POST OFFICE
(Contd.)
at about $60,000 as an offset against which there is the avoidance of the cost of temporary buildings and of the dislocation of the work which must inevitably result from attempting to utilize the existing site.
This advocacy led to the present site being selected, and building was eventually put in hand.
839
In concluding this resume of the history of the Hong Kong Post Office we might consider a list of the Postmasters and Postmasters General who have served one of the most efficient Government institutions in the Colony. They are as follow, with dates of appointment:
Messrs FitzGibbon (1842) Mullahy (1842) R. Edwards (1842), F. Spring (1843) Thomas Hyland (1845-6), William Chapman (1860) Francis William Mitchell (1862) Alfred Lister (1875) A. K. Travers (1891), A. M. Thomson (1896). Comdr. W. C. H Hastings, R. N. (1899), L. A. M. Johnston (1903), C. McI. Messrs (1903) E.D.C. Wolfe (1913) S.B.C. Ross (1917) M.J. Breen (1924, 1930 and 1932) G.R. Sayer (1928) N.L. Smith (1928) E.W. Hamilton (1931), and W. J. Carrie (1933).
A history, in some detail, of the Hong Kong Post Office has already appeared (see 19-2-34 et seq.). Originally situated on the slopes near St. John's Cathedral (approximately where the Volunteer are to-day) the Post Office was accommodated from 1846 to 1911 in premises at the corner of Pedder Street and Queen's Road, now occupied by China Building. The present Post Office structure was one of the earliest to be erected on the central Praya reclamation, and it is interesting to find the following account of the projected building in the S.C.M. Post of December 5, 1903:
"The construction of Hong Kong's new Post Office will commence in a few days. The spare land in Connaught Road Central that faces the pier, and which has been an eyesore for some time, is being enclosed by hoardings: behind them the workmen of the contractor, Lin Woo Hop Yick, are busy with the initial stages of the work, opening up trenches for the foundation of the building, which when completed, will rival the most imposing of Hong Kong structures.
"The new Post Office will be a four storey building. Originally it was intended to be only a three storey building, and the competitive plans were drawn to that effect; but it was decided later to have a building of four storeys. The Post Office will be none the less dignified thereby.
"It will be an adaptation of the English Renaissance style executed in granite dressing and Amoy brick facings. There will be a frontage of about 170 ft. in Pedder Street, about 180ft. in Des Voeux Road, and 130 ft. in Connaught Road Central. Prominent towers will adorn the building at the corners of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road, and Pedder Street and Connaught Road; the roof line will be broken up with gables.
"Many people who have been expecting the facade to front Connaught Road will be surprised to learn that this portion of the building will be in Pedder Street, whilst it might have been the better from the aesthetic view to have the front of the building facing the harbour, it must be granted that if convenience is taken into consideration, Pedder Street is the more suitable for the main entrance. People whose business takes them down Pedder Street to Connaught Road are few compared with those who remain in the streets nearer the city centre. Thus, if the entrance were round in Connaught Road, it would be somewhat out of the way,
"The entrance for Chinese will be by a private lane on the west side of the structure.
POST OFFICE
(Contd.)
at about $60,000 as an offset against which there is the avoidance of the cost of temporary buildings and of the dislocation of the work which must inevitably result from attempting to utilize the existing site.
This advocacy led to the present site being selected, 'and building was eventually put in hand.
839
*
*
In concluding this resume of the history of the Hong Kong Post Office we might consider a list of the Postmasters and Postmasters General who have served one of the most efficient Government institutions in the Colony. They are as follow, with dates of appointment:
Messrs FitzGibbon (1842) Mullahy (1842) R. Edwards (1842), F. Spring (1843) Thomas Hyland (1845-6), William Chapman (1860) Francis William Mitchell (1862) Alfred Lister (1875) A. K. Travers (1891), A. M. Thomson (1896). Comdr. W. C. H Hastings, R. N. (1899), L. A. M. Johnston (1903), C. McI. Messrs (1903) E.D.C. Wolfe (1913) S.B.C. Ross (1917) M.J. Breen 1924, 1930 and 1932) G.R. Sayer (1928) N.L. Smith (1928) E.W. Hamilton (1931), and W. J. Carrie (1933).
A hisrory, in some detail, of the Hong Kong Post Office has already appeard (see 19-2-34) et seq.). Originally situated on the slopes near St. John's Cathedral (approximately where the Volunteer are to-day) the Post Office was accommodated from 1846 to 1911 in premises at the corner of Pedder Street and Queen's Road, now occupied by China Building. The present Post Office structure was one of the earliest to be erected on the central Praya reclamation, and it is interesting to find the following account of the projected building in the S.C.M. Post of December 5, 1903:
"The construction of Hong Kong's new Post Office will commence in a few days. The spare land in Connaught Road Central that faces the pier, and which has been an eyesore for some time, is being enclosed by hoardings: behind them the workmen of the contractor, Lin Woo Hop Yick, are busy with the initial stages of the work, opening up trenches for the foundation of the building, which when completed, will reval the most imposing of Hong Long structures.
"The new Post Office will be a four storey building. Originally it was intended to be only a three storey building, and the competitive plans were drawn to that effect; but it was decided later to have a building of four storeys. The Post Office will be none the less dignified thereby.
"It will be an adaptation of the English Renaissance style executed in granite dressing and Amoy brick facings. There will be a frontage of about 170 ft. in Fedder Street, about 180ft. in Des Voeux Road, and 130 ft. in Connaught Road Central. Prominent towers will adorn the building at the corners of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road, and Pedder Street and Connaught load; the roof line will be broken up with gables.
"Many people who have been expecting the facade to front Connaught Road will be surprised to learn that this portion of the building will be in Pedder Street, whilst it might have been the better from the aesthetic view to have the front of the building facing the harbour, it must be granted that if convenience is taken into consideration, Pedder Street is the more suitable for the main entrance. People whose business takes them down Pedder Street to Connaught Road are few compared with those who remain in the streets nearer the city centre. Thus, if the entrance were round in Connaught Road, it would be somewhat out of the way,
"The entrance for Chinese will be by a private lane on the west side of the structure.
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