Kai Tak - Japanese Operations Building on a Mound [c.1944-c.1959] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Kai Tak - Japanese Operations Building on a Mound [c.1944-c.1959]

Primary tabs

Submitted by moddsey on Mon, 2020-01-20 13:54
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
c.1944-01-01 (Year is approximate)
Date Place demolished: 
c.1959-01-01 (Year is approximate)

Possibly used by the Japanese as an Operations Building or Control Tower during 1944-1945. The structure appears to have survived for at least 10 years after the Japanese surrender.

  • Log in or register to post comments

Photos that show this place

1945
1945
1945
See more photos of this place

Comments

Submitted by IDJ on Tue, 2020-01-21 00:33.

Suggest that the end date would be nearer the years of the overall site clearance for the new  runway leading out to sea rather than 1960.

Possibly 1957 or 58

Submitted by OldTimer on Tue, 2020-01-21 02:31.

Greetings.  To Good Hope School foothill until spring 1959, my city bus travelled by this site.  The building was definitely visible in 1957 and at least part of 1958.  The building looked completely deserted.  If its demolition took place in late 1958 or early 1959, I would have noticed it; however, I have no clear memory of such.  Regards,  Peter

Submitted by IDJ on Tue, 2020-01-21 04:20.

Photographs taken from the air or from Kowlon Peak show the now out use runway ripped up fairly quickly after the new runway was brought into use during September1958 and government wooden hut housing and multi-storey resettlement estates springing up either side of the main road where it curves past the mound on which the 'Japanese' building stood. In some images the mound was still there but not the building. So perhaps 1959 saw its demise?

Submitted by OldTimer on Tue, 2020-01-21 05:29.

Thank you IDJ for the feedback.  Your estimate is just as good, or even better than mine.  By 1959, my mind while in the bus was wondering if any secondary school would accept me.  Regards,   Peter

Submitted by Lewis on Wed, 2021-01-20 08:54.

I think that this building was built in 1943, not 1944.

Submitted by moddsey on Wed, 2021-01-20 09:09.

It would be helpful if you could provide more information and the source of the year of construction. Mention is made here of  BAAG reports.