FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1990
17
FORMER KCR CLOCK TOWER DECLARED MONUMENT
SHA
CLOCK TOWER IN TSIM AS A MONUMENT UNDER THE
THE FORMER KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY (KCR) TSUI WAS TODAY (FRIDAY) GAZETTED ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE.
THE HONG KONG SECTION OF THE KCR WAS OPENED IN 1910, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A TERMINUS TOGETHER WITH A CLOCK TOWER BEGAN IN APRIL
1913.
THE CLOCK, TOWER WAS COMPLETED AS PART OF THE TERMINUS PROJECT
IN 1915.
BUILT OF RED BRICKS WITH GRANITE BLOCKS AT THE FOUR CORNERS, CLOCK TOWER IS A 44-METRE HIGH STRUCTURE SURMOUNTED BY A SEVEN-METRE ANTENNA ON A SLENDER STEEL SUPPORT.
THE
THE SQUARE TOWER IS TOPPED BY A CONCRETE DOME MOUNTED ON A DRUM-SHAPED BASE. THE COLUMNS OF THE BASE ARE ALTERNATIVELY PIERCED BY DOORS ON FOUR SIDES, EACH LEADING TO A BALCONY WITH A CURVED METAL BALUSTRADE.
INSTALLATION OF THE ELECTRIC TURRET CLOCK AND THE ONE-TON HOUR BELL STARTED IN 1920 AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1921. IT BEGAN FUNCTIONING ON MARCH 22, 1921.
DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION THE CLOCK STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT WAS RE-ACTIVATED ON OCTOBER 2, 1945.
BY
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN MAINTAINING A CLOCK OPERATED BATTERIES, FOUR MOTORS, ONE FOR EACH FACE OF THE TOWER, WERE INSTALLED. AS A RESULT, THE TIMES SHOWN ON EACH FACE WERE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND THE USE OF THE BELL WAS THEREFORE DISCONTINUED IN 1950.
THE CLOCK TOWER, LOCATED AT A PROMINENT POSITION ON THE TSIM SHA TSUI WATERFRONT, HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR HISTORICAL LANDMARK EASILY RECOGNISED BY BOTH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OVERSEAS TOURISTS.
1975,
FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF THE KCR TERMINUS TO HUNG HOM IN THE TERMINUS BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CULTURAL CENTRE.
THE CULTURAL CENTRE WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES IN NOVEMBER 1989. THE CLOCK TOWER HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF THE PIAZZA OUTSIDE THE CENTRE'S AUDITORIA BLOCK.
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