The Fairview, 41A Conduit Road (Former Mok Residence, later the FCC) [1911-c.1963]

Submitted by David on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 12:48
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
Date closed / demolished
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)

Thanks to Moddsey for identifying this as the building used as the Hospital in filming of 'Love is a many splendored-thing'.

  • 1911: A Chinese gentleman, Mr. Mok Kon Sang, built a palatial residence at 41 Conduit Road.
  • 1951: It becomes the new home of the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC)
  • 1955: The site is used as the location for the hospital where Han Suyin works, in the film Love is a many splendored-thing (see comment below).
  • 1960: Building bought by Cheng Hing Realty.
  • 1961: The FCC moves into new premises at Li Po Chun Chambers, though it's not clear from their website exactly when they left Conduit Rd.
  • 1963: Aerial photos show the building has been demolished (see comment below).
  • 1966: Site bought by Court Properties.
  • 1970-72: A new building opens on the site: "Realty Gardens is a residential estate situated at 41 Conduit Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong. It was built in two phases in 1970 & 1972 by the Harriman Group and consists of approximately 400 residential units in 5 residential towers (London Court, Paris Court, Venice Court, Rome Court & Vienna Court) above a car park podium."

References:

Later place(s) at this location
Realty Gardens [1971- ]

Photos that show this Place

1938
1955 Love is Many Splendored Thing - Hospital Scene
1955
1950s view over Sai Ying Pun
1955
See more photos of this place

Comments

I wonder if there's a pavilion left from the Mok Residence, which is located at the top of Realty Gardens?  If it's ture, it should be the only remaining part of the former site, can it only be reached by the Realty Gardens' residents? or anyone can go there via the path located at the end of Po Shan Rd?

China Mail 30 March 1961

Update and snippets of information about the Mok's residence on Conduit Road as noted here Scroll to page 5.

Built in 1924 as a family mansion. Not sure about the 1911 date. Sold to Hing Cheung Realty Company. The mansion was featured in "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" in 1956 and in a Chinese film "Velvet Glove" in 1960.

The 1911 date comes from the late Dr Dan Waters's article about the site: http://www.realty-gardens.com.hk/index_topic.php?did=187458&didpath=/18…

Looking at the 1924 map (https://gwulo.com/node/4034?a=1#17/22.28158/114.14633/Map_by_ESRI-1924_…), the site of this building looks to be IL 1889. The sale of that lot is listed in item 3 of the PWD's Annual Report for 1911, but I haven't found any mention of when it was built on.

 

The mansion also briefly featured in the 1962 German film Heisser Hafen Hongkong starring Horst Frank.

On a separate note, I took the opportunity of snapping a picture from a high flat at the rear of Realty Gardens last year. You can see the remnants of the old terrace, steps and walkways that were featured in Love is a Many-Splendored Thing. I'm not sure if that's the pagoda hidden behind trees at the far right, I can't remember.

Fairview rear terrace
Fairview rear terrace, by Philk

The date for the demolition of this building doesn't tally with aerial photos. There was an aerial photo run done in Feb of 1963 and the site seems to already be levelled. Not sure of this link will work but here is one of the images: https://www.hkmapservice.gov.hk/OneStopSystem/map-search/getPreviewFile?itemId=DAP&sheetNo=1963-7208

Also, according to the AFI, the production date for Love is a Many-Splendored Thing was between Mar and Apr of 1955 (regarding the question mark in the timeline of the building).

philk, this is a fascinating aerial photograph in your 'demolition date' message. Pretty conclusive evidence I would say that by 1st February 1963, the Mok residence, Fairview, 41A Conduit Road, had been demolished. 

Interesting links in the names of Cheung Hing Realty Company, who bought the site from the Mok family, Court Properties who bought the site from Cheung Hing, and the resulatant redevelopment into Realty Gardens which is divided into 5 Courts.

I have just spent an enjoyable time identifying some well known buildings in the aerial photograph:

On Caine Road: Kom Tong Hall. Hop Hing Church, Euston.

On Seymour Road: Police Qtrs (junction with Caine Road), Idlewild, 

On Robinson Road: Synagogue

On Conduit Road: The 2nd Buxey Lodge (1st on Conduit Rd)

There are many more!

Ian

 

 

Hi Ian

There are also some images taken in 1949 that are very interesting - sadly afew are marred by some annoyingly opaque clouds. But since the Govt put these online they have been really useful in pinning down dates. Unfortunately, it looks like there was nothing much done throughout the 50's in terms of aerial photography.

Phil