STEPS IN AMOY STREET, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG · The Steps in Amoy Street: ... Chronology of Events 9. ... commercial and residential centre after the arrival of the British in 1841

STEPS IN AMOY STREET, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG

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Contents

1. Background of the Study

2. Research on the Study Area

2.1 Early History of the Study Area

2.2 Amoy Street: Origins and Early Development

3. The Steps in Amoy Street: Preliminary Findings

3.1 Site Observations

3.2 Land Records

4. Findings of Ground Investigations at No. 186 Queen’s Road East

5. Comparison with Swatow Street

6. Conclusions

7. Bibliography

8. Chronology of Events

9. Plates

1 Pottinger’s Map (1842)

2 Gordon’s Map (1843)

3 Lt Collinson’s Ordnance Survey (1845)

4 Plan of Marine Lot 40 (1859)



7 Plan of Amoy & Swatow Lanes (1901)

8 Plan of Amoy & Swatow Streets (1921)


10 Widening of Amoy Street (1949)

11 Surrender of Sec. A of I.L. 4333 (1949)


13 Plan of Swatow Street (1938)



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1. Background of the Study

1.1 The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will redevelop the site of Lee Tung

Street and McGregor Street for a comprehensive commercial and residential

development with GIC facilities and public open space. Shophouses at

186-190 Queen’s Road East (Grade II) will be conserved for adaptive re-use.

The Town Planning Board (TPB) at its meeting on 22 May 2007 approved

the Master Layout Plan submitted by URA with conditions including the

submission of a conservation plan for the shophouses to be preserved within

the site to the satisfaction of the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services or

of the TPB.

1.2 Under the redevelopment scheme, a lay-by and turnaround along Amoy

Street (廈門街) is proposed to provide through traffic southbound to

Queen’s Road East, as a result of the closing of Lee Tung Street for

pedestrianization. This would entail the demolition of a set of steps at the

level difference between Amoy Street and Queen’s Road East.

1.3 An assessment of the site, with particular emphasis on the steps in Amoy

Street and Swatow Street and their adjoining areas, has been conducted by

the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) of the Leisure and Cultural

Services Department (LCSD). Archaeological excavation has been

conducted in accordance with existing policy and practice.

Proposed lay-by and turnaround along Amoy Street (as at 16 August 2007)

The steps in

Amoy Street

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1.4 Photos of the steps in Amoy Street and Swatow Street are on the following

pages.

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Steps in Amoy Street

Photo 1. Viewing from north to south

Photo 2. Viewing from south to north

Photo 3. Stone tablet “I.L. 4333” Photo 4. Stone tablet “I.L. 4333”

Photo 5. Side view of the Steps Photo 6. Side view of the Steps

The stone

tablet

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Steps in Swatow Street

Photo 7. Steps in Swatow Street

Photo 8. The flight of six concrete steps

close to Queen’s Road East

Photo 9. The two flights of narrow concrete steps

connected by landings

Photo 10. Part of steps repaired with concrete

Stone

Concrete

Public utilities

manhole cover

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2. Research on the Study Area

2.1 Early History of the Study Area

2.1.1 The early coastline of Wan Chai (literally, “small bay”) extended from the

west of Morrison Hill to Queen’s Road East around Hung Shing Temple

(also known as Tai Wong Temple), which may have existed as a shrine long

before the British came to Hong Kong Island (Mak et al. 1974, 203). Wan

Chai was developed into a European centre in 1840s to 1850s and has

become an increasingly Chinese residential, labouring and shop-keeping

community by 1860s.

2.1.2 The coastline of Wan Chai underwent considerable changes in the last

century. Several reclamation projects were carried out over the years to

meet the growing demand for land arising from population growth and

economic development. The Praya Reclamation Scheme during 1921-1931

doubled the area of Wan Chai (Hong Kong Legislative Council Sessional

Papers, No.1/1931, 6; Hong Kong Daily Press Office 1940, A-477).

2.1.3 In the early days numerous sampans gathered along the shoreline near the

Hung Shing Temple which was a landmark seen from the water. Local

fishermen and boat builders plied their trade here, and later the British built

shipyards, piers (Burns’ Pier and Larkin’s Pier) and godowns. Shops such

as ships’ chandlers and other maritime trades were set up (Wordie 2002, 102;

Er 2003, 185-186). This association with the sea is still remembered today

in street names such as Ship Street (船街), Schooner Street (捷船街) and

Sam Pan Street (三板街).

2.1.4 The area now known as Wan Chai was developed into a European

commercial and residential centre after the arrival of the British in 1841.

