1934-10-17 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1934.

THE CLEARING

A SYMBOL OF SOLIDITY

NEW HOME OF THE BANK

His Excellency To Lay The Foundation Stone

A very important event in the history of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation will be marked to- day by the laying of the foundation stone ceremony, at the new site, by His Excellency the Governor, Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., and elaborate ar- rangements have been made to celebrate the occasion in a fitting manner.

The largest institution of its kind in the Far East, thế Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation is in- deed one of the most important landmarks of this out- post of the Empire, and although it was not without a tinge of regret that we watched the demolition of the old building, Hong Kong will have reason to be proud. of the new one when it is completed for it spells every- thing that is modern in design and construction: "Lady Peel will grace the proceedings by lowering the cas

ket containing the morning papers, coins and paper money into the vault specially constructed for the pur- pose and then His Excellency will lay the foundation stone to what will be the most modern bank building in the East and also what has been described as one of the soundest and most solid institutions of its kind in the world.

The Building Described

HOUSE OF

THE FAR

a barrel vaulted ceiling 47 ft. above, the public space.

The site on which the new build ing is being erected has been re- ferred to as the finest in the Col- The 1st to the 7th floors in- ony of Hong Kong, and the build clusive of the building have been ing now being erected will be designed as offices for letting. At worthy of the site. The building the top of the Tower will be pro- covers the site of the old Bank and,vided a Rest Room and Lunchesn in addition, that of the Theatre Royal and Wardley Street, and ex- tends the tull width of Statue Square.

SIME HONGKONG"&

Queen's Road entrance to

ZBANKINGEE

room for the staff with a gallery around the upper part of the To- wer, flats for senior married em-stairs from the Des Voeux Road being reached by a wide marble the executive offices, the main floor ployees, a flat for the Chief Man entrance in the centre with mo- staircase and two fast automatic ager, and a Squash Court etc.

del counters on each side; the cell-lifts for brokers. ing of this space will be barrel above the floor. vaulted, the crown being 47 ft.

The only decoration In the build- ing has been concentrated in this vaulted ceiling which will be cover-

The main axis of the new building -La centred on the Queen Victoria Memorial, situated in the centre

THE BANKING PORTION- of Statue Square and the building

The banking portion of the pre- has been designed to provide a mises will be the last word in Bank fitting background to the Square. design and equipment, being the The frontage to Des Voeux Roadresult of study of the most modern is 247-8 and that to Queen's Road Bank Buildings in Canada, Ameed with glass mosaics. The design approximately the same, the actual building being two hundred and twenty feet square, leaving a pri- the West side. ate roadwaY ON The height to the top of the tower will be 220'0" and this will stand out clear to the view of ships of all pations entering the harbour as a dignified memorial to world of the importance of

the

the

Banking Corporation to be housed

therein.

The stepping back of the upper fidors and tower was dictated by the necessity of avoiding interfer- ence with the light and air of ad- jacent buildings, the resultarit out-

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on the

On passing through the bronze entrance doors from Des Voeux Road into the Entrance Hall, on the left will be seen a bronze screen with double doors giving access to the Safe Deposit and the Staff lifts and staircase, rica, London and the Continent of consists of two main groups of right through a similar screen is Europe. The whole building will be ventilated by a "conditioned air figures in colour symbolical of the Office entrance hall and lifts. installation," providing ideal con-

Banking and Commerce the for- ditions of temperature and humi-Mining, the sources of all wealth, mer supported by Agriculture and

SAFE DEPOSIT dity all the year round. Irrespec- the latter supported by Industry the strongest in the Far East, the The Safe Deposit will be one of tive of external, conditions. The advantages of true alt conditioning

and Shipping.

main door will weigh 17 tons and At the top of the vault in the yet will be so beautifully balanced (which should not be confused centre, an allegorical group com that it can be moved with one fin- with air cooling) are now recog-posed of Cares the Goddess of ger, in addition there will be an nised all over the world, all dust Abundance with her Cannucopis emergency door of equal strength, and Alth is Arst eliminated from and Helios the God of the Sun the air which is then dehumidified driving his chariot across the sky rooms inside the main chamber The 6000 boxes and small strong or humidified cooled or warmed as outside conditions require, all parts of figures below. It is fervently steel, the lighting will be on the and shedding light on the groups and the celling will be of stainless of the offices will be equally com- hoped that by the time the Bank Indirect method and needless to fortable all the year round, small

is finished this brightness and

line is, however, both pleasing and offices therefore fulfill require-abundance in the world of Banking/ say all the latest methods for en-

interesting.

on

DIGNIFIED LINES

fact.

