Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir

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Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir
Shen Shui Bu Sham Shui Po Zhu Jiao Shan (Wo Zi Shan ) Bishop Hill (Woh Chai Shan) Pei Shui Ku Service Reservoir, 2020.12.28 (4).jpg
Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir before its demolition was stopped
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Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir
Location Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
Coordinates 22°19′46.2″N114°10′04.0″E / 22.329500°N 114.167778°E / 22.329500; 114.167778
Built1904;119 years ago (1904)

History

The Service Reservoir was completed on 10 August 1904 with a Romanesque architecture, [3] a building style which was thought to have arrived in Hong Kong from Britain who inherited it from ancient Rome. [4] The Reservoir terminated its service in 1970 when the larger Shek Kip Mei Fresh Water Service Reservoir, which had a larger storage, replaced its functions. [5]

Demolition and Conservation of Reservoir

In 2017, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) discovered cracks at the top of the underground Reservoir and tree roots breached the dome of the Reservoir, posing structural hazard to the entire establishment. After confirming the Reservoir was no longer in use and consulting the AMO who did not voice any objection, the WSD decided to demolish the Reservoir and redesignate the government land for general use by the Lands Department. [6] The demolition work began in October 2020. By December 2020, the disused Reservoir was revealed to contain brick arches and a cement roof of a Romanesque architectural style.

On 28 December 2020, a concerned group of citizens noticed the imminent destruction of the Reservoir. Determined to halt the demolition, some citizens approached the site and demanded the workers to stop the drilling, one even physically blocking the drilling machines from progressing. After much public outcry, the demolition was suspended the next day. [7] In the aftermath, the Antiquities and Monuments Office defended criticisms that the Board did not raise any objection to the WSD's plan in 2017 when the demolition was brought to its attention in a meeting, because the WSD described the Reservoir as a disused "water tank". [8]  The WSD made no mention of its historic arches and cavernous architecture, and Heritage officials thought it was "just a normal tank". [9]

In June 2021, the Antiquities Advisory Board accorded the Service Reservoir with Grade I historical building status. [10]  The Government currently organises guided and virtual tours through the Water Supplies Department. [11]  It has since been revealed that two other century-old reservoirs — the Hatton Road Service Reservoir and the Magazine Gap Road Service Reservoir — were demolished in 2011 and 2010 respectively, with no objection from the AMO. [12]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "WSD - Water Conservation - Guide Tour to Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir". www.waterconservation.gov.hk. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  2. ↑ AAB (2021). "Historic Building Appraisal Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir" (PDF).
  3. ↑ HKFP Lens. (2022, February 1). Hkfp Lens: Hong Kong's century-old, Romanesque underground reservoir at Bishop Hill. Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://hongkongfp.com/2022/02/01/hkfp-lens-hong-kongs-century-old-romanesque-underground-reservoir-at-bishop-hill/.
  4. ↑ Wang, W. (2020, December 30). When in Rome in Hong Kong. The Standard. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/226137/When-in-Rome-in-Hong-Kong/
  5. ↑ HKFP Lens. (2022, February 1). Hkfp Lens: Hong Kong's century-old, Romanesque underground reservoir at Bishop Hill. Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://hongkongfp.com/2022/02/01/hkfp-lens-hong-kongs-century-old-romanesque-underground-reservoir-at-bishop-hill/.
  6. ↑ Oriental Daily News. (2020, December 28). 深水埗主教山食水減壓缸擬清拆　居民到場抗議後暫時停工 [Planned demolition of Shamshuipo Bishop Hill Resoviour, Works halted amidst protests]. On.cc. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20201228/bkn-20201228115739891-1228_00822_001.html?eventsection=hk_news&eventid=40288347766989580176aaf3689306f9.
  7. ↑ 黃廸雯. (2020, December 29). 【有片】揭深水埗主教山藏百年遺蹟　女街坊隻身擋挖泥機阻工程 [Video Available: Bishop Hill century-old monument discovered, neighbour blocked demolition by standing in front of a dredger by herself]  . 香港01 [HK01]. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.hk01.com/突發/567602/有片-揭深水埗主教山藏百年遺蹟-女街坊隻身擋挖泥機阻工程/
  8. ↑ Ng, J., & Yeo, R. (2020, December 28). Head of Hong Kong heritage office sorry for 'insensitivity' over plan to demolish striking century-old site, but unanswered questions fuel backlash. South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3115589/hong-kong-authorities-suspend-demolition-striking-century/
  9. ↑ Ng, J., & Yeo, R. (2020, December 30). A century-old reservoir has captured Hongkongers' imagination amid Covid-19 doom and gloom, political strife. South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3115849/century-old-reservoir-has-captured-hongkongers-imagination/
  10. ↑ HKFP Lens. (2022, February 1). Hkfp Lens: Hong Kong's century-old, Romanesque underground reservoir at Bishop Hill. Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://hongkongfp.com/2022/02/01/hkfp-lens-hong-kongs-century-old-romanesque-underground-reservoir-at-bishop-hill/.
  11. ↑ The Government of HKSAR. (2021, March 15). WSD launches virtual tour of Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202103/15/P2021031500652.htm/%5B%5D
  12. ↑ 陳家怡, & 張嘉敏. (2021, January 7). 水務署證兩個百年歷史配水庫已拆卸　指古蹟辦對工程不持異議 [Water Service Department confirms two century-old historic reservoirs already demolished, claims that the Antiques and Monuments Office did not object]. 香港01 [HK01]. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.hk01.com/社會新聞/571408/水務署證兩個百年歷史配水庫已拆卸-指古蹟辦對工程不持異議/
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Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir
Traditional Chinese 前深水埗配水庫