Queen’s Road East, one of the oldest roads along the oldest northern shore

of Wan Chai, was built in 1840s to become the main thoroughfare of the

British settlement (Eitel 1983, 185).

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2.2 Amoy Street: Origins and Early Development

2.2.1 The British arrived at Hong Kong in January 1841 and the first land sales, by

public auction, took place on 14 June. Thirty marine lots were then ready

for sale, each having a frontage along Queen’s Road, and varying in depth to

the shore according to the shape of the coastline (Endacott 1973, 28; Eitel

1983, 172-173).

2.2.2 Amoy Street was opened up on Marine Lot 40 (M.L. 40), north of Queen’s

Road East (Hong Kong Administrative Report 1915, Q-23). According to

British colonial records, M.L. 40 measured 6,000 square feet. Its first

purchaser was MacVicar & Co. which used the lot as warehouse and paid an

annual rent of ￡75 to the Hong Kong government (Ho 2004, 29).

2.2.3 M.L. 40 passed in succession through the hands of several owners. Since

the 1840s, this site (then being the sea front) was once occupied by a pier

named Burn’s Pier, probably named after leading British merchant and

Justice of the Peace, D.L. Burn (Eitel 1983, 159). Later on, it became a

property of Dr Patrick Manson (founder of Dairy Farm) who came to Hong

Kong in 1883 from Amoy where he had been serving as a medical officer in

the Chinese Maritime Customs, as well as the site of sugar factories, etc.

(Crisswell 1979; Smith 1995, 125).

2.2.2 Amoy Street originally was called Amoy Lane. By 1915, Amoy Lane was

a private lane as well as ‘cul-de-sac’ (i.e. a short road which is closed at one

end by houses or by a barrier of some kind) opening off Queen’s Road East,

its northern ends being blocked by godowns which occupied the northern

portion of M.L. 40 (Hong Kong Administrative Report 1915, Q-59).

2.2.3 In 1914/15, the owner of the godowns having decided to erect houses on his

lot, it became necessary for him to lay out streets. Accordingly, Amoy

Lane was extended through the rest of the lot (M.L. 40) to the Praya East

(the present Johnston Road). Forming, surfacing, kerbing, channeling and

paving extensions (30 feet wide) were done in 1915. In view of the altered

conditions, the ‘lane’ was renamed ‘street’ (Hong Kong Government Gazette,

25 June 1915, 325; Hong Kong Hansard 24 June 1915, 46).

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2.2.4 In 1916, re-surfacing and other repairs under the provisions of Section 186

of the Buildings Ordinance were carried out by the Public Works

Department at the cost of the frontagers in Amoy Street and Swatow Street

(Hong Kong Administrative Report 1916, Q-17).

2.2.5 In 1923 and 1926, storm-water drains and sewers were laid at Amoy Street,

as part of the Praya East Reclamation Scheme which necessitated not only

the raising of certain roads with all sewers and storm-water drains but also

the ground floor levels of some of the old houses. This was necessary in

order to provide satisfactory gradients and outfalls for the discharge of storm

water and sewers on the line of the new sea wall (Hong Kong Administrative

Report 1923, Q-102; 1926, Q-81; Hong Kong Legislative Council Sessional

Papers, No.1/1931, 1).

3. The Steps in Amoy Street: Preliminary Findings

3.1 Site Observations

3.1.1 The existing seven steps of Amoy Street (the Steps) are built of modern

concrete, flanked by two modern railings at each side. They are ordinary

steps with no architectural merits.

3.1.2 Traces on the Steps indicate that half of the Steps have been altered recently.

An old-time resident, who has been living in Wan Chai since 1956 and

working in Amoy Street for some 20 years, recalled that the Steps have been

repaired in recent years, and that there were no railings on the Steps in the

past (Kwan Yau-fen pers. comm.).

3.1.3 From evidence in other places the original steps were probably granite slabs.

The present concrete steps show a distinct joint in the centre probably

because the steps were built in two halves so as not to disrupt pedestrian

access to and fro (Photo 11).

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3.1.4 The platform at the junction of Amoy Street and Queen’s Road East is paved

by red bricks, and the area close to the Steps (about 3 x 7 m) has more than

twelve marks of public service utilities, e.g., electricity, drainage, gas,

drinkable water and tele-communication, which pipe works are probably laid

underneath, so the area has been disturbed.

3.1.5 The possibility of discovery of original stone steps is relatively low, while

road blockage and suspension of relevant public service utilities (which are

not practicable) are required for conducting archaeological excavation. In

view of the above, ground investigations are conducted at the vacant

pre-Second World War building in No.186 Queen’s Road East nearby.

