SOCONY/A. P. C. Service Station - Queen's Road Central & Wardley Street [1926-c.1933]

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 12/08/2023 - 07:42
Current condition
Demolished / No longer exists
Date completed
(Day is approximate.)
Date closed / demolished
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)

Said to be the first service station in Hong Kong. See  here 

The Asiatic Petroleum Co. have erected a service station outside the City Hall at the junction of Queen's Road Central and Wardley Street. The service station will prove a great convenience to the motoring public on the island and be operated by the Hong Kong Hotel Garage. It opened during the first week of December 1926.

Sources: Hong Kong Telegraph 4 & 11 December 1926.

(Upon checking - This Advertisement for Duro Motor Garage on Nathan Road, Kowloon dated February 1925 mentions Duro as being the first filling station in Hong Kong. Further work required for the first one on Hong Kong Island)

Photos that show this Place

SOCONY/Shell Central Filling Station
1926
HSBS Bank 1920's.jpg
1920s

Comments

Hi moddsey. There is possibly a mix-up in the brands of the petrol stations. The article in the Hong Kong Telegraph refers to a station operated by the Asiatic Petroleum Co. (joint venture between the Shell and Royal Dutch). Their brand name was Shell, so the advert fits.

Socony is an American Company, their brand name was Mobil, but they also used Socony.

Therefore I think the place should possibly be named Asiatic Petroleum Co./Shell Service Station.

However, on the HSBC photo, there is a Socony petrol station on the right, and possibly the Shell one is on the left.

Possibly there were two petrol stations in front of the HSBC?

 

Thanks. Yes I noted the different names.  Not sure yet if APC/ Socony shared the same filling station. Thus, in the interim I have put down Socony/APC as the location until there is further information or evidence.