Central Business District

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Organizer Research Team

Liberal Studies Teaching Kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum

[Teacher notes]

Visit: Central

Central Business

District

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Visit: Central - Central Business District

1.1

Itinerary

1.2 Background information of Central

1.3 How did Central grow into a CBD?

1.4 Check points

1

Statue Square

2

Court of Final Appeal (Former French Mission Building)

3

HSBC Main Building

4

Government Hill

5

New Government Complex

Summary, Key words and Further reading

Contents

Preamble

Teaching plan i

Disclaimer

Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communication and Technology Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

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Teaching plan

Lesson

Contents

Visit

Central

Central Business District

• 1.1

• 1.2

• 1.3

• 1.4

Planned itinerary for the field trip Background information of Central

Historical background of how Central was developed into a central business district

Significance of the development of Central 1 Statue Square - the major public space 2 Court of Final Appeal - the rule of law 3 HSBC Main Building -

the financial centre

4 Government Hill -

the political centre in history

5 New Government Complex - the heart of political administration

Liberal Studies

Module 2 Hong Kong Today

• Theme 1: Quality of life

• Theme 2: Rule of law and socio-political participation

• Theme 3: Identity

Related teaching areas

Liberal Studies: Module 6 Energy Technology and Environment

• Theme 2: The environment and sustainable development

Liberal Studies: Module 3 Modern China

• Theme 2: Chinese culture and modern life

Interdisciplinary teaching areas

Visual Arts:

• Visual Arts Appreciation and Criticism in context

Design and Technology:

• Strand 1 Design and Innovation

• Strand 3 Value and Impact

Learning objectives

• To appreciate the iconic architecture in Central, the central business district

• To identify political, financial and social impacts on the form of architecture, and in reverse how architecture shows the past and the present of Hong Kong

Topic 06

Visit: Central - Central Business District

Major teaching areas

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1.1 Itinerary

Statue Square

15 min

Old Supreme Court (For-mer Legislative Council

Building)

15 min

HSBC Main Building

10 min

Government Hill

40 min

New Government

Complex

40 min

Pre-Trip Introduction (20 min)

• Background information of Central

• Objectives and introduction of on-site exercises

• Planned route

VISIT (approximately 2 hours)

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Features along the route

Route

Liberal Studies — Central — Central Business District

Points of interest

1. Statue Square • Urban development from the colonial period

• Political implication of the public space

• Seafront reclamation

• Globalization

• Social and cultural use of public spaces

2. Old Supreme Court

(Former Legislative Council Building)

• Architecture from the colonial period

• Conservation of historic buildings

• Globalization — Western/Classical style

• Importance of the rule of law

3. HSBC Main Building • Architecture from the colonial period

• International identity of Hong Kong

• Globalization — High-tech architecture

• Economic and financial development in Hong Kong

• Feng Shui considerations

• Use of public space for social purposes

4. Government Hill • Political and administrative status of the building cluster in the past

• Past identity of British colonial government

• Low profile image of the government

• Globalization — Modernism

• Conservation and revitalization of historic buildings

5. New Government Complex • Political and administrative status of the building in the present

• Shift of political power

• Reflecting the present sovereignty of Hong Kong

• Identity of Hong Kong Government at present

• A more prominent visual presence for the Government

• Globalization — Post-modernism

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1.2 Background Information: Central

Central as the political and cultural centre

Central has been the cultural and political centre of Hong Kong since 1841 under the British rule. Globalization has profound influence as in the following aspects:

Major Public Space

As the heart of political and administrative matters, as well as living and trading, a number of public parks were built in Central since 19th century by the British colonial government. The current Chater Garden was the former cricket ground for British, while the Statue Square was a place for political and military parade during the colonial period. These parks now become popular ground for leisure as well as public demonstration.

The Heart of Political and Administrative Control

The concentration of government offices and buildings showcases Central as the heart of political and

administrative centre in the past 171 years. The building cluster on the Government Hill and its central axis pointing towards the Victoria Harbour display the former British government’s authority over the colony. Important government buildings like the Government House, the Central Government Offices, the Former French Mission Building and the Old Supreme Court created a closely articulated political setting that controls the political and administrative aspects of Hong Kong.

The significance of the Anglican Church for the British government is symbolized by placing the St. John’s Cathedral on the Government Hill.

After the handover of the sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997, the political significance has been shifted away from the Government Hill. In 2012, the Central Government Complex at Tamar is officially in use. It is located right next to the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Building.

