Old City Hall (Hong Kong)

Old City Hall, which existed from 1869 to 1933, was the first such structure in Hong Kong. Its function differed from a town hall in that it was used solely for community purposes and did not house any government offices. It occupied the current sites of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building (partly) and the Bank of China Building.[1] It was designed by the French architect Achille-Antoine Hermitte and was opened by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, in a ceremony on 28 June 1869.[2][3] The current site of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building was occupied in part by the old City Hall, and in part by the first and second generations of the HSBC building.

Old City Hall
舊香港大會堂
The 1869 City Hall, southern aspect, with Dent's Fountain at the middle.
General information
Country Hong Kong
Groundbreaking1866
Opened28 June 1869
Inaugurated2 November 1869
Closed1933
Demolished1947
OwnerHong Kong Colonial Government
Height
ArchitecturalRenaissance
Technical details
Floor count2
Design and construction
ArchitectAchille-Antoine Hermitte
Old City Hall
Traditional Chinese舊香港大會堂

Design and function
City Hall c.1875, oblique view of eastern façade

The City Hall was built on Government land, and funds were raised for its construction, which started in 1866, from public subscriptions. The two-storey hall was designed by Me A. Hermite, a French architect,[1][4] in a Renaissance style, with cupolae, colonnades and arches. The facilities available for use by the local community included a theatre, library, museum and assembly rooms.[1] A fountain, sponsored by Dent & Co. was located at the front (south side) of the Hall. The building was inaugurated by HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh on 28 June 1869 on his visit to the colony.

The land was acquired by the Hong Kong Bank in 1933 for its third generation headquarters, so that the western part of City Hall was pulled down. The remaining part was demolished in 1947 to make way for the Bank of China Building.[1]

Theatre

The Hall housed the Theatre Royal, a 500-seat performance space which hosted a number of ameteur and professional theatre performances for residents of the colony. The theatre was renovated in 1903 to improve the function and acoustics.[5]

See also

References
  1. EIA: A survey report of Historical Buildings and Structures within the Project Area of the Central Reclamation Phase III, Chan Sui San Peter for the HK Government, February 2001
  2. Davies 2014, p. 208.
  3. Davies, Stephen (2014), "Achille-Antoine Hermitte (1840–70?)", Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch, 54: 206–208, JSTOR jroyaaisasocihkb.54.201
  4. "Building Together: 160 Years of Hong Kong – French Common Heritage and Perspectives" Archived 8 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Exhibition leaflet
  5. "Theatre Royal in Hong Kong, CN - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

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