of
between the piers supporting the verandah of one of the houses in Bank Buildings.
"Query: Where was the "Tank" and for what purpose was it utilised?"
Here, incidentally are two further examples of street names having historical value. We have Ice House Street to-day (the former Lane), recalling the early ice house (factory), which I believe stands to-day, being the very old building at the bottom of Battery Path, built against the hillside, and now given up partly to the accommodation of offices and shops.
Then as regards the tank - this must have been a small service reservoir for the Tai Ping Shan and Poh Hing Fong area, for there is a Tank Lane to-day in the neighbourhood of Hollywood Road, running from Lower Lascar Row up to Square Street.
An old resident informs me that he recollects a tank in that neighbourhood in his very young days over forty years ago; as well as another one near the present Nethersole Hospital site. Both have since been filled up and built over.
Here is something more about the old clock tower In 1856 a subscription list was sent around and met with unusual success, for the erection of a Town Clock. The sites then mentioned were "Government Offices" and "St. John's Cathedral." The public prints of that day sneered at these suggested sites and put forward the plea that the clock should be placed in more likely positions such as the Harbour Master's Hill (where the cutting was then going forward) or facing the Post Office and Pedders Wharf, where it would be in close proximity to the Court House and the Club.
As we already know the latter site was the one chosen. The clock tower was demolished in 1912 (see 30-6-33), but its removal was long threatened. In 1866 we note it was suggested that it should be incorporated with the City Hall. Others would have it removed no farther than the Praya by Pedder Wharf. It was also a matter of regret that it was not, as originally proposed, made an integral part of the old Post Office building!
It survived all these suggestions, however, by just 46 years.
Another reader sends a note on the matter of a town clock for Hongkong, pointing out that when the present General Post Office was erected, there was an idea of having a clock in one of the corner towers, which was never specially strengthened for the purpose.
The idea never materialised, and the city was without a clock tower of any kind from 1912 until last year (1932) when the Gloucester Building clock came into existence.
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