Hong Kong Park
Encyclopedia
- This article is about a park in Central, Hong Kong. For general information on the parks in Hong Kong,
please refer to List of urban public parks and gardens of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Park is a public park next to Cotton Tree Drive
Cotton Tree Drive
Cotton Tree Drive is a road in Central to Mid-levels on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is famous because of the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry, a hotspot for marriage registration in Hong Kong Park....
in 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...
, 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...
. Built at a cost of HK$
Hong Kong dollar
The Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
398 million and opened in May 1991, it covers an area of 80,000 m² and is an example of modern design and facilities blending with natural landscape.
History
Part of the site was known as Cantonment Hill in early colonial days in 1841. At the upper part of the former location of the Victoria BarracksVictoria Barracks, Hong Kong
The Victoria Barracks were a barracks in the Admiralty district of Central on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The barracks were constructed between the 1840s and 1874, and situated within the area bounded by Cotton Tree Drive, Kennedy Road and Queensway, Hong Kong. The Barracks with Murray Barracks,...
, built between 1867 and 1910, the barracks were handed to the government in 1979, which turned the area into the present park. Hong Kong Park was officially opened on 23 May 1991 by Sir David Wilson
David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
David Clive Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, is a retired British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. Lord Wilson of Tillyorn was the penultimate Commander-in-Chief and 27th Governor of Hong Kong...
, the Governor of Hong Kong
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...
at that time. It covers an area of 8 hectares and is an outstanding example of modern design and facilities blending with the natural landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
.
The construction of the park was a joint project by the Urban Council
Urban Council, Hong Kong
The Urban Council was a municipal council in Hong Kong responsible for municipal services on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon . These services were provided by the Urban Services Department. The equivalent body for the New Territories was the Regional Council.-History:The Urban Council was first...
(dissolved in 1999) and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. It was granted Royal Charter and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" in 1959...
(renamed the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1996).
Historic Buildings
- Flagstaff HouseFlagstaff HouseFlagstaff House is the oldest example of British-style architecture remaining in Hong Kong. It is located in 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central - within the Hong Kong Park....
(1846), since 1984 housing the Flagstaff House MuseumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
of TeawareTeawareTeaware encompasses a broad international spectrum of equipment used in the brewing and consumption of tea. Many components make up that spectrum, and vary greatly based upon the type of tea being prepared, and the cultural setting in which it is bring prepared...
A few historic buildings of former Victoria Barracks
Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong
The Victoria Barracks were a barracks in the Admiralty district of Central on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The barracks were constructed between the 1840s and 1874, and situated within the area bounded by Cotton Tree Drive, Kennedy Road and Queensway, Hong Kong. The Barracks with Murray Barracks,...
were also conserved in the park, including:
- Cassels Block (early 20th century), former barracks for married British officers. Now housing the Hong Kong Visual Arts CentreHong Kong Visual Arts CentreThe Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre is located in Hong Kong Park, at 7A Kennedy Road in Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.According to the Plaque in the Arts Centre, it was opened by Leung Ding-Bon, the then chairman of the Urban Council in 1992....
since 1992 - Rawlinson House (early 20th century), former house of the British Deputy General, converted in the 1980s into Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry and the Office of the Park.
- Wavell House (early 20th century), former quarters for married British officers, converted in 1991 into the aviary support centre (Education Centre).
These historic buildings are graded as Grade II Historic Buildings.
The park can be easily reached by walking through the Pacific Place
Pacific Place
Pacific Place is a complex of office towers, hotels and a shopping centre situated at 88 Queensway, in Admiralty, Hong Kong. The latest phase, Three Pacific Place, is located at 1 Queen's Road East....
and its nearby escalator.
Facilities
Hong Kong Park captures the natural landscape in the busy and crowd business centre and provides a relaxing environment. Its main feature is Edward Youde AviaryEdward Youde Aviary
The Edward Youde Aviary is built over a natural valley at the southern corner of Hong Kong Park which is located on the northern slope of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The Edward Youde Aviary was opened to the public in September 1992 and managed by the Urban Council...
which is the Hong Kong's largest aviary while the Vantage Point is another great place to see the "bird exhibition". Moreover, inside the Hong Kong Park, there is a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
(Forsgate Conservatory) which holds "plant exhibition" such as "Orchid Exhibition" temporarily. There are also many modern gardens, including Garden Plaza and Tai Chi Garden. In order to suit the sport-lovers, a sport centre and a squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
centre were also built in Hong Kong Park.
Awards
- The design of the park won Honour Award for Urban Design (1998) of Hong Kong Chapter, the American Institute of Architects.,
- The Park was awarded as one of the Top Ten Buildings of the 90s by a building journal in March, 2000.
See also
- List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
- List of urban public parks and gardens of Hong Kong