3.2 Land Records

3.2.1 Maps of early Hong Kong (e.g. Pottinger’s Map of 1842, Gordon’s Map of

1843, Lt Collinson’s Ordnance Survey of 1845, as well as a map of 1859)

indicate that Amoy Street falls on Marine Lot 40 (M.L. 40) which adjoined

the early coastline of Victoria Harbour (Plates 1 to 3).

3.2.2 From the early days of the British settlement, the lots of land had all fronted

on Queen’s Road East and the marine lot holders had been left to provide

piers or effect any improvements on the sea fronts they chose (Endacott

1973, 101). Queen’s Road ran parallel to the sea through this area.

Photo 11. The joint at the centre of the Steps in Amoy Street

The joint

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3.2.3 The early maps also show that the existing steps in Amoy Street, which falls

on M.L. 40, are geographically close to the early coastline of Old Wan Chai

where a pier, namely, Burn’s Pier, was constructed.

3.2.4 By 1866 (1859 to 1866), Praya East (the present Johnston Road) was built to

the north of M.L. 40. The praya involved the construction of a sea wall and

a measure of reclamation since it could not follow the uneven coastline

(Plates 4 to 6).

3.2.5 According to a 1901 map (Plate 7), Amoy Street (formerly Amoy Lane) was

assigned a house number 158 and it might not be opening off Queen’s Road

East up to 1901. Also, the map does not indicate any steps in Amoy Lane.

On the other hand, many steps in other parts of Wan Chai (such as those in

Ship Street and Tik Lung Lane) are shown in the same map.

3.2.6 A 1921 map (Plate 8) indicates that Queen’s Road East and Amoy Street and

Johnston Road might be accessed through before 1921; however, no steps in

Amoy Street are indicated. Once again, many steps in other parts of Wan

Chai (including the small ones in Tik Lung Lane) are shown in the same

map.

3.2.7 According to another old map dated 1936 (Plate 9), there is no evidence that

the existing steps in Amoy Street were built before World War II.

3.2.8 The steps in Amoy Street were shown in a drawing of the then Public Works

Department dated 21 January 1949 (Plate 10). At the time, the government

intended to acquire land for road widening.

3.2.9 The steps in Amoy Street were shown in another drawing dated 28 July 1949

(Plate 11). At the time, a parcel of land of Inland Lot 4333 (I.L. 4333)

required for the widening of Amoy Street was surrendered to the government.

Nowadays, a stone tablet engraved “I.L. 4333” still exists on site.

3.2.10 A comparison of the land records of 1949 (aforesaid) and maps of a later

year such as those of 1959 (Plate 12) indicates that the existing steps in

Amoy Street appear to be identical in size and location during the past half

century or so.

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4. Findings of Ground Investigations at No. 186 Queen’s Road East

4.1 Ground investigations in the form of excavation and visual inspection have

been conducted by a consultant of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in

order to obtain informed data underneath the building at No. 186 Queen’s

Road East, which is adjacent to the existing steps in Amoy Street. In

addition, the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) conducted manual

augering at one of the trial pits for further information.

4.2 In the first place, four trial pits were excavated by URA’s consultant at No.

186 Queen’s Road East. The findings revealed that the building

foundations are 2 metre below ground level resting on a loose to medium

compact fill or coarse sand and gravel. In one of the trial pits at the rear of

the building, the top 1.8 metre was imported backfill material and sand was

found below 1.8 m. It is not known if the sand is natural marine sand (The

Team Consultant 2007, 3).

4.3 An additional (fifth) trial pit within the building was excavated by URA’s

consultant on 24 September 2007. The excavation ceased at the depth of

1.5 metre below the existing surface due to site safety. Section of this trial

pit showed no soil change below the surface, i.e., dark grey sandy soil mixed

with gravels and tile fragments.

4.4 Further to the excavation of URA’s consultant, AMO conducted manual

augering at the bottom of the fifth trial pit. Augering ceased at 2.6 metre

below the existing surface due to underground water (water level at -2.2

metre). Fill materials were found at approximately -1.5 metre to -2.15

metre, and a layer of light brown loose coarse sand was found at

approximately -2.3 metre to -2.6 metre.

4.5 Based on the above findings, it is highly likely that the steps of Amoy Street

were laid on backfill materials. The possibility that the light brown loose

coarse sand is original marine sand could not be completely ruled out;

however, the above findings give no direct evidence to confirm that the steps

of Amoy Street are markers of the first coastline before 1842.

