Ho Tung Gardens
Encyclopedia
Ho Tung Gardens, also known by its Cantonese name 'Hiu Kok Yuen', is a villa on The Peak, Hong Kong built by and named for Robert Hotung
in 1927. It was declared a Grade 1 historic site by the Antiquities Advisory Board
. Invoking the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance for the fourth time in history, it was declared a "proposed historical monument" by the Government of Hong Kong in 2011.
, only Europeans were allowed to live on Victoria Peak
. Hotung was half-European and half-Chinese, and was already living on the Peak when the law was enacted; the residence was constructed between 1927 and 1938. The site, reported to be a 120000 square feet (11,148.4 m²) lot, was originally known as "The Falls", because of a stream in the vicinity.
The compound was designed by Palmer and Turner Architects, a noted architectural practice, in a Chinese Renaissance
style. It is known that the 2-storey main building was built in 1927, whilst parts of the gardens, in particular the ornamental gateway, were completed in 1938, after the death of Lady Hotung. Within the extensive gardens are a pavilion and a 5-storey pagoda
, built with reinforced concrete and Chinese roof-tiles. The gardens also house calligraphy by Qing Dynasty officials, Zeng Guofan
and Zuo Zongtang
.
As a prominent businessman at the time, Hotung received many famous visitors at the villa, including George Bernard Shaw
; US Vice President John Nance Garner
visited in 1935. It was commandeered as a military base to fight the Japanese Imperial Army in 1941. Parts of the structure, including the roof, were damaged in heavy fighting and the building became dilapidated thereafter. In 1946, Hotung sought compensation from the government for the damage; the building was then renovated several times.
Hotung's son, Robert, lived on the property between the 1960s and 1990s, and ownership passed onto grand-daughter Ho Min-kwan in 2003. According to Ho Min-kwan, Hotung never lived in the property, which had also been extensively modified.
in July 2010, where it was declared a Grade 1 historic site, although such declaration does not confer statutory protection. In late January 2011, the Government of Hong Kong invoked the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
for the fourth time in history, declared it "a proposed historic monument", thus imposing a 12-month moratorium on redevelopment of the site, pending negotiations with the owner. In October 2011, two government consultancy reports, by experts at the University of Hong Kong and submitted to the Antiquity Advisory Board, concluded that it has high historical and architectural value.On 24 October 2011, the Antiquities Advisory Board approved the government proposal to declare the Ho Tung Gardens on the Peak a monument.
Robert Hotung
Sir Robert Ho Tung Bosman, KBE , better known as Sir Robert Hotung, was an influential Eurasian businessman and philanthropist in British Hong Kong. It has often been claimed that he was the "first Chinese person to be allowed to live on Victoria Peak" in 1906, two years after the enactment of the...
in 1927. It was declared a Grade 1 historic site by the Antiquities Advisory Board
Antiquities Advisory Board
The Antiquities Advisory Board is a statutory body of the Government of Hong Kong created in 1976 to evaluate old buildings in Hong Kong, and to recommend those with historical or architectural merit for listing as monuments. It is under the responsibility of the Home Affairs Bureau, directly...
. Invoking the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance for the fourth time in history, it was declared a "proposed historical monument" by the Government of Hong Kong in 2011.
Etymology
While the property is known by the name of 'Ho Tung Gardens' in Chinese (何東花園), the gardens' alternative given Chinese name is "Hiu Kok Yuen" (曉覺園) – an amalgam of names of Ho and his second wife, Clara. Hotung's alternative Chinese name Hiu-sang (何曉生); his wife was Cheung Lin-kok (何張蓮覺).History
According to the Peak Reservation OrdinancePeak Reservation Ordinance
The , commonly known as Peak reservation Ordinance, was a racially-based zoning law passed by the Hong Kong Government that reserved the Victoria Peak as a place of residence to non-Chinese people except with the consent of the Governor...
, only Europeans were allowed to live on Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
. Hotung was half-European and half-Chinese, and was already living on the Peak when the law was enacted; the residence was constructed between 1927 and 1938. The site, reported to be a 120000 square feet (11,148.4 m²) lot, was originally known as "The Falls", because of a stream in the vicinity.
The compound was designed by Palmer and Turner Architects, a noted architectural practice, in a Chinese Renaissance
Chinese architecture
Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in East Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details...
style. It is known that the 2-storey main building was built in 1927, whilst parts of the gardens, in particular the ornamental gateway, were completed in 1938, after the death of Lady Hotung. Within the extensive gardens are a pavilion and a 5-storey pagoda
Pagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
, built with reinforced concrete and Chinese roof-tiles. The gardens also house calligraphy by Qing Dynasty officials, Zeng Guofan
Zeng Guofan
Zeng Guofan was an eminent Han Chinese official, military general, and devout Confucian scholar of the late Qing Dynasty in China....
and Zuo Zongtang
Zuo Zongtang
Zuo Zongtang , spelled Tso Tsung-t'ang in Wade-Giles and known simply as General Tso in the West, was a Chinese statesman and military leader in the late Qing Dynasty....
.
As a prominent businessman at the time, Hotung received many famous visitors at the villa, including George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
; US Vice President John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
visited in 1935. It was commandeered as a military base to fight the Japanese Imperial Army in 1941. Parts of the structure, including the roof, were damaged in heavy fighting and the building became dilapidated thereafter. In 1946, Hotung sought compensation from the government for the damage; the building was then renovated several times.
Hotung's son, Robert, lived on the property between the 1960s and 1990s, and ownership passed onto grand-daughter Ho Min-kwan in 2003. According to Ho Min-kwan, Hotung never lived in the property, which had also been extensively modified.
2010s
The owner, Hotung's grand-daughter, applied for permission to redevelop in mid 2010; technical approval was gained from the Buildings Department in December 2010 as it satisfied planning requirements. According to building plan submitted – by the original firm that designed the villa, 11 blocks of four-storey houses would be built; a total floor area would be 60,000 square feet. The case came before the Antiquities Advisory BoardAntiquities Advisory Board
The Antiquities Advisory Board is a statutory body of the Government of Hong Kong created in 1976 to evaluate old buildings in Hong Kong, and to recommend those with historical or architectural merit for listing as monuments. It is under the responsibility of the Home Affairs Bureau, directly...
in July 2010, where it was declared a Grade 1 historic site, although such declaration does not confer statutory protection. In late January 2011, the Government of Hong Kong invoked the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance
The Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, in Hong Kong Law , was enacted in 1976 to preserve the objects of historical, archaeological and palaeontological interest and for matters ancillary thereto or connected therewith...
for the fourth time in history, declared it "a proposed historic monument", thus imposing a 12-month moratorium on redevelopment of the site, pending negotiations with the owner. In October 2011, two government consultancy reports, by experts at the University of Hong Kong and submitted to the Antiquity Advisory Board, concluded that it has high historical and architectural value.On 24 October 2011, the Antiquities Advisory Board approved the government proposal to declare the Ho Tung Gardens on the Peak a monument.