THE 24TH EXHIBITION OF HONG KONG
PRODUCTS
Artist's impression of site layout (Aerial view from entrance)
The 24th Exhibition of Hongkong Products opened at the Hunghom Reclamation, Kowloon, on 6th December 1966; the Exhibition closes on 10th January 1967. Spon- sored by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, the Exhibition has the support of the Hongkong Government and local Chinese merchants.
The site, granted by the Hong Kong Government, is located in the Hunghom Reclamation area which has ferry communication direct to Hong Kong Island and terminal facilities for buses and other vehicles. The total area is some 700,000 sq. ft. Leaving aside the main vehicle and pedestrian avenues, car parks and space for advertising signs, the actual Exhibition site is a rectangle of about 450,000 sq. ft.
The site is divided into groups as follows:- (a) the main Entrance Hall, Display Centre, Informa- tion Office and Police Station are located on the North side, while the General Office, Propaganda Office. television and radio stations, public restaurant and toilets lie along two sides of the site:
(b)
industrial machinery and raw-materials display, which are of particular interest to foreign manufacturers, are located on the western part of the site:
(c) the hundred or so retail stalls are at the south-eastern
part of the site:
(d)
(e)
a large playground at the rear of the Exhibition pro- vides skating, electric motor-car and whirling ma- chines and amusement facilities for the children: at the centre of the Exhibition is the display by a group of banks, the Shaw Brothers movie display
and a platform for public meetings, social activities. and performances.
The front view of the Exhibition shows several round structures of different diameters. A Hall near the en- trance, supported by steel pipes and bars, is decorated lavishly with lamps; next to the Hall is a Display Centre constructed of steel frames and wooden partitions. In the middle is a 40 ft. dia, steel-arch roof made of steel pipes and bars.
Most of stalls are constructed of timber posts, beams and slabs, having cantilever roofs with cocklofts for storage purposes, but there are several noticeable exceptions:- (a) the dome-shaped arch-roof Bank stall, having thick glass sheets between the supporting steel "I" posts; (b) the 80 ft. high "Y" shaped steel tower, erected by the Star Industrial Co., which is the tallest structure of the Exhibition:
were
(c) the Crocodile Garments Ltd. stall which has a deep foundation, giving a basement for storage, and a 50 ft. tower. Considerable difficulties
encountered in the supervision of the work as many stalls were erected by interior decorators and sub-contractors to whom the ap- pearance and decoration seemed more important than the security and stability of the structures. However the as- sistance and direction readily given by the Building Ordin- ance Office, together with vigilant control of construction works in accordance with approved plans, ensured the safety of these temporary structures. Design of the Ex- hibition Buildings was undertaken by Peter P. Sze on behalf of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association.
Plan of entrance to Hunghom Exhibition, showing circular constructions
DISPL
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Far East Architect & Builder January, 1967
ENTRANCE HALL
MAIN
ENTRANCE
INFORMATION
SOCIAL
HALL
C E
N T
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NEW PRODUCT DISPLAY HALL
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