This photo should be dated before mid-1960s as Ho Tung Lau was demolished by that time for the construction of the railway depot, which was built in 1968.
The first depot building was constructed underneath where Royal Ascot now stands, to the northeast of the Ho Tung Lau site. Ho Tung Lau remained for some time until the lower part of the depot was constructed (the bit underneath Jubilee Gardens). You can sstill see it on 1978 Govt aerial images, but obviously by then it was surrounded by the new development (see this image centre right: https://www.hkmapservice.gov.hk/OneStopSystem/map-search/getPreviewFile…).
philk, thank you very much for correction. I have double checked and confirmed your are right. I am confused by some Chinese historical information. I have checked the maps and aerial images again and confirmed that Ho Tung Lau still exists in the mid-1970s and it was only demolished later for the new development including the expansion of KCR depot as you said.
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This photo should be dated…
This photo should be dated before mid-1960s as Ho Tung Lau was demolished by that time for the construction of the railway depot, which was built in 1968.
60s date
This is not correct about the demolition (although you might be correct about the photo date).
Ho Tung Lau was still around even by the late 1970s because it featured in the 1977 film The Amsterdam Kill starring Robert Mitchum. See here: https://hkmacaufilmtvlocations.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-amsterdam-kill-….
The first depot building was constructed underneath where Royal Ascot now stands, to the northeast of the Ho Tung Lau site. Ho Tung Lau remained for some time until the lower part of the depot was constructed (the bit underneath Jubilee Gardens). You can sstill see it on 1978 Govt aerial images, but obviously by then it was surrounded by the new development (see this image centre right: https://www.hkmapservice.gov.hk/OneStopSystem/map-search/getPreviewFile…).
My apology for confusion
philk, thank you very much for correction. I have double checked and confirmed your are right. I am confused by some Chinese historical information. I have checked the maps and aerial images again and confirmed that Ho Tung Lau still exists in the mid-1970s and it was only demolished later for the new development including the expansion of KCR depot as you said.
Ho Tung Lau
Dennis, no need to apologise. Do you know when it was finally demolished? 1978 is the latest year I can find. Phil