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5. Comparison with Swatow Street

5.1 Amoy Street and Swatow Street (one street to the west of Amoy Street) were

both situated in M.L. 40. They appeared as “lanes” in the 1910 map (Plate

8) and became streets in 1915 when they were extended through M.L. 40 to

the Praya East (Hong Kong Administrative Report 1915, Q-59).

5.2 Presently, there is a flight of six concrete steps built on Swatow Street close

to Queen’s Road East, and two wide granite steps located in the close

proximity of the concrete steps (1/3 were damaged).

5.3 Alongside these steps in Swatow Street there are two further flights of

concrete steps about 1 metre wide connected by landings, with a public

utilities manhole cover inscribed “HGC BROADBAND” set in the middle

landing.

5.4 The forms and sizes of the existing steps at Amoy Street and Swatow Street

are different. They were not aligned on the same line, and situated at two

different levels.

5.5 According to a drawing of the Superintendent of Crown Lands & Survey for

1938 (Plate 13), there is no evidence that the existing concrete steps in

Swatow Street were built before World War II. The two levels of granite

steps, however, have probably existed by 1938.

5.6 In a 1949 drawing of the Public Works Department (Plate 10, aforesaid),

there is an indication that the two levels of granite steps in Swatow Street

probably existed in 1949. There is, however, no indication that the existing

concrete steps in Swatow Street were built before that time.

5.7 A comparison of Plate 10 (dated 1949), Plate 14 (dated 1963) and Plate 15

(dated 1967) shows that the two flights of narrow concrete steps connected

by landings in Swatow Street were probably built between 1963 and 1967,

when a portion of Inland Lot 4356 (I.L. 4356) was resumed for the purpose

of road widening.

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6. Conclusions

6.1 Amoy Street and Swatow Street were opened up on part of Marine Lot 40

(M.L. 40) which marked where the coastline of Wan Chai was at the time

when the British arrived at Hong Kong Island in 1841.

6.2 It is possible that the level differences between Queen’s Road East and

Amoy Street / Queen’s Road East and Swatow Street are indicative of the

early landform of the old seashore of Wan Chai. But there is also evidence

that the difference in level was brought about by the raising of road levels,

storm-water drains and sewers as part of the Praya East Reclamation Scheme

completed in 1930.

6.3 Government land records show no evidence of the existence of the present

Amoy Street steps before the Second World War. There is, however, clear

evidence that such steps existed in 1949.

6.4 The six concrete steps built on Swatow Street close to Queen’s Road East

are shown in a map for 1959, whilst the two levels of granite steps located in

the close proximity of the concrete steps probably existed in 1938. The

two narrow flights of steps connected by landings appear to have been built

between 1963 and 1967 after resumption of a portion of I.L. 4356.

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7. Bibliography

Official Reports and Documents

Hong Kong Administrative Report. 1915, 1916, 1923, 1926. Hong Kong: Noronha &

Co.

Hong Kong Government Gazette. 1915. Hong Kong: Noronha & Co.

Hong Kong Hansard, Printed Proceedings of the Legislative Council. 1915. Hong

Kong: Noronha & Co.

Hong Kong Legislative Council Sessional Papers. 1931. Hong Kong: Noronha & Co.

Archives in Public Records Office, Hong Kong

HKRS 156-1-6553. Amoy Street, Hong Kong – Acquisition of Land for the

Widening of … (24.06.1958 – 16.08.1963)

HKRS 156-2-3248. Swatow Street, Hong Kong – Acquisition of Land for the

Widening of … (14.08.1967)

HKRS 265-11A-3059. I.L. No. 4333, S.A. – Deed of Surrender of Section A of

Inland Lot No. 4333 (09.04.1952)

HKRS 265-11D-3133-1. Praya East Reclamation L. No. 40; Praya East Reclamation

L. No. 40, S.A; Praya East Reclamation L. No.43, S.A- Agreement (23.11.1921)

HKRS 265-24A-355-2. I.L. 4355 – Crown Lease of Inland Lot No. 4355

(23.03.1938)

Archives in Survey and Mapping Office, Hong Kong

HD 32. Plan of Marine Lot 40 (1866)

HG 20-1. Plan of Marine Lot 40 (1850)


HG 34-4. Plan of Amoy & Swatow Streets (1936)


HH 19. Plan of Amoy & Swatow Lanes (1901)

Sheet No. 213-NE-1 (1959). Plan of Amoy & Swatow Streets (1959)

Sheet No. 213-NE-1 (1967). Plan of Amoy & Swatow Streets (1967)

Books, Monographs and Articles

Cheng, Po-hung (2001) A Century of Hong Kong Island Roads and Streets. Trans.

