The “SEIKO” sign above the Li Po Chun Chambers building is not there. I don’t know when it appeared but I see the ‘SEIKO’ sign in photos from 1965 onwards so atm can say this photo is pre-1965.
Further Addendum: In this series of photos from 1963 at 0.11 - admittedly a bit faint as viewed from a distance - there is already a large sign (could be ‘SEIKO’) above the Li Po Chun Chambers building so atm can say this photo pre-dates 1963.
Have not checked the buildings in the background for confirmation of the date of the photo. However, there is no large sign atop the Li Po Chun Chambers building.
This photo is supposedly from 1962. It shows a large orange coloured sign above the Li Po Chun Chambers building fronting the harbour but too blurred to identify clearly as ‘SEIKO’. Nevertheless, the photo pre-dates 1962 too.
Okay, the opening photo predates even the 1961 photo moddsey posted:
On closer viewing, 5 floors down from the top floor is another large sign of a group of 4 red Chinese characters that predated the SEIKO advertisement, for it was also present in the 1962 photo WITH the SEIKO ad. It seems like the frontage of this building is a favourite for advertisement from 1961 onwards!
So by definition, the 1961 photo should show the Rumsey Street Temporary Vehicular Ferry Pier - it’s difficult to see as the view is sea level from a distance but with an eye of faith - it is there (just below the corner tower of the Harbour office) well to the left of the large berthed vessel.
Comments
From left to right are …
From left to right are
Sincere Department Store [1915-1968]
The Sun Department Store / Dah Sing Department Store [1929-1973]
189, Des Voeux Road Central ( Li Po Chun Chambers - 1st gen.) [c.1958-c.1993]
Harbour Office (4th Generation) / Marine Department building [1906-1983]
Wing On Department Store, Sheung Wan [1907-c.1975]
From the construction and demolition dates, the date of the photo is between 1958 and 1968.
Po Shan Mansion
No sign of Po Shan Mansion on Po Shan Road, so must be '65 or earlier.
The “SEIKO” sign above the…
The “SEIKO” sign above the Li Po Chun Chambers building is not there. I don’t know when it appeared but I see the ‘SEIKO’ sign in photos from 1965 onwards so atm can say this photo is pre-1965.
Addendum: In this 1964 8mm Kodachrome film of the Hong Kong waterfront at 0.54-0.57 min the ‘SEIKO’ sign is present. So the photo pre-dates 1964.
Further Addendum: In this series of photos from 1963 at 0.11 - admittedly a bit faint as viewed from a distance - there is already a large sign (could be ‘SEIKO’) above the Li Po Chun Chambers building so atm can say this photo pre-dates 1963.
1961 Sheung Wan Waterfront
Have not checked the buildings in the background for confirmation of the date of the photo. However, there is no large sign atop the Li Po Chun Chambers building.
This photo is supposedly…
This photo is supposedly from 1962. It shows a large orange coloured sign above the Li Po Chun Chambers building fronting the harbour but too blurred to identify clearly as ‘SEIKO’. Nevertheless, the photo pre-dates 1962 too.
Okay, the opening photo…
Okay, the opening photo predates even the 1961 photo moddsey posted:
On closer viewing, 5 floors down from the top floor is another large sign of a group of 4 red Chinese characters that predated the SEIKO advertisement, for it was also present in the 1962 photo WITH the SEIKO ad. It seems like the frontage of this building is a favourite for advertisement from 1961 onwards!
Possibly narrow down to 1958-1960
Further addendum.On closer…
Further addendum.
On closer viewing of the original photo at the extreme right, it’s clear the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co. Wharf (2nd generation) is gone and reclamation has begun. At that location the Rumsey Street Temporary Vehicular Ferry Pier - which commenced operation on 15th January 1960 - doesn’t seem to be there. So the date is now most likely towards latter half of 1959.
So by definition, the 1961 photo should show the Rumsey Street Temporary Vehicular Ferry Pier - it’s difficult to see as the view is sea level from a distance but with an eye of faith - it is there (just below the corner tower of the Harbour office) well to the left of the large berthed vessel.
possibly 1959
Looks like mid-late 1959, before mid-November.
Mid-late 1959, as Breezy Court at the junction of Park Road and Breezy Path reached or over its half height.
Still some sunlight onto the northern facade of the old buildings on the west of Marine Office, so before mid-November in 1959.
Completion of Li Po Chun Chambers
I note the industrial history website here gives Nov 1957 as the opening date of Li Po Chum Chambers (first gen).