Post Office, Hong Kong
Dublin Core
Title
Post Office, Hong Kong
Subject
HK: Central - Post Office
Description
Located at the junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road on the Hong Kong Island where World-Wide House is now situated, the old General Post Office (GPO) building was completed in 1911 and demolished in 1976. Throughout the years, it had been the headquarters of the Hong Kong Post Office, serving the public and maintaining close communication with postal administrations around the world for 65 years.
Hong Kong's first post office was established in 1841 abutting the present St. John's Cathedral, and was later relocated in 1846 to the then Registrar General Office building at the corner of Queen's Road and Pedder Street. In the late 19th century, the post office was in urgent need for expansion. The government thus proposed to accommodate the post office and some other government offices under the same roof to facilitate daily government service. The junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road near Blake Pier was surrounded with major road networks. This location not only provided convenient access for the public but also facilitated postal development. The decision to build a new GPO building there was finalised in 1902 and the new building was officially opened on 19 June 1911.
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, postal services continued at the GPO building. After the liberation, with the continuous increase in demand for postal services, the office space became insufficient for postal operation despite the gradual removal of other government offices from the building.
Discussion concerning the construction of a new GPO in the Central Reclamation Area commenced in 1960, and by July 1969 the location for the present GPO was finalised. The new GPO building came into official use on 11 August 1976 and the old one was demolished three months afterwards for the construction of Mass Transit Railway.
Hong Kong's first post office was established in 1841 abutting the present St. John's Cathedral, and was later relocated in 1846 to the then Registrar General Office building at the corner of Queen's Road and Pedder Street. In the late 19th century, the post office was in urgent need for expansion. The government thus proposed to accommodate the post office and some other government offices under the same roof to facilitate daily government service. The junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road near Blake Pier was surrounded with major road networks. This location not only provided convenient access for the public but also facilitated postal development. The decision to build a new GPO building there was finalised in 1902 and the new building was officially opened on 19 June 1911.
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, postal services continued at the GPO building. After the liberation, with the continuous increase in demand for postal services, the office space became insufficient for postal operation despite the gradual removal of other government offices from the building.
Discussion concerning the construction of a new GPO in the Central Reclamation Area commenced in 1960, and by July 1969 the location for the present GPO was finalised. The new GPO building came into official use on 11 August 1976 and the old one was demolished three months afterwards for the construction of Mass Transit Railway.
Creator
K. M. and Co.
Date
1920s
Type
Postcard w/ message
Files
Collection
Citation
K. M. and Co., “Post Office, Hong Kong,” Local landscape shown in photos and postcards, accessed May 17, 2024, https://imagesofhongkong.omeka.net/items/show/19.