The Financial Centre

Due to the open economic policy exercised by the former British colonial government, tremendous foreign investment was attracted to Hong Kong. As a famous entrepôt in the world, Central has been regarded as the CBD (Central Business District) with concentration of office towers, facilitating the trading and communication process. Iconic buildings were erected to represent the economic forces behind. These landmark buildings mostly adopt western architectural or modern style, making Central one of the most distinctive metropolises in the world.

The increasing commercial connectivity between countries lead to the blooming infrastructure development in Hong Kong, and especially in Central. Both inter- and intra-city transportation networks are located in Central for easy accessibility.

Intra-district network: Central walkway system, Mid-Levels escalator

Intra-city network: MTR, Ferry, Bus, Tram

Inter-city network: Hong Kong Station (to the airport)

Central - the development in the heart of an international city

Globalization & Localization

1. Globalization is a worldwide standardization in cultural, social, economical, political and technological aspects through exchanging and integrating international knowledge and principles among region.

2. Localization is a development process that is guided by the customs, culture, social and economic conditions of a particular geographical area.

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1 What are the characteristics of a CBD?

What is a CBD?

A central business district (CBD) is an area of very high land valuation characterized by a high concentration of retail businesses, service businesses, offices, theatres, and hotels, and by a very high traffic flow.

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

1.3 How did Central grow into a CBD?

Historical factors

Central was known as part of Victoria City when the colony was founded in 1841. It was first chosen to be city’s major military and administration centre. Over the years, Central had attracted traders, missionaries and people from all walks of life, paving the path for future development, renewal and reclamation work.

Efficient finance and transport hub

Since the early days, the vitality and accessibility of Central have always appealed to foreign traders and professionals. It has become a hub of world-class service providers and a coordinator of global economic activities such as financing, consulting, accounting and law. Roads and railways were built to link Central efficiently to other parts of the city and the present Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

A wealth of world-class modern and historic architecture

Central is also the showcase of some of the best pieces of modern architecture. Many renowned architects from all over the world have participated in the ongoing development process of Central. The iconic modernist architecture, together with many valuable historic

buildings, have contributed to the development of Central as one of the most dazzling CBDs in the world.

Metropolitan lifestyle

Nowadays, Central is more than a hub of commerce and finance. Central is a melting pot of global cultures where various cuisines, international brands and 5-star hotels can be found, while its open spaces and community facilities help promoting a vibrant and balanced metropolitan life.

Suggested answer

Major Characteristics:

• High accessibility • High rent

• High plot ratio

• High development density

• Presence and concentration of tall buildings • Node of major commercial activity

• Presence of bank headquarters • Presence of financial firms

• Presence of multi-national corporations

2 Name 3 office tower buildings that are owned by international firms or designed by internationally known architects.

3 Where was the transport hub of Central and where is the present location? Why the change?

[Discussion]

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1.4 Checkpoints

Statue Square

Citibank Plaza by Rocco Yim

Former French Mission Building (Former Court of Final Appeal)

Bank of China Tower by I. M. Pei HSBC Main Building

by Norman Foster Prince’s Building

by Leigh & Orange Mandarin Oriental by Leigh & Orange

Government Hill

City Hall by Ron Phillips and Alan Fitch

Civic/cultural Financial Administrative

Commercial

Old Supreme Court (Former Legislative Council)

Axis

Statue Square

皇后像廣場

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Built in : late 19th_century

Use : Former ground for military parade Gathering space

p Statue Square in the 1900s © Gwulo

Significance

• Statue Square part of the central axis leading to Government Hill, reinforcing the identity of Central as administrative and political centre

• Witness of the inauguration ceremony of colonial governors and arrival of the Queens.

• Statue Square is a popular destination for protests regarding social and political issues.

• It is also a popular place for festive celebration.

p Statue Square in the 1960s © Gwulo

p Statue Square at present © WiNG-Wikipedia User

[Exercise]

1 Statue Square marks the centre of the administration and economy, as well as that of global business and finance. Can you identify the following buildings from where you are standing and suggest their use?

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Mixed development of Central

Within a 600 m radius from Statue Square, there are buildings of cultural, financial, commercial and administrative uses. This marks Central as a core development district in Hong Kong.

