With heritage preservation in the spotlight, Hong Kong authorities reveal century-old structure was demolished nine years ago
- Acknowledgement of demolition of Mid-Levels service reservoir came just over a week after a similar structure in Kowloon was saved amid a public outcry
- Water Supplies Department and the Antiquities and Monuments Office have pledged a review of how such sites are treated going forward
A service reservoir on Hong Kong Island dating back to 1908 was knocked down nine years ago with the consent of heritage officials, it has emerged, days after public calls to preserve a similar structure slated for demolition prompted government promises to better conserve the city’s old waterworks.
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Antiquities and Monuments Office on Thursday confirmed reports that the service reservoir at Hatton Road in Mid-Levels, a well-heeled residential area first developed in the early colonial days, had been knocked down in 2011. Only two pillars and some bricks from the structure were preserved, though where they are remained unclear.
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Demolition of Hong Kong old reservoir halted after calls for heritage assessment
According to a photo in the WSD’s annual report from 2006-07, the Hatton Road reservoir, built with columns and arches, shared a similar style with the one on Bishop Hill, photos of which went viral, as architects and other experts marvelled at its scale and called for its conservation.
The Hatton Road facility had an area of about 540 square metres (5,800 sq ft) and a capacity of about 2,000 cubic metres (71,000 cubic feet).
“After years of use, the service reservoir has experienced ageing and leakage, and may endanger the stability of the adjacent slopes, making it not suitable for long-term use,” the two departments explained in a statement to the media.
To ensure residents of Mid-Levels had a reliable supply of fresh water, the WSD demolished the old reservoir and built two new ones with a total capacity of 7,000 cubic metres by 2011.