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Ground floor plan showing the positions of lifts and stairways etc. Phase 2 will be the western portion of the building including the west arcade.
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:
As is generally known, the new building will be erected in two phases. The first phase which is scheduled for completion in the middle of 1960 is that part which was formerly occupied by King's and York Buildings, the second phase being that which is now occupied by Union Building. The new building is, of course, named after the Union Insurance Society of Canton Limited from whom the Hong Kong Land Investment & Agency Co., Ltd. bought the old Union Building in 1946. When the first phase is completed, the Hong Kong office of the Union Insurance Society of Canton Limited will occupy the whole second floor and when the second phase is completed, the head office of the Company will take up the rest of the floor. In addition to occupying the entire second floor of the completed project. the whole of the top floor, of phase two is being reserved for them for staff amenities, directors' dining room, etc.
There is also a tentative scheme by the Hong Kong Land Investment & Agency Co., Ltd. for a dining room to occupy the phase one portion of the top floor primarily for the benefit of people working in the building. it is finally decided to proceed with this idea, we feel that it would prove to be a popular rendezvous.
If
We have endeavoured to obtain some historical data on the original construction of the Union, York and King's Buildings, but owing to the de- struction of so many important records during the late Pacific War, it is difficult to find any authentic informa- tion. All three buildings were prob- ably built about the same time, i.e. between 1900 and 1904. The Union Building section was formerly an annex of the old Hong Kong Hotel
The new Union House designed by rooms fronting on an interior arcade as and was called Hotel Mansions. This Messrs. Palmer & Turner for the well as on the surrounding streets, and part was purchased by the Union Hong Kong Land Investment & a first floor which will mainly connect Insurance Society of Canton Limited Agency Co., Ltd. will be an impos- with these shops, the floors will be about 1921 when the building acquir- ing 20-storey structure, 250-foot high laid out for office accommodation. ed its present name.
from the pavement level, conforming The typical floor plan shows a large Many old well established Hong in amenities and in appearance with central light well with the area Kong companies occupied offices in those that have been erected for them between this well and the external these buildings, some of those which during the past few years. A number street walls divided by a central cor- come to mind being John D. Hutchi- of schemes were submitted by the ridor joining two banks of passengers son & Co., Ltd., Bank Line (China) architects before the final one was and goods lifts. Thus, standardized Ltd., and of course Kelly & Walsh, chosen, the main reason for its prefer- office accommodation will be provided Ltd. on the ground floor. Regarding ment being that it allowed the maxi- with windows opening on to the this latter company, a commercial mum flexibility in the arrangement of centre of the building as well
well as volume published in 1908 states "The office spaces.
facing outwards, or much larger office firm of Kelly & Walsh, Ltd. was With the exception of the ground areas can be formed by the elimination established 30 years ago. The Hong floor which will be devoted to show of the corridor.
Kong branch was formerly situated
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