Renovated Repulse Bay arcade to offer taste of 1920s high life

More than 400 items that provide a glimpse into the lives of the privileged in old Hong Kong will go on display at The Repulse Bay arcade at the end of the year.

The arcade is to be renovated to attract more tourists.The display, showcasing artefacts, rare photographs, postcards and menus from the 1920s, is part of a revitalisation plan announced for the arcade yesterday. The present building, built in 1986, is a replica of the old, luxurious Repulse Bay Hotel built in the 1920s.

'Over 400 items have been collected in the past eight months,' said The Repulse Bay Company's general manager, Palle Jensen.

They will be displayed in various categories under the themes of beach, music, sports, wine and dining activities in Repulse Bay.

Rare items include an old gramophone and a set of picnic baskets obtained from the United States. 'They are things that represent the lifestyle of people living in Repulse Bay in the 1920s,' Mr Jensen said.

Other upgrades will include a spa, a larger entrance for the Verandah restaurant, prominent for its traditional English afternoon teas, and a new marquee in traditional English style in the garden, a popular venue for wedding banquets. The garden will also be refurbished with more species of native plants.