Central is the oldest and the newest developed place of Hong Kong - the oldest buildings, both commercial and residential, can be found along and south of Queen’s Road Central (built 1842), while lining along Des Voeux Road (built 1889) are later buildings which are taller in general and dominated by shops and offices. The area on both sides of Connaught Road (built 1903), on the more recently reclaimed land, we can find the newest, and in general tallest office towers, as well as public buildings such as

City Hall and Central Station. Together with the buildings on the latest harbourfront such as IFC2 and Hong Kong Station, they create the iconic skyline and the image of the metropolitan Hong Kong

Axis from the Government House to the waterfront

Due to the landscape of the Government Hill, the axis turns at an angle when there is a level different at the West Wing Building. Open spaces are reserved in front of the buildings along the axis to allow visual connections of space at different levels. The axis passes through HSBC Main Building and Statue Square towards the waterfront. The waterfront was believed to be an important military area during the colonial period.

p Site map of Central and the promenade, 1889

p Site map of Central and the promenade, 1856 p Site map of Central and the promenade, 1842

Seafront Reclamation

The Statue Square was built on reclaimed land. New land was obtained by reclamation during the colonial period. Another purpose for reclamation along the promenade by the waterfront (the Praya) was to repair the damages from a typhoon in 1847. The Praya Reclamation Scheme project was proposed in 1855 and completed in 1873, adding significant land to Central, and a new road, Des Voeux Road, was built by the new seafront.

• Economic perspective

Given the scarce buildable land and great demand for office buildings, the reclamation along Victoria Harbour was one way to solve the problem.

• Social perspective

Public squares have always been an important feature in western town planning. During the 1873 reclamation, Statue Square was incorporated into the planning to provide leisure and gathering space for the people, as compliant to western design principles.

A new mode of transportation, the tram, had also begun to operate along this new shoreline in 1904, gradually replacing rickshaws, one of the primary modes of

transportation in the past.

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Teaching Tips

More information can be found in Liberal Studies Topic 8: ‘Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings’,

Old Supreme Court (Legislative Council Building)

舊最高法院（立法會大樓）

Built in : 1900-1912

Style : Neoclassical incorporated with Chinese architectural characteristics Architects : Aston Webb and E. Ingress Bell

Use:

1912-1978 : Supreme Court

Except during World War II when Japanese troops occupied Hong Kong and the turned the building into the headquarters of Hong Kong Military Police.

1985-2011 : Legislative Council

Due to a structural crack discovered during the construction works of the Mass Transit Railway in 1978, the building was closed for reinstatement and alteration works. It was reopened in 1985 as Legislative Council Building.

Future use : Court of Final Appeal

u The exterior of the Old Supreme Court was declared a

monument by Antiquities and Monuments Office and protected legally under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance

Colonial architecture

The Old Supreme Court (Legislative Council Building) is in a colonial style influenced by Western aesthetics (Neoclassicism). However, to better suit the local climate, some details, such the Chinese tile roof, are a reflection of Chinese influence. The stone used was granite, a locally available material of Hong Kong.

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HSBC Main Building

（匯豐總行大廈）

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Second HSBC 1886-1935 (Victorian style) Third HSBC 1935-1978 (mixed Art Deco and stripped Classical Style i.e. classical elements simplified to show only structural or proportional systems) Current building : 1986 (High-tech architecture)

*Most expensive building in world at time of completion (HK$ 5.2 billion)

Architect : Lord Norman Foster (architect of Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak

Cruise Terminal and West Kowloon Cultural District)

u The land lot in front of the HSBC Main Building to the

waterfront is to remain a permanent free space for public, as stated in the lease with the government. The building with unobstructed view of the seafront is considered to enjoy good Feng Shui (water represents wealth in Feng Shui).

What is the relationship between architecture and city identity?

The HSBC Main Building is an important part of the city’s identity:

• Helped elevating Hong Kong’s status to a world-level metropolitan and contributed to the development of Hong Kong’s banking and finance industry

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The building in High-tech style, together with the Neoclassical Old Supreme Court, creates an interesting contrast of architectural styles in Central

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As an iconic and unique building, it is an integral part of the Hong Kong skyline and harbourfront.

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It is a popular attraction for tourists and designers alike. It is also a favourite gathering spot for foreign domestic helpers and is also a public space valued by locals

Phototaking Tips

Photography not allowed anywhere in the building except in the atrium

You can find some bullet scars on the body of the left lion,

Stephen. The marks were left during Japanese occupation in WWII.

[Do you know...]

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The ground plaza of HSBC Main Building was dedicated to the public * in order for HSBC to obtain additional permitted gross floor area of the site (i.e. more floor area can be built on the same site). For years, it has become a popular gathering space for foreign domestic helpers during holidays. Starting in 2011 and until recently, the plaza has been used by the ‘Occupy Central’ movement as their base of protest.

