Source: Reprovisioning of Public Toilet at rear of 598 and 600 Queen's Road West (2-12 Belcher's Street) Hong Kong from 21 June 1981
The first public toilet at this place was built in 1922. The government paper refers that is was used by the coolies working in the loading area along the waterfront and nearby godowns. "The toilet is about 110 m2 in area with 28 compartments, 9 urinal stalls and 4 wash-hand basin with mirrors in the male section; 14 compartments and 2 wash-hand basins with mirrors in the female section and a married quarter for the attendant."
It was further referred that the toilet was old-fashioned and needed reprovisioning. A two storey building was proposed, but the current one is different. Probably the old building was demolished and a new one was built at a later date.
Update 2022-10-01
The Public Works Report for 1901 refers:
Two latrines, each of 40 seats, situated respectively at Sookunpo Market and at the junction of Queen's Road West and Belcher's Lane, which were begun in 1900, were completed.
It looks that either the Public Toilet was built in 1901 already, or in 1922 a new one was built. This would mean we have three generations of buildings on this spot.
Photos that show this Place
Comments
I remember visiting this…
I remember visiting this public toilet in the 1990s. At the time it was an old building, and looking up I was surprised to see the roof was made of tiles in the Chinese style. I guess the reprovisioning suggested in 1981 hadn't happened.
On a later visit I remember noticing the nice old roof had gone, but I can't remember if it was just the roof that was changed, or if it was a new building.