Paul Levine and Judy Chang. Hong Kong: Joint Pub. (Hong Kong) Co.

Crisswell, Colin (1979) ‘The Vanishing City: Poor Business in Wanchai,’ South

China Morning Post (Hong Kong), 7 January.

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Eitel, E.J. (1983) Europe in China. Reprint of the 1895 original with the addition of

an introduction by H.J. Lethbridge. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.

Empson, Hal (1992) Mapping Hong Kong: A Historical Atlas. Hong Kong: Hong

Kong Government Printer.

Endacott, G.B. (1973) A History of Hong Kong. Revised edition. Hong Kong: Oxford

University Press.

Er, Tong (爾東) (2004) Qutan Xianggang jiedao 趣談香港街道 (Gossip on Hong

Kong streets). Hong Kong: Ming Pao Publication Ltd.

Ho, Pui-yin (2004) Challenges for an Evolving City: 160 years of Port and Land

Development in Hong Kong. Trans. C.S. Johnson. Hong Kong: Commercial Press.

Hong Kong Daily Press Office (1940) The Directory and Chronicle of China, Japan,

Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Siam, Netherlands India,

Borneo, The Philippines & C. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Daily Press Office.

Mak, K.Y., Mackreth, A.H., Liu, B. and Werle, H. (1974) ‘Programme Notes for Visits

to Older Parts of Hong Kong Island (Urban Areas), and to Kowloon, in 1974,’

Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 14: 196-234.

Smith, Carl T. (1995) A Sense of History: Studies in the Social and Urban History of

Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Educational Publishing Co.

The Team Consultant (2007) ‘Brief Description on the Steps at the Junction of Both

Swatow Street and Amoy Street with Queen’s Road East.’ Unpublished report

prepared in association with Urban Renewal Authority.

Wordie, Jason (2002) Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong

Kong University Press.

Oral Interviews

Kwan Yau-fen (關友芬). October 8, 2007. Interviewer: Fung Chi-ming. Mr. Kwan

is a staff of Kwan King Kee Machinery Engineering (關敬記機器工程), No.27

Amoy Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

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8. Chronology of Events

Year

Event Source

1842 Burn’s Pier at M.L. 40 projecting from

shoreline.

Pottinger’s Map (1842)

1843 Extension of the shoreline at M.L. 40

toward the harbour.

Gordon’s Map (1843)

1845 � The shoreline at the section of M.L. 40

was situated at about 200 feet north of

Queen’s Road East.

� The structure building on M.L.40 is

behind the coast.

Lt

Collinson’s Ordinance

Survey (1845)

1850 Further extension of the coastline of M.L.

40 toward the harbour.

Plan of Marine Lot 40, 1859

and 1866

1859-66 Extension of the shoreline to the present

Johnston Road (formerly, Praya East)

Plan of Marine Lot 40, 1859

and 1866

1862 Procurator of the Dominican Mission

bought M.L. 40 as an investment.

Smith (1995, 125)

1868-69 The building on M.L. 40 was rented to the

military.

Smith (1995, 125)

1876 Oriental Sugar Co. (太古糖廠) commenced

business on M.L. 40 and closed down after

a few years.

Crisswell (1979)

1888 Jardine, Matheson & Co. purchased M.L.

40 and changed the name of the factory as

China Sugar Refinery (中國煉煻廠).

Smith (1995, 125)

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Year

Event Source

1889 (after) The land was redeveloped with Chinese

houses after the pull down of the refinery in

1889.

Smith (1995, 125)

1912 The government demolished the riding

floors over the entrance to Amoy Lane for

the provision of scavenging lanes.

Hong Kong Administrative

Report 1912, 20

1915 Amoy Lane and Swatow Lanes were

renamed ‘streets’ and, by arrangement with

the leasee, the new portions were taken

over as public streets.

Hong Kong Government

Gazette, 25 June 1915, 325

1916 Re-surfacing and other repairs to Amoy

Street and Swatow Street.


Report 1916, Q-17

1923, 1926 Storm-water drains and sewers were laid at

Amoy Street.


Report 1923, Q-102; 1926,

Q-81.

1921-30 Praya East Reclamation Scheme. The

coastline was extended to Gloucester Road.

Cheng (2001, 70)

1949 Widening of Amoy Street and Swatow

Street.

Public Records Office,

HKRS 265-11A-3059

1963-67 The two flights of narrow concrete steps

connected by landings in Swatow Street

were built.

Public Records Office,

HKRS 156-1-6553

Survey and Mapping Office,

Sheet No. 213-NE-1 (1967)