Temporary buildings along seafront in front of the Central Market construction site [c.1891-c.1895]

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 03/07/2024 - 20:56
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)
Date closed / demolished
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)

Dates are guesses.

The line of temporary buildings can be seen in this photo, which shows the empty space where the Central Market will be built:

c. 1891 HK Praya showing vacant site for the new Central Market
c. 1891 HK Praya showing vacant site for the new Central Market, by Admin

Does anyone know what they were used for? Some guesses:

  • Temporary market stalls while the market was being built?
  • Accommodation / offices for the market construction?
  • Accommodation / offices for the Praya Reclamation? 

Photos that show this Place

c. 1891 HK Praya showing vacant site for the new Central Market
c.1891
Bird's eye view of Hong Kong c.1892
c.1892

Comments

The following notification appeared in the 1895 Government Gazette. I'm not sure if it refers to the temporary buildings we're talking about on this page, or some other buildings. The dates match, but the junction of the Praya and Wing Lok Street is further west than I'd have expected, unless the temporary buildings ran all the way along the shoreline from the new Central Market site to that junction.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 259.

Offers will be received at this Office until Noon of Monday, the 17th instant, for the purchase and removal of the old Market Shops and Stalls at the junction of the Praya and Wing Lok Street.

No work will be permitted on Sundays.

For form of offer, specification and further particulars apply at the Public Works Office.

The Government does not bind itself to accept the highest or any offer.

By Command,

J. H. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary’s Office, Hongkong, 8th June, 1895.