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The Old General Post Office
舊郵政總局大樓

1911, Government 政府建築

19 Des Voeux Road Central (World-Wide House)
香港中環德輔道中19號 (環球大廈現址)

The junction of Queen’s Road Central and Pedder Street, where World-Wide House is currently located, used to be home to the Former General Post Office. Situated at the riverbank at that time, the Post Office was a convenient spot for mail transportation. Subsequent to the northward extension of coastline, the Post Office was relocated to the current site at waterfront in August 1976, so as to accommodate the construction plan of MTR Central Station and create income for the Treasury.

Former General Post Office was an early government compound.. In addition to post-related facilities, the office offered services by different public service departments. The design of this four-storey Edwardian architecture was selected through an open competition, with an aim to construct the best facility in the last century. Materials were chosen meticulously to construct the façade facing the street, tower and the decorative balcony. Unfortunately we can only learn about this public building with old photos and videos now.

位於皇后大道中與畢打街交界,即環球大廈現址,是舊郵政總局。它在岸邊,方便運輸郵件。但隨著海岸線的北移,並遷就規劃中的地下鐵路中環站及增加庫房收入等外在因素,郵政總局在1976年8月遷往臨海的新址。

舊郵政總局是早期的政府合署,除了郵務上的設施外,還有不同的部門,為市民提供服務。這棟四層高的愛德華式建築物,是從公開比賽中選出來的,目的是建構上世紀初最優級的設施,用料也非常講究,對街的立面,有塔樓,裝飾的騎樓等,可惜現在只能從照片、錄像中回顧這座公共建築。

文:李培基 (香港註冊建築師)
相片:吳啟聰提供 (香港註冊建築師)

http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=29070&page=1





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