Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 173

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

CITY HALL

172

The City Hall was completed on June 28, 1869, almost exactly 64 years ago, and was opened on November 2 that year by H.R.H. Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh. The idea of building a city hall originated in 1861, and a meeting was held at the Hongkong Club to consider the project. A provisional committee was formed to forward the project in 1863, a report was issued by the people concerned in 1864 and a public meeting was held in August, 1866, when the tender for the construction of the building was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on February 23, 1867.

In this connexion the interesting question arises, what is to be done with the old foundation stone? Is it to be dug up and preserved or merely buried under the foundations of the New Hongkong Bank? An enquiry at the P.W.D. recently elicited a reply that the authorities have not decided on this question: indeed, they do not know whether the old foundation stone is likely to be disturbed at all, and if it is, the matter of its disposal will have to be left over until then.

It might be pointed out that the land for the site was a free grant by the Government, made in 1864.

The Theatre Royal portion of the building was "christened" as far back as November 3, 1869, when the first performance was held therein, by the Amateur Dramatic Corps (as the A.D.C. was then known), and members of the German Club Concordia.

References to the Library and Museum (then a mere nucleus) are made in the report of a meeting held in 1870.

In 1890, at the time of the Praya Reclamation scheme, the committee of the City Hall considered that the shareholders were entitled to benefit by the scheme as regarded the portion of the reclamation abutting on their site. The Government contested this, and the committee obtained legal advice. Despite their efforts to get some form of recognition of their supposed rights, however, the committee came up against definite official opposition, and the matter was "allowed to stand over". There is no record of further efforts to obtain compensation.

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CITY HALL 1 172 The City Hall was completed on June 28, 1869, almost exactly 64 years ago, and was opened on November 2 that year by H.R.H. Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh. The idea of building a city hall originated in 1861, and a meeting was held at the Hongkong Club to consider the project. A provisional committee was formed to forward the project in 1863, a report was issued by the people concerned in 1864 and a public meeting was held in August, 1866, when the tender for the construction of the building was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on February 23, 1867. 1 In this connexion the interesting question arises, what is to be done with the old foundation stone? Is it to be dug up and preserved or merely buried under the foundations of the New Hongkong Bank? An enquiry at the P.W.D. recently elicited a reply that the authorities have not decided on this question: indeed, they do not know whether the old foundation stone is likely to be disturbed at all, and if it is, the matter of its disposal will have to be left over until then. It might be pointed out that the land for the site was a free grant by the Government, made in 1864. The Theatre Royal portion of the building was "christened" as far back as November 3, 1869, when the first performance was held therein, by the Amateur Dramatic Corps (as the A.D.C. was then known), and members of the German Club Concordia. References to the Library and Museum (then a mere nucleus) are made in the report of a meeting held in 1870. In 1890, at the time of the Praya Reclamation scheme, the committee of the City Hall considered that the shareholders were entitled to benefit by the scheme as regarded the portion of the reclamation abutting on their site. The Government contested this, and the committee obtained legal advice. Despite their efforts to get some form of recognition of their supposed rights, however, the committee came up against definite official opposition, and the matter was "allowed to stand over". There is no record of further efforts to obtain compensation.

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CITY HALL 1 172 The City Hall was completed on June 28, 1869, almost exactly 64 years ago, and was opened an November 2 that year by H. R. H. Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh. The idea of building a city hall originated in 1861, and a meeting was held at the Hongkong Club to consider the project. A provisional committee was formed to forward the project in 1863, a report was issued by the people concerned in 1864 and a public meeting was held in August, 1866, when the tender for the construction of the building was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on February 23, 1867. 1 In this connexion the interesting question arises, what i is to be done with the old foundation stone? Is it to be dug up and preserved or merely buried under the foundations of the New Hongkong Bank? An enquiry at the P. W. D. recently elicited a reply that the authorities have not decided on this question: indedd, they do not know whether the old foundation stone is likely to be disturbed at all, and if it is, the matter of its disposal will have to be left over until them. In might be pointed out that the land for the site was a free grant by the Government, made in 1864. The Theatre Royal portion of the building was "christened" as far back as November 3, 1869, when the first performance was held therein, by the Amateur Dramatic Corps (as the A.D.C. was then known), and members of the German Club Concordia. References to the Library and Museum (then a mera nucleus) are made in the report of a meeting held in 1870. In 1890, at the time of the Praya Reclamation scheme, the committee of the City Hall considered that the shareholders were entitled to benefit by the scheme as regarded the portion of the reclamation abutting on their site. The Government contested this, and the committee obtained legal advice. Despite their efforts to get some form of recognition of their supposed rights, however, the committee came up against definite officail opposition, and the matter was "allowed to stand over". There is no record of further afforts to obtain compensation.

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CITY

HALL 1

172

The City Hall was completed on June 28, 1869, almost exactly 64 years ago, and was opened an November 2 that year by H. R. H. Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh. The idea of building a city hall originated in 1861, and a meeting was held at the Hongkong Club to consider the project. A provisional committee was formed to forward the project in 1863, a report was issued by the people concerned in 1864 and a public meeting was held in August, 1866, when the tender for the construction of the building was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on February 23, 1867.

In this connexion the interesting question arises, what i is to be done with the old foundation stone? Is it to be dug up and preserved or merely buried under the foundations of the New Hongkong Bank? An enquiry at the P. W. D. recently elicited a reply that the authorities have not decided on this question: indedd, they do not know whether the old foundation stone is likely to be disturbed at all, and if it is, the matter of its disposal will have to be left over until them.

In might be pointed out that the land for the site was a free grant by the Government, made in 1864.

References to the Library and Museum (then a mera nucleus) are made in the report of a meeting held in 1870.

In 1890, at the time of the Praya Reclamation scheme, the committee of the City Hall considered that the shareholders were entitled to benefit by the scheme as regarded the portion of the reclamation abutting on their site. The Government contested this, and the committee obtained legal advice. Despite their efforts to get some form of recognition of their supposed rights, however, the committee came up against definite officail opposition, and the matter was "allowed to stand over". There is no record of further afforts to obtain compensation.

Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 173

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