Please interview some of the visitors on the site and find out how this public space is perceived.

Teaching Tips

For more information about the technical side of the building, information can be found under Design and Applied Technology Topic 11: ‘VISIT: Central - Structure of Skyscrapers’.

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Government Hill（政府山）

Built in : 1842 (the first building on Government Hill)

Use : At first a residence, the building had been adapted to many different uses throughout its history, including the Russian Consulate, the base of a French mission, government offices, headquarters for provisional Hong Kong Government after Japanese surrender in WWII. The building has been used as the Court of Final Appeal since 1997, but with the Court relocating to the Legco Building after 2011, its future use is yet to be determined.

The Court of Final Appeal is a symbol of Hong Kong’s judicial system. It is a distinctive monument that speaks well of Hong Kong’s colonial past, with different uses in different periods. It is a declared monument.

Built in : 1849

Style : Gothic Revival in Victorian period (19th_century)

Use : Main Anglican Cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of Hong Kong

St John’s Cathedral is the oldest surviving example of Western architecture in Hong Kong, sitting on the only freehold land (permanent).

Built in : 1855

Style : Neoclassical with Japanese influence as the building was modified during Japanese Occupation during WWII

Use : Residence of the Chief Executive and 25 colonial governors, also the venue of reception and ceremony for important events.

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Court of Final Appeal (Former French Mission Building) 終審法院（前法國外方傳道會大樓） St. John’s Cathedral（聖約翰座堂） Government House（香港禮賓府；前港督府） © Sherry Fung © Sherry Fung

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Footbridge Network

The Central Elevated Walkway System（中區行人天橋系統）

is an extensive network of escalators and footbridges in Central and Western district. The walkways provide all-weather passage to facilitate pedestrian access between Jardine House, Chater House and the General Post Office. This also avoids adding pressure on the traffic.

p The horizontality of the elevation (West Wing, on the left with blue tint) is ended by the adjacent heavy building mass (East Wing) with a different surface material and formal expression. © Karen Tsui

The Government Offices were built in three phases : In 1954, the East Wing was completed;

In 1956, the Central Wing was completed; In 1959, the West Wing was completed.

Architects : Michael Wright, John Aitken (West Wing) of Architectural Office of the Public Works Department.

Use : the former seat of the Hong Kong Government and offices of most Government departments

Central Government Offices (中區政府合署／政府總部)

[Discussion]

1 How do you navigate around Central? What kind of circulation path can you find here?

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Teaching Tips

For more information about the use of space, further information can be found under Arts Topic 05: ‘VIDEO: Form and Space in Architecture’.

p The form of the Government Complex is to symbolise the openness of the Government（門常開）

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Built in : 2008-2011

Use : Former use as the naval base of British Forces Overseas Hong Kong was ceased on 11 April 1997. The proposal of adapting the Tamar site as the location of the new Central Government Offices was announced in 2002,and it was subsequently approved in 2005. Construction completed in August 2011.

Architect : Rocco Design Architects Limited

New Central Government Complex, Tamar

添馬艦新香港政府總部

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Historical Significance

• The site was named after HMS Tamar, a British ]naval vessel which fought for Hong Kong in WWII, and was once the British naval base as well as the venue of many large-scale cultural events or concerts

Social Significance

• The administrative functions of the Government is placed together with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building, the symbol of military power

Aesthetic Significance

• The form of the government complex is symbolizes the openness and transparency of the government （門常開）

• Compared to the functionalist style of the old Central Government Offices, the new design focuses much more on sustainability and the visual language is very much in line with the nearby commercial buildings along the seafront

• The new buildings are more prominent architecturally than the old buildings, giving the Government offices a more powerful sense of presence

Chief Executive Offices LegCo Central Government Offices

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Cultural Significance

• The Tamar site broke away from its history of being a military site during the ten years when the development project was on hold.

• The 4.2- hectare open ground was left idle and was used occasionally as the venue for festivals, performances and other public uses. Various events had been held here, including ‘Harbour Fest’ in 2003 and a Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) event in 2006.

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Organizer Research Team

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isit: Central - Central Business District

Sponsor

Summary

Central is the Central Business District in Hong Kong. Buildings and public spaces are not only marking the economical and financial importance of Central to the city but also politically, socially and culturally. The relocation of the political centre also marks the historical change in Hong Kong as from colonial rule to become a special administrative region of China.

Key words