No_5_1955 — Page 45

Office Building

оп

Queen's Road, Central

I. L. 5549

Architect: G. D. Su

Construction of a twelve-storeyed office building will soon commence at 35 Queen's Road Central. The site was previously occupied by a 30- year-old four-storeyed building, the ground floor of which accommodat- ed The Commercial Press. Ltd.

The old premises were outmoded and were not considered to the using economically land valued at $300 per square foot. Early in 1955, an ap- plication was made by the owner be-- fore a Tenancy Tribunal Panel for the exemption of these premises.

During the hearing the Hon. Leo d'Almada. Q.C.. who was appearing for the owners. said that "the short- age of domestic and business accom- modation in Hong Kong was a well- known fact. In consequence, enter- prising landlords availed themselves

An impression by the architect of the appearance of the completed building "In every application, the Tribunal structure in the course of erection of facilities under Section 31 of the put public interest in the forefront on I.L. 5576 across Chiu Lung Street.

an

on

Landlord and Tenant Ordinance to enable them to get rid of the old of their consideration as to whether

The new building will occupy buildings and replace them with big- a recommendation should be made. ger modern buildings.

A secondary consideration was whe- area of about 2.800 square feet providing greater accommodation than exist-

ther the applicant was whether the the lot. which has an average width ing premises.

applicant was in a position to imple- of only 35' 0". There will be twelve basement. ment the scheme. and another con- storeys in addition to a sideration was

but no mezzanine floor has been in- in regard to pos- sible hardship to individuals con- corporated. daries. For this reason alone. the cerned who must be turned out be- fore the demolition could begin. This last consideration concerned a com- paratively small number compared with the benefits to the general community."

10.

CHIU

LUNG

STREET

L.

¡5 5 5 2

M.

Σ

1. L.

2 3 1 6

QUEEN'S

ROAD.

C

48

I.L.

SCALE

Site plan

Fortunately in this case an amic- able settlement

be- was arranged tween the owners and the tenants, and it was possible to proceed with the development without delay. It can readily be seen that the new building offers about three times as much floor space in a fine modern structure within the same boun- daries. For this reason alone. the project is to be highly commended. The site I.L. 5549 lies on the

on

On the ground floor will be be two shops a large one with its en- trance from Queen's Road and frontages

both thoroughfares. and a small one opening off Chiu Lung Street: these are separated by the entrance to the lift lobby. When construction is completed, most the ground flcor and the basement will be re-occupied by The Commer- cial Press, and for this reason an in- ternal access staircase between main shop and the lower level been provided for. All upper floors will be available as offices.

of

the has

on

External finishes will be princip- ally of facing tiles and marble the main elevations. Most floors will be covered with asphalt tiles.

corner of Queen's Road Central and The Franki piling was recently Chiu Lung Street. a short distance completed. and tenders have been north-west of the Queen's Theatre. called. The building is expected to There is an old three-storeyed build- be completed in 8 or 9 months at a ing immediately to the south-east, cost of approximately one million while on the other side is another dollars.

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