Hong Kong Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Hongkong Hotel was Hong Kong
's first luxury hotel, modelled after sumptuous London hotels. It was opened on Queen's Road
and Pedder Street
in 1868.
, and expanded onto the Victoria Harbour
waterfront of Victoria City in 1893.
and Pedder Street. It was owned by The Hongkong Hotel Company, which later became The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited
, current owner of The Peninsula Hotels
chain.
In the late 1880s a six-storey north wing was built on the waterfront expanding the hotel, with entrances on Pedder Street, Queen's Road and Praya Central (now Des Voeux Road Central). Competing in all respects with the Peak Hotel, owned by The Star Ferry Company
, the management provided a special launch to meet arriving passengers on incoming P&O mail steamers and ferry them direct to the hotel's pier.
Even after the north wing burned down in 1929, the original part of the hotel, especially the large Gripps restaurant, continued to be well used by the public, but the hotel was eventually closed in 1952.
, where the west wing of its "princely" headquarters was located.
Completed in 1893; the hotel burned down on New Year's Day, 1926.
The site was acquired by Hong Kong Land in 1928, and Gloucester Tower was constructed in 1932. It was redeveloped into The Landmark
in 1979.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's first luxury hotel, modelled after sumptuous London hotels. It was opened on Queen's Road
Queen's Road
Queen's Road is the first road in Hong Kong built by the Government of Hong Kong between 1841 and 1843, spanning across Victoria City from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai...
and Pedder Street
Pedder Street
Pedder Street is a major thoroughfare in the core of Hong Kong’s Central District. It runs south-north from Queen's Road Central, continues through Des Voeux Road Central, and ends at its intersection with Connaught Road Central.-History:...
in 1868.
, and expanded onto the Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
waterfront of Victoria City in 1893.
The hotel
The original hotel, opened in 1868, stood roughly on the site of the present Central building at Queen's Road CentralQueen's Road
Queen's Road is the first road in Hong Kong built by the Government of Hong Kong between 1841 and 1843, spanning across Victoria City from Shek Tong Tsui to Wan Chai...
and Pedder Street. It was owned by The Hongkong Hotel Company, which later became The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited
Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited , , is an investment holding company based in Hong Kong. It is the owner of Hong Kong's famous Peninsula Hotel and its sister hotels, the Peak Tram and many other residential and commercial properties and other businesses...
, current owner of The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Hotels is an ultra-luxury hotel operator based in Hong Kong, part of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. Their "flagship" hotel, the famous Peninsula Hong Kong, which opened in 1928, used to be known as the 'finest hotel east of the Suez'....
chain.
In the late 1880s a six-storey north wing was built on the waterfront expanding the hotel, with entrances on Pedder Street, Queen's Road and Praya Central (now Des Voeux Road Central). Competing in all respects with the Peak Hotel, owned by The Star Ferry Company
Star Ferry
The Star Ferry, or The "Star" Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon...
, the management provided a special launch to meet arriving passengers on incoming P&O mail steamers and ferry them direct to the hotel's pier.
Even after the north wing burned down in 1929, the original part of the hotel, especially the large Gripps restaurant, continued to be well used by the public, but the hotel was eventually closed in 1952.
The North Wing
A six-storey north wing of the hotel facing the waterfront opened in 1893. It replaced the Melcher's Building, which itself was formerly owned by Dent & Co.Dent & Co.
Dent & Co. or Dent's, was one of the wealthiest British merchant firms, or hongs, active in China during the 19th century. The company was a direct rival to Jardine, Matheson & Co...
, where the west wing of its "princely" headquarters was located.
Completed in 1893; the hotel burned down on New Year's Day, 1926.
The site was acquired by Hong Kong Land in 1928, and Gloucester Tower was constructed in 1932. It was redeveloped into The Landmark
The Landmark (Hong Kong)
The Landmark is an office and shopping development owned by Hong Kong Land in Central, Hong Kong. It is commonly known as the home of numerous prestigious international brands and the gathering place of well-heeled shoppers.-History:...
in 1979.