訓練班、制服團隊的宣誓典禮等都需改往其他地方舉行。由於總部當年是以英式設計，二樓對街的一房間設有一個小型露台，有傳當年英女皇誕辰及紀念日，英國皇室人員亦曾經在此露台觀看巡遊。
A video can be watched here.
And here's Google's (poor) translation:
"Red tunnel traffic jam to the Red Cross" will not be reproduced
Red Cross's Admiralty headquarters completes 50 years of historical mission
(Hong Kong, September 11, 2015) Over the years, traffic reports have often said that "the red tunnel is jammed to the Red Cross." This statement may soon be changed because the Hong Kong Red Cross (Red Cross) is located in Klm. The operation of the clock headquarters will officially end today (September 11) and successfully complete the 50-year historical mission.
Early headquarters service
The Red Cross’s headquarters at 33 Harcourt Road, Admiralty, has been in operation since 1965. There were no high-rise buildings and government headquarters nearby. Instead, it was next to the government’s helipad and the rear was the British Army’s Tianma Naval Base. The Red Cross was the tallest building in the area at the time. Due to its unique location, there were not many other buildings in the early years and there were no zebra crossings nearby. It was not convenient for Red Cross volunteers and members of the public to come to the headquarters. They often ran across the road in danger.
In the early years, the headquarters of the Red Cross was once a blood donation headquarters and a blood bank. The wall of the building was affixed with a banner of "donating blood and saving people". Because the nearby is the dock of the British fleet, many blood donors were foreign soldiers and sailors. Later, although the headquarters of the Blood Transfusion Service Center was moved to King's Park in Kowloon, it was maintained as one of the blood donation service centres for a period of time. It is also convenient for volunteers and members of the public to donate blood when they come to the headquarters.
Later, the Red Cross service increased and the department expanded. The blood donation service center, auditorium and training room at the headquarters were gradually converted into offices. Different activities, competitions, first-aid training classes, and the swearing ceremony of the uniform team were required to be changed to other The place is held. Since the headquarters was designed in English in the same year, there is a small terrace in the room on the second floor. There is a birthday and anniversary of the Queen of England. The British royal staff also watched the parade on this terrace.