Connaught Road
Encyclopedia
Connaught Road refers to one major road and its western extension on the north shore of Hong Kong Island
, Hong Kong
Connaught Road Central is a main thoroughfare that runs the length of Central
, parallel to the north shore. It runs from approximately Admiralty in the east, where it connects into Harcourt Road
, to the Shun Tak Centre in the west, where the road becomes Connaught Road West.
Connaught Road West (干諾道西) runs towards the Kennedy Town
and Pok Fu Lam
areas in the west. For most of the stretch, Connaught Road West runs beneath the Connaught Road West Flyover, (Route 4
). It is the main thoroughfare to the entrance of the Western Harbour Tunnel and beyond to Shek Tong Tsui
, where it merges with Des Voeux Road
.
, then acting governor
, announced a new road extension beginning from the old "Bowring Praya", which was to be renamed Des Voeux Road
. The new praya
would be named Connaught Road, after Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
when he visited Hong Kong in 1890. A statue of the Duke once occupied the junction of Pedder Street
.
Connaught Road West was lined with many piers in the past. Rice wholesalers gathered there owing to its proximity to the shore. Due to reclamation
of the harbour, the whole of Connaught Road has now become landlocked.
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, Hong Kong
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...
Connaught Road Central is a main thoroughfare that runs the length of Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, parallel to the north shore. It runs from approximately Admiralty in the east, where it connects into Harcourt Road
Harcourt Road
Harcourt Road is a major road in Admiralty in Hong Kong, connecting Wan Chai and Central.-History:Built after World War II, Harcourt Road was once a waterfront promenade and to ease congestion on Hong Kong Island...
, to the Shun Tak Centre in the west, where the road becomes Connaught Road West.
Connaught Road West (干諾道西) runs towards the Kennedy Town
Kennedy Town
Kennedy Town is at the western end of Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It was named after Arthur Edward Kennedy, the 7th Governor of Hong Kong from 1872 to 1877...
and Pok Fu Lam
Pok Fu Lam
Pok Fu Lam or Pokfulam is a residential area on Hong Kong Island, at the western end of the Southern District.Pok Fu Lam is a valley between Victoria Peak and Mount Kellet, around Telegraph Bay....
areas in the west. For most of the stretch, Connaught Road West runs beneath the Connaught Road West Flyover, (Route 4
Route 4 (Hong Kong)
Route 4 is an east-west road artery along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Formerly divided into routes 7 and 8, Route 4 consists of two sections:...
). It is the main thoroughfare to the entrance of the Western Harbour Tunnel and beyond to Shek Tong Tsui
Shek Tong Tsui
Shek Tong Tsui is a town in Sai Wan on the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it belongs to the Central and Western District....
, where it merges with Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road Central and Des Voeux Road West are two roads on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. They were named after the 10th Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George William Des Vœux...
.
History
This road was once a waterfront promenade with boats docked against the northern side of the road. In 1889, the north shore of Victoria City was under extensive reclamation. At the time of the prince's visit, Francis FlemingFrancis Fleming
Sir Francis Fleming KCMG was a British colonial administrator.His father was James Fleming, Q.C.. He attended Downside College near Bath, and studied law at the Middle Temple, and was called to the bar in 1866....
, then acting governor
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, announced a new road extension beginning from the old "Bowring Praya", which was to be renamed Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road
Des Voeux Road Central and Des Voeux Road West are two roads on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. They were named after the 10th Governor of Hong Kong, Sir George William Des Vœux...
. The new praya
Praya
Praya , was a term used in Colonial Hong Kong to refer to a promenade by the waterfront. The name comes from the Portuguese term for the broad stone-faced road that runs parallel along the harbour in front of the city. HSBC and Dent & Co...
would be named Connaught Road, after Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
when he visited Hong Kong in 1890. A statue of the Duke once occupied the junction of 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:...
.
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
of the harbour, the whole of Connaught Road has now become landlocked.
Structures with frontage on Connaught Road
- AIG TowerAIG TowerThe AIA Central in Hong Kong is a 185 m , 40 storey skyscraper that was completed in 2005...
- Hong Kong Club BuildingHong Kong Club BuildingThe Hong Kong Club Building is 25-storey office building located in between Chater Road and Connaught Road Central at the junction of Jackson Road, in Central, Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Club Building is currently in its third generation, in its second location...
- Statue SquareStatue SquareStatue Square is a public pedestrian square in Central, Hong Kong.-History:The square was built at the end of the 19th century. The idea of a square of statues dedicated to royalty was conceived by Sir Catchick Paul Chater. It derives its name from the fact that it originally contained the statue...
- City Hall, Hong KongCity Hall, Hong KongThe Hong Kong City Hall is a building located at Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.Since Hong Kong does not designate itself or any part of itself as a city, there is no mayor or city council; therefore, the City Hall does not hold the offices of a city government, unlike most...
- Mandarin Oriental, Hong KongMandarin Oriental, Hong KongMandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is a five-star hotel, located on Connaught Road in Central, Hong Kong, owned and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The hotel opened its doors in 1963 as “The Mandarin”, and quickly drew recognition for its service and elegance...
- Connaught PlaceConnaught Place, Hong KongConnaught Place, formerly called Connaught Centre, is a square near Jardine House in Central, Hong Kong.The General Post Office and Exchange Square have Connaught Place addresses....
- Chater HouseChater HouseChater House is an office tower in Central, Hong Kong opened in 2003. It is a part of the Hongkong Land portfolio of properties. Its main tenant is JPMorgan, who have their Asia Pacific headquarters in the building...
- Jardine HouseJardine HouseJardine House , formerly known as Connaught Centre , is an office tower in Hong Kong. The building is located at 1 Connaught Place, Central on the Hong Kong Island. It is owned by Hongkong Land Limited, a subsidiary of Jardines. At the time of its completion in 1972, Jardine House was the tallest...
- Central Elevated WalkwayCentral Elevated WalkwayThe Central Elevated Walkway is an extensive footbridge network spanning Admiralty and Central, near Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.The system was built in phases by the Hong Kong Government and various developers, such as Hongkong Land, Jardine Matheson Holdings and Shun Tak Holdings. It has...
- World-Wide HouseWorld-Wide HouseWorld-Wide House is an office building in Central, Hong Kong. It is located between Connaught Road Central, Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road Central.-History:The site is situated on land reclaimed at the turn of the 20th century....
- Exchange Square,
- One, IFCInternational Finance CentreThe International Finance Centre is an integrated commercial development on the waterfront of Hong Kong's Central District....
, - Wing On HouseWing On HouseWing On House is the name of a commercial building located at No. 71 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.-History:Upon its completion in 1967, it was very briefly Hong Kong's tallest commercial building, with 31 stories...
- New Hang Seng Bank Headquarters Building
- Shun Tak CentreShun Tak CentreShun Tak Centre is a commercial and transport complex on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong...