Hong Kong Club Building
| The Hong Kong Club Building Chinese: 香港會 | |
|---|---|
 The Hong Kong Club Building in 1928, Cenotaph in front | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | 1 Jackson Road, Central, Hong Kong |
| Opening | 1897 |
| Destroyed | 1981 |
| Owner | Hong Kong Club |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
The Hong Kong Club Building (Chinese: 香港會) was a renaissance-style building in between Chater Road and Connaught Road Central at the junction of Jackson Road, Central, Hong Kong. It was owned by the Hong Kong Club.
The Hong Kong Club Building, in its second incarnation, was known for being one of the last examples of renaissance architecture remaining in Hong Kong. The building was completed in 1897, and demolished in June 1981. It was replaced by a modern building of 25 storeys, in which the club occupies the podium of the building and 8 levels.
History
First generation
Founded in 1846, the Club's first premises were situated on the corner of D'Aguilar Street and Queen's Road.
The three-storey building was designed in a classic style. The cost of construction and furniture of ₤15,000 was raised through an issue of ₤100 shares.[1]
A chronicle article from 1847 said: "It is a handsome three-storey building and with the out offices covers nearly the third of an acre of ground...
"The interior arrangements are very elegant and reflect great credit on the architect (Mr. S. Strachan) for whose design for the building a premium was awarded.... The entrance hall and grand staircase in the centre supported on fluted columns with capitals in the Corinthian order has a very noble effect..."[1]
In 1897, the club moved to more spacious accommodation next to the war memorial, on a sea-front plot of land created by the Central Praya reclamation.[1] The existing building was sold to A. S. Watson & Company, who initially rented it out to the short-lived New Club, a club for master mariners.[2]
Second generation
On 16 February 1895, the Club was granted a 999 year lease on the site under which it had very few restrictions. Rent of $324 was paid annually to the Government.[3]
The club building was designed by Palmer & Turner,[4] and was completed in July 1897.
The club held a referendum in around 1974, when the members voted to retain the building and not to redevelop.[3] In 1977 and again in 1978, a demolition plan was rejected by members.[5] The club committee became increasingly alarmist with arguments to redevelop, including the assertion in 1978 that the building was a fire safety hazard; that, in November 1979, it made inflated claims that it would cost HK$25 million to renovate, and eventually won the day.[5]
In 1981, architects who designed the building but who lodged an application to demolish it were quoted as saying that the existing building was old, traditional and would fall to pieces if leaned on heavily. A spokesman said it would "come down like a pack of cards".[6]
Preservation campaign
In order to update the club facilities, the members had opted to have the building renovated at a cost of HK$20 million.[7] However, the parlous state of the club's finances tempted the club to explore options to redevelop the valuable site. In 1977, it was reportedly offered HK$200 million for the site by Wardley,[3] part of the Hong Kong Bank.
In around 1978, a campaign at all levels was mounted to save the 82 year-old building.
The Heritage Society also mounted a campaign to stop the demolition of the building. The building was declared a monument by the Antiquities Advisory Board late in 1980.[8] A petition was sent to the Executive Council.[9] On 16 September 1980, the Executive Council decided not to endorse the AAB's recommendation that the Club building be preserved as a monument, citing "unjustified cost to the community" - the cost to taxpayers would be HK$500 million[6]. The decision was denounced by conservationists as being influenced by "powerful vested interests" and against public opinion[10] The Hong Kong Conservancy Association also appealed to the then Governor Murray MacLehose not to undervalue its cultural importance and not to allow the decision to be taken purely on economic grounds. "If even the Government appears to value nothing but money, Hong Kong's youth cannot be expected to have higher standards," said Dr. L. K. Ding, HKCA Chairman.[11]
The General Committee of the club was called to task by members, who contested its decision to sign a deal with developers knock down the building and redevelop the site before members had a chance to debate the issue. An EGM was convened to vote on the proposals on 20 October 1980, and the Chairman was forced to concede the Heads of Agreement would be subject to members' ratification.[9] Members voted overwhelmingly to proceed with redevelopment.[6]
Hong Kong Land was the appointed developer.[6] The club occupied the 25th to 27th floors of World-Wide House during redevelopment.[12] The Victorian building was demolished in June 1981.[13]
Third generation
The building design, by Australian architect Harry Seidler, was unveiled to the members in December 1980.[5]
With its heavy presence among the membership ranks, Hong Kong Land agreed to shoulder all demolition and rebuilding costs in exchange for the rental income of the upper storeys for 25 years.[5] 80,000 square feet (7,400 m2) of the new building was to be occupied by the Club - the four podium floors in the new tower would be kept as dining rooms and bars for the members - while the 17 upper floors would be leased for normal office use.[5]
From 2009, the club will take full ownership of the building and collect all revenues,[5] currently an estimated HK$100 million a year.
The building is occupied by a wide range of companies and organisations including Commerzbank Hong Kong, which occupies the top two floors. Others include online broker Charles Schwab and Rolls-Royce Motors which have space on the ground floor, Libertas Capital Asia Limited on the ninth floor, the Institute of Financial Planners on the eighth floor and some law and accounting firms.
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c A social institution with its beginnings in Colony history, South China Morning Post, 6 July 1980
- ^ Eric Cavaliero, "Hong Kong Club members succumbed to redevelopment offer, The Standard, 13 February 1997
- ^ a b c Club has full control of site: claim, The Star, 18 October 1977
- ^ 1,700 Club names missing, The Star, 14 March 1981
- ^ a b c d e f Reuters story, New HK Club design ready, South China Morning Post, 16 December 1980
- ^ a b c d Bid lodged to demolish Club, South China Morning Post, 13 March 1981
- ^ 'THE CLUB' - After the reprieve, South China Morning Post, 1 November 1978
- ^ Tim Hamlett, No tears for the Club, but what a pity for the palace, South China Morning Post, 22 May 1981
- ^ a b Lynne Watson, 11th hour bid to save HK Club, South China Morning Post, 12 October 1980
- ^ Exco misled about Club, The Star, 18-Sep-1980
- ^ Tom Ashbrook, Moral duty to save the Club, South China Morning Post, 12 October 1980
- ^ ...but familiar facilities will remain, The Standard, 20 August 1980
- ^ Colonial glories going, going..., The Economist, 13 June 1981
