Wan Chai Fire Station
435 Hennessy Road
Wan Chai Fire Station is the oldest fire station still standing in Hong Kong. Its maroon facade and retro-style balconies distinguish it from other fire stations in the city, which have followed a standard design since 1958. In 1966, Hong Kong experienced a drought so severe that the Water Authority put a ban in place, during which fire stations had to share their water supply with the general public and would only receive water every four days until the drought ended.
Wan Chai Fire Station stands next to the Canal Road flyover on Hennessy Road. Evelyn Phoa would pass by the Wan Chai Fire Station every day on her way to school. “I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening behind those doors,” she says. The four-storey building houses offices, a canteen, dormitory for on-duty firemen, a recreation room, kitchen and bathroom, married quarters and more.
More Stories
Causeway Bay: Then & Now
Feature
Causeway Bay embodies the many facets of Hong Kong – the fast pace, fascinating contrasts and dynamic energy. From the city’s very beginning to the present day, its diversity and vibrancy makes it a beloved neighbourhood.
-
Jessica Lau
Program Manager, Sustainable Ecological Ethical Development Foundation (SEED)
A giant satellite dish is not what you’d expect to find in the middle of a farm, but then again, this is no ordinary farm: it’s located on…
-
Marian
Tourist
“I’m a flight attendant from Holland and I’m here for two nights. I come to Hong Kong a few times a year for work and sometimes I go sightseeing but this time…
-
Olaf
The dog
“I’m nearly 2 years old now. I love going out and always wear my rain coat in bad weather. Today, I’m at Fashion Walk and we are stopping for a break at…
-
Celia Leung
Branding designer
“As a designer, I take a lot of inspiration from minimalistic Northern European design – which is the absolute opposite to the sights and sounds of Causeway Bay…
-
Noonday Gun
A beloved tradition
A loud ‘bang’ echoes from the Causeway Bay waterfront at precisely 12pm every day. It’s the Noonday Gun, a three-pound artillery gun…
-
Jimmy Lee
Owner, Red Pepper
“In 1967, I worked as an apprentice at an architecture office by day and then went to night school. I worked on the first floor of the Lee Garden building…
-
Candy Cheung
Shun Kee Typhoon Shelter Seafood Owner
“We grew up here on the water. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter used to be filled with these floating restaurants, but by the 90s, they’d begun to disappear. Some of the few that remained eventually shut down and opened up on-land instead…
-
Rosanna Ma & Ben Leung
Zeta store owners
“We opened our shop first on Lan Fong Road in 1986, and then we moved to Lee Garden One in 2005, so we’ve had this shop for 32 years. We have seen Causeway Bay change over these years, and we have built up so many memories here.”
Celebrating Causeway Bay
Feature
A neighbourhood in flux, Causeway Bay’s constant evolution keeps residents and visitors coming back for more. Whether it’s fashion, food, film or art, it’s a part of Hong Kong that keeps people mesmerised and inspired.
Causeway Bay: Then & Now
Feature
Causeway Bay embodies the many facets of Hong Kong – the fast pace, fascinating contrasts and dynamic energy. From the city’s very beginning to the present day, its diversity and vibrancy makes it a beloved neighbourhood.
-
Noonday Gun
A beloved tradition
A loud ‘bang’ echoes from the Causeway Bay waterfront at precisely 12pm every day. It’s the Noonday Gun, a three-pound artillery gun…
-
Jimmy Lee
Owner, Red Pepper
“In 1967, I worked as an apprentice at an architecture office by day and then went to night school. I worked on the first floor of the Lee Garden building…
-
Candy Cheung
Shun Kee Typhoon Shelter Seafood Owner
“We grew up here on the water. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter used to be filled with these floating restaurants, but by the 90s, they’d begun to disappear. Some of the few that remained eventually shut down and opened up on-land instead…
-
Rosanna Ma & Ben Leung
Zeta store owners
“We opened our shop first on Lan Fong Road in 1986, and then we moved to Lee Garden One in 2005, so we’ve had this shop for 32 years. We have seen Causeway Bay change over these years, and we have built up so many memories here.”