VICTORIA BUILDING
1950
(3) Is not "A.M." somewhat at fault with regard to what he terms "the old Victoria Building (now the old French Bank Building)?" I am under the impression that the old Victoria Building was situated at the corner of Queen's Road and Ice House Street, and was occupied by Farmer's Victoria Hotel and subsequently by the International Banking Co-operation. The site on which the French Bank Building is situated used to be occupied in part by the old National Bank of China and the late Sir Paul Chater's office. I understood from Sir Paul Chater that this building was, prior to the acquisition thereof by himself and the late Mr. Mody, owned by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co., who had their offices there until about 1883, when they moved to Pedder Street and occupied a building on the same site, but rather higher up, than the one in which their present offices are situated.
"A.M.": I am indebted for Old Morality's correction (21.6.33) on the subject of Victoria Building. I don't doubt that the building on the Queen's Road and Ice House Street corner was called Victoria Building, but the name Victoria occurs frequently in a place like Hongkong, and doubtless there have been several Victoria Buildings. I seem to remember that the block which housed Sir Paul Chater's office was so known in 1916, but I don't press the point. Similarly, Bank Building is a name that has led to some confusion in Hongkong. The Bank Building when I came here was that at the corner of Queen's Road and Wyndham Street where the A.F.C. and Kayemally buildings now are. The Victoria Dispensary (branch of Watson's) stood at the corner (Mr. Stapleton was in charge) and next door was Sheriff's, the jewellers, and then Lazarus, a furniture or rattan shop, and Ruttonjee's at the Zetland Street end. Now Bank Building is the Hongkong Bank annex.
*Towndweller*: The building where stands the Banque de l'Indo Chine was formerly known as Victoria Buildings and owned by Messrs. Chater and Mody. The Bank Buildings formerly comprised the block up to and including the present site of Kayemally Building. The property belonged to the late Mr. Belilios' Estate, leased to the late M.J.D. Stephens.
*Old Mortality*: "My apologies to *A.M.* regarding Victoria Building (the present French Bank Building). He was right and I was wrong. I realised this as soon as I read his subsequent remarks to me upon the subject.