Hong Kong City Hall
Hong Kong City Hall (CN: 香港大會堂), a listed heritage site, is a cultural complex for performing arts featuring Concert Hall, the Theatre and the Exhibition Hall and the city’s first public library. You can view the current months program of events here.
The site also houses a Memorial Garden to remember the citizens and soldiers who died for Hong Kong during WWII. There is also a public library which holds many thematic collections, see library opening hours.
Hotel pick near the Hong Kong City Hall
Wikipedia Says
First generation
Hong Kong’s first City Hall, which existed from 1869 to 1933, occupied the current sites of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building (partly) and the Bank of China Building. It was designed by the French architect Achille-Antoine Hermitte and was opened by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, in a ceremony on 28 June 1869. The current site of the HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building was occupied in part by the old City Hall, and in part by the first and second generations of the HSBC building.
Design and function
The City Hall was built on Government land, and funds were raised for its construction, which started in 1866, from public subscriptions. The two-storey hall was designed by Me A. Hermite, a French architect, in a Renaissance style, with cupolae, colonnades and arches. The facilities available for use by the local community included a theatre, library, museum and assembly rooms. A fountain, sponsored by Dent & Co. was located at the front (south side) of the Hall. The building was inaugurated by HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh on 28 June 1869 on his visit to the colony.
The land was acquired by the Hong Kong Bank in 1933 for its third generation headquarters, so that the western part of City Hall was pulled down. The remaining part was demolished in 1947 to make way for the Bank of China Building.
Facilities
The second and current City Hall complex has two buildings, a garden and a three-storey car park.
City Hall Memorial Garden enclosing the World War II (1941–1945) Memorial Shrine.
The High Block, a 12-storey building, is in the south-western end and houses a number of government facilities, including:
- City Hall Public Library, an eight-storey facility, which in the past served as the central library of Hong Kong (on the 9th – 11th floors)
- Exhibition Gallery, 260 square feet (24 m2)
- Recital Hall with 111-seats.
- Committee Rooms: two 40-seat committee rooms (on the 7th floor)
- Marriage Registry (on the 1st floor)
- Fast food restaurant, managed by Maxim’s Catering: MX
The 3-storey Low Block is at the eastern end, with the following facilities:
- Concert Hall, with 1,434 seats and 60 standees at the mezzanine level.
- Restaurants and a cafe, managed by Maxim’s Catering: continental (Deli and Wine), Chinese (City Hall Maxim’s Palace) and European (City Hall Maxim’s Café) cuisines
- The URBTIX Box Office
- Exhibition Hall, 590-square metres.
- Theatre with 463 seats.
- Performing Arts Shop
- an enquiry counter
Source: Wikipedia
Map
Hong Kong, 中環愛丁堡廣場五號