The walls and columns in the Banking Hall will be Onished with marble, much of it coming from Devonshire, England, a beautiful

valuables has been incorporated in suring the safety of customers'

will also be air conditioned. Small this wonderful Safe Deposit, which

phones and other conveniences are rooms fitted with steel desks, tele-

EAST

per ateel of a strength 40% greater Chromodore stesi is a chrome cop

than ordinary mild steel, there is therefore a very considerable re- duction in weight and in cost of transportation and "erection, and the resistance to corrosion of this

steel. steel is nearly double that of mild

The materials for the bullding are being obtained almost entirely from the British Empire, ng dim- culty, no pains or trouble have been spared in Binding and secur- ing whatever seemed most suit- able for the different parts of the structure...

AIR CONDITIONING

and the whole building will be "air The roofs are being specially in sulated against the heat of the sun,

air conditioned offices will appeal conditioned." The advantages of

to prospective tenants, the stirring up of vitiated air by fans is now out of date; tenants will beneat from ideal atmospheric conditions. ments which previously necessitat- and Commerce will be an actual

and from the saving in the cost ed large offices.

of fang and current to run them. As windows are closed noise is

This alr Conditioning Plant has The building has been designed eliminated, a great comfort on simple and dignified lines busy streets: perfect air conditions

been designed and is being install- ed by experts from London. throughout with very little orna- can be maintained during ty- mentation, the solid base without phoons or bad weather, electric rich därk marble, called 'Ashbur. available for customers who wish

The Invisible Panel Heating Sys- any windows on the Des Voeux fans are not required with a conseton. The alling slabs to the walls out removing them from within

tem will heat the puliding in win- Road front suggesting the impreg-juent saving in first cost and run-

ter this is the latest system and nable strong rooms behind the ning expenses not to mention the and certain plers will be a light the protective grille.

the conditions in a building so wall. The massive piers, the ful elimination of the annoyance of The floor of the Public Space will coloured marble called Botticino.

heated are far more comfortable height of the tower, will be ter- having papers blown about; air

than when heated by any other minated with carved figures repre- conditioning is comfortable, it safe- bands of Swedish Green. The cell- be paved with Travertine`` with

method, the heat being radiant senting Men of Vision, the carving guards health and increases effing of the working spaces will be building, all of the latest pattern.

There will be eleven Hits in the heat the same degree of comfort 1 obtained with a lower tempera- will be strictly architectural,

of plaster without enrichment. The passenger lifts will

ture of the air; it is healthy and square cut with severe lines suit- able to the hard material in which

will be by concealed lights the ute and will be automatically con- furniture or interfere with the The general lighting of this hall at a speed of 500 ft. Der min-there are no radiators to obstruct they are carved, four massive llons

system has been designed by Lon- trolled, all the attendant has to division of the offices, heads representing Strength com- plete the sculpture on the Tower.

don experts and will provide an do is to press a few buttons and even shadowless light over the en- the machinery does the rest. The brunze panels, five in number

tire working space.

MEZZANINE

in the windows, over the Des

clency, and by the elimination, of dust

a considerable saving In

maintenance costs of a building results, particularly with moving parts and machinery.

