Sher
September 29th, 2003, 09:18 AM
Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus Clock Tower
51m
Completed 1915
The old Clock Tower near the Star Ferry concourse at Tsim Sha Tsui is a landmark of the bygone era of the Age of Steam, when trains arrived here with passengers who weeks before had embarked from London on the world's longest railway journey. The Clock Tower is 45 meters high. The top has a 7 meters lightning rod. It is close to the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui. It is neighboring the Cultural Centre and Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry concourse. It is a landmark of the past century of the Age of Steam, when trains arrived here with passengers who weeks before had embarked from London on the world's longest railway journey. It shows the buildings style of the late 19th century
The Government in the late 19th century built the KCR. They assumed Yaumatei as the terminal station initially. Until 1904, the 13th governor Nathan decided to make Tsim Sha Tsui as the terminal station. The Salisbury Road and Chatham road we can see nowadays is the reclaim land for the building of KCR. The sand use for the reclamation is come from the digging of a small hill that divided Yaumatei and Tsim Sha Tsui.
KCR commence its operation in 1910. Tsim Sha Tsui terminal station is completed in 28th March 1916. The whole clock tower is completed and began to operate in 1921. The clock weight approximately one ton was begun to operate in 22nd March 1921 at afternoon. It has since been incorporated into the plaza in front of the Hong Kong Cultural Center. The clock had been stopped running in the period when Japan occupies Hong Kong.
The KCR has been moved to Hunghom railway terminal station since 1975. The old railway terminal station in Tsim Sha Tsui is dismantled and the Clock Tower is left as a historic symbol. It was judge by the Antiquity Consulting Commission as First Class Historical building statutory place of historic interest.
With its distinctive design in red brick and granite, the 45-metre Tower is a graceful reminder of those Colonial times. But over many years it had far greater significance for tens of millions of Chinese for whom the former terminus was the final stop on their rail journeys from villages in their homeland to new lives either in Hong Kong or by ship to distant destinations overseas. Now the site of the historic railway station is occupied by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, its curving roof and futuristic features creating an unusual background to its solitary neighbour.
The Clock Tower is an ideal starting place for a Heritage Walk in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Cultural Centre is highly interesting both out- and inside. Look for the unusual golden statue of a winged figure on the side facing the Star Ferry, an avant-garde gift from France.
http://www.pbase.com/image/19172656.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/16707780.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/21613476.jpg
51m
Completed 1915
The old Clock Tower near the Star Ferry concourse at Tsim Sha Tsui is a landmark of the bygone era of the Age of Steam, when trains arrived here with passengers who weeks before had embarked from London on the world's longest railway journey. The Clock Tower is 45 meters high. The top has a 7 meters lightning rod. It is close to the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui. It is neighboring the Cultural Centre and Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry concourse. It is a landmark of the past century of the Age of Steam, when trains arrived here with passengers who weeks before had embarked from London on the world's longest railway journey. It shows the buildings style of the late 19th century
The Government in the late 19th century built the KCR. They assumed Yaumatei as the terminal station initially. Until 1904, the 13th governor Nathan decided to make Tsim Sha Tsui as the terminal station. The Salisbury Road and Chatham road we can see nowadays is the reclaim land for the building of KCR. The sand use for the reclamation is come from the digging of a small hill that divided Yaumatei and Tsim Sha Tsui.
KCR commence its operation in 1910. Tsim Sha Tsui terminal station is completed in 28th March 1916. The whole clock tower is completed and began to operate in 1921. The clock weight approximately one ton was begun to operate in 22nd March 1921 at afternoon. It has since been incorporated into the plaza in front of the Hong Kong Cultural Center. The clock had been stopped running in the period when Japan occupies Hong Kong.
The KCR has been moved to Hunghom railway terminal station since 1975. The old railway terminal station in Tsim Sha Tsui is dismantled and the Clock Tower is left as a historic symbol. It was judge by the Antiquity Consulting Commission as First Class Historical building statutory place of historic interest.
With its distinctive design in red brick and granite, the 45-metre Tower is a graceful reminder of those Colonial times. But over many years it had far greater significance for tens of millions of Chinese for whom the former terminus was the final stop on their rail journeys from villages in their homeland to new lives either in Hong Kong or by ship to distant destinations overseas. Now the site of the historic railway station is occupied by the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, its curving roof and futuristic features creating an unusual background to its solitary neighbour.
The Clock Tower is an ideal starting place for a Heritage Walk in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Cultural Centre is highly interesting both out- and inside. Look for the unusual golden statue of a winged figure on the side facing the Star Ferry, an avant-garde gift from France.
http://www.pbase.com/image/19172656.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/16707780.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/21613476.jpg