Central & Western District Special 3: The Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception

Introduction

The Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. The first Roman Catholic cathedral of Hong Kong was built in 1843 on Wellington Street and   destroyed in a fire in 1859. then the cathedral was rebuilt in Caine Road in 1883. Until now, it has over 100 years history, 

1897

Special attractions

The Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception is an imposing Gothic Revival style built in a Greek cruciform shape with a tower at the intersection of the nave and transepts. It is constructed predominantly of bricks and stone over a granite platform and is supported by external buttresses. The church is also near to Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, after visiting the church, you may go there to take a rest. 

Geographical location

Can take 

the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator to Caine Road, then turn left and walk across Caine Road, until you see Caritas Hong Kong. Or you can take bus number 23 in Admiralty and take off at Caritas. 

(see the map)


                                                                                                                                 
   By Kensepth Li

Central & Western District Special 2: Wing Lee Street

Wing Lee Street - a historic street in Hong Kong

Wing Lee Street is a street in Hong Kong. It is located in Sheung Wan near Shing Wong Street, Bridges Street, Ladder Street and the Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters.

In Wing Lee Street, there are some old Hong Kong 1960s buildings. The street has been described as "the seediest street in Hong Kong" and the Urban Renewal Authority planned to redevelop Wing Lee Street with Staunton Street as H19 project. But after Echoes of the Rainbow was filmed at this street and won the Crystal Bear for the Best Film in the Children's Jury "Generation Kplus" category at the 2010 Berlin Film Festival, the redevelopment plan was scrapped. 

How to get there

Take the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator to Caine Road. Walk along Caine Road in the direction of Sheung Wan and turn right on to Shing Wong Street. Walk down the stairs until you see the now-famous Wing Lee Street.

(the map)

 Forgotten Memories - Forget It Not 

 By Clarence Chow

Central & Western District Special ①: Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps

Built between 1875 and 1889, the granite Duddell Street Steps was declared a statutory monument on 15 August 1979 together with the four gas lamps on its two sides.

According to the catalogue of the manufacturer, Suggs & Co., the four gas lamps belonged to the two-light Rochester models produced in 1922. There was, however, no record of their year of installation. Being erected on the balustrades on both sides of the stone steps, these four gas lamps have shorter lampposts than those of the ordinary ones.

In 1862, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) was founded to provide street lighting service. Since gas lamps did not require to be refueled, they replaced kerosene lamps very quickly and Hong Kong became one of the first cities in East Asia where streets were streets were lighted with gas lamps. At that time, these gas lamps had to be ignited and extinguished manually with a long rod daily.

After World War II, gas lamps throughout the Territory were gradually replaced by electric lamps. The four gas lamps at Duddell Street Steps are the remaining ones for which Towngas is now responsible for gas supply and maintenance. Having been equipped with automatic switches, they are now turned on and off daily at 6p.m. and 6a.m. automatically.