In addition. specially designed

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES The administrative offices ad-

to deal with their valuables "with-

ELECTRIC LIFTS

הנית

overlooking Statue Square provides The Mezzanine at the North end

Room, Sub-Managers' Room, Fling accommodation for the Board

Rooms, Telephone Echange, re- tiring and rest rooms for women employees. The Board Room will be about 300 sq.ft. the walls will andstone, the retning of which be lined with a specially selected

closely resembles walnut panelling. The Mezzanine at the South end provides accommodation for Sta- tionary Room, Filing Rooms, Lava-

Amongst other features of the building may be mentioned the Grids of conduit to be laid in all

to be installed on a desk in any office doors to enable a telephone

about the walls, noors and comes Position without running loose wire the Oil Fired Boilers; the Automa tle Telephone Exchange; the Emergency Lights to Treasuries, Central Counter, Corridors and breakdown of the Electric Com- Staircases in offices in case of a

Fany's glant.

The Main Entrance to the Bank is from Queen's Road. The Bronze Gates are designed with a grille Voeux Road entrance, will repre- over suggesting a porteulle: in the desk lamps have been designed for sent China, Japan, India and the design three knights in armour occasional use when it is not ne- Federated Malay States, the coun- stand guard and the whole design cesary to switch on the main tries in the Far East in which the symbolises protection and safety, lighting. Banking Corporation interests The Entrance Hall is an irregular chley lie. The centre panel will octagon in shape, about 460 - bear the Coat of Arms of the Bank. ft. and rises to a height of 27ft. It

The level of Queen's Road is is of granite throughout, the light in the North end of the Banking several feet above that of Des ing will be by projectors hidden in Hall and overlook Statue Square, Road; there is therefore a Ground granite pedestals. In the wall op- they consist of the Chief Man- Floor and a lower Ground Floor,posite the main entrance gates ap-ager's Private Room, Manager's and below that a Basement to ac proached by five steps is a bronze Room, Secretary's Room, Waiting

it. The building, is being designed commodate the Boilers, Pumps, screen and doors, incorporated in Room, Telegrams, Books, Chief Ac

by the Shanghai office of Messrs. Ventilating Machinery, Workshops, the design is the coat of arms of countant's Department with spetories, Rest and Changing Rooms son, F. R. I. B. A, 7. 8. L. Architect Palmer and Turner, Mr. G. L. WI- of the Bank. The thick granite cial Securities Room, Interview walls, the stone celling and heavy Rooms and Brokers' Room, etc..

for the Portuguese and Chinese for the Shanghai premiser, being bronze gates give an Impression of

responsible for the design of this immense strength..

The Brokers' Room is provided members of the Staff with twelve telephone boxes.

building also.ke

etc.

The main Banking Hall will be at the Queen's Road level and the Treasuries, Safe Deposit, etc. at the Des Vocuz Road. level. The ad- Passing through a lobby, which ministrative offices, including serves as an air lock to prevent the Ohler Menager. Managers and cooled air escaping, we enter the Chief Accountant, will face Status Main Banking Hall. Square. The main Barking Hall |

will be about 210 x 95 ft., with a

BANKING HALL

mezzanine at the ends. This height. This is of great size, being 210 ft:

of the Banking Hall will be 370" | long and 95 ft. wide. The Public

The Walls and floors of the prin cipal rooms will be finished with a light coloured marble, special recesses for safes, codes, books etc. have been provided.

DES CEUX ROAD ENTRANCE

The second entrance to the Bank

BUILDING GENERALLY

The organisation and direction The building will be of dreproof of the construction proj construction throughout, the only in the hands of Masara. M. wood used will be the parquet gan and L W Amps, M.) doors in the residential quarters: CE Chartered Civil Engi

The steel frame is of Chromodore | who have brought out from kng Steel, this bems, the uret building land a stan of expert sup in the world where this steer hina and speciát machinery

feet, over the working space, with Space is continuous from the from Des Voeux Raad is below the been used throughout.

EXCEPTIONAL OFFER

OF

WITNEY BLANKETS

100 PAIRS

ALL WOOL BLANKETS

SOFT FINISH

WELL RAISED SURFACE TO GIVE EXTRA WARMTH

SIZE 56′′ × 76′′

52 x 72

66′′ x 84" ...

$16.00 pair

* 17.00

21.00

62′ x 84*

25,00

81′′ x 96′′

36.00

FURNISHING DEPARTMENT

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

Phone 28151.

Six Lines.

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