Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada)
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Heritage Conservation in Hong Kong (3)

Declared Monuments in Kowloon - Remnants of the South Gate of Kowloon Walled City
Kowloon Walled City was originally a garrison town built by the Qing government in 1847 as a military outpost occupied by several hundred soldiers to reinforce the coastal defence of the region. The City wall was built with large granite slabs and incorporated six watch towers and four gateways. The South Gate was officially recognised as the "main gate". During the Japanese Occupation, the wall was completely torn down to provide material to extend Kai Tak Airport. In 1987, the government decided to demolish and replace the Walled City by a park. Archaeological investigations were conducted in the course of demolition of the buildings. Archaeologists and found that foundations of the original South and East Gates were particularly well preserved. The most important discovery was the two stone plaques bearing the characters "South Gate" and "Kowloon Walled City" of the original South Gate. Consequently, the Government decided to preserve the remnants of the South Gate in-situ for display to the public.


Declared Monuments in Kowloon - Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower
The Hong Kong Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was opened for traffic on 1 October 1910. The construction of a terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui started in 1913 and the clock tower was completed in 1915 to form part of the complex. The main terminus building was demolished in 1978 leaving only the clock tower which has become a landmark of Hong Kong. The clock tower is 44m high surmounted by a 7m lightning rod.


Declared Monuments in Kowloon - Hong Kong Observatory
The Hong Kong Observatory was established in 1883 and was built on a small hill in Kowloon. Built in the colonial style, it is a rectangular two-storey plastered brick structure characterised by arched windows and long verandas. The technical and operational units of the Observatory have been moved to new premises nearby, leaving the old building to continue to house the office of the directorate and to serve as a centre of administration.


Declared Monuments in Kowloon - Former Kowloon British School
This is the oldest surviving school building constructed for foreign residents living in Hong Kong. In 1900, Mr. Ho Tung (later Sir Robert) donated HK$15,000 to the Government to erect a school in Kowloon. The building was officially opened on 19 April 1902. It is a typical Victorian structure, but was modified to adapt to local climatic conditions by adding wide verandas, high ceilings and pitched roofs. After proper restoration, it houses the Antiquities and Monuments Office.






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