No_5_1955 — Page 37

SHUI HING

DEPARTMENT

STORE

Nos. 134-136,

Des Voeux Road, Central

Architects :--

Messrs. Palmer & Turner

Nearing completion on А site in the Central District of Hong Kong is an eight- storeyed building which will eventually house the Shui Hing Company, a long established and well known department store.

The Shui Hing Department Store was founded in 1926 by the late Mr. Koo Shui- ting and occupied premises at 187-195 Des Voeux Road Central until recently, Pro- perty was purchased by Mr. Koo at 134- 136 Des Voeux Road Central in 1942, with the intention of erecting a building for the Store on this site one day. This comprised a three-storeyed building com- pleted soon after the turn of the century.

The old premises occupied by the Store, and owned by Li Po Chun Estates Limited, were the subject of an application for exemption from the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance commenced early in November 1954-

Similar action was taken by Shui

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SHUT HING

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F

DES

GILMAN STREET

VOEUX

GILMAN STREET

GILMAN'S BAZAAR

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ROAD.

Site Plan

SOFT.

Photograph of the model showing the corner of Des Voeux Road

and Gilman's Bazaar

Hing Company a month later with regard is defined by an existing structure, the to the property at Nos. 134-136.

other three sides being bounded by Gilman Street, Des Voeux Road Central and Gil- man's Bazaar.

It was considered of primary importance that the Store should remain in the same neighbourhood as that in which it had carried оп business for the previous 30 years. because of the valuable goodwill involved. It was hoped that it would have been possible at first to have completed the erection of their own building, before it became necessary to vacate the old pre- mises. This, however, proved impractic- able and it was necessary to move into temporary inadequate accommodation op- posite the site of the new project.

The site comprises Inland Lots Nos. 4793-5 inclusive, covering an area of ap- proximately 2.500 square feet worth about $550,000. The south boundary of the site

35

The

new building occupies almost the whole of the site and contains eight storeys, not including the basement and a penthouse. There are 16,500 square feet of usable floor space available, an addi- tional 7,000 square feet being utilized for lifts, corridors, etc.

The Shui Hing Department Store will occupy the basement, ground, mezzanine, first and second floors of the new building. All of these will be air-conditioned and are interconnected by a separate internal staircase, which is in addition to the public staircases and lifts. The Store will also take over the penthouse.