Clock Tower, Hong Kong
| Founded | 1915 |
|---|---|
| Founder | A. B. Hubback (designer) |
| Fate | Original Kowloon station demolished in 1977, tower preserved |
| Successor | Hung Hom station (Kowloon station relocated) |
| Headquarters | Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon , Hong Kong |
The Clock Tower stands as a notable icon in Hong Kong, located along the southern waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It represents the only surviving element of the original Kowloon station on the Kowloon–Canton Railway. Officially designated as the Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower (), it is more commonly referred to as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower () because of its geographical position.
Built using red brick and granite, the tower reaches a height of 44 metres, topped by a 7-metre lightning rod. Visitors can reach the summit via an internal wooden staircase. Although the interior was once accessible to the public, it is currently closed for upkeep. The tower is situated near Victoria Harbour at Salisbury Road’s western terminus and lies close to the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier.
Recognized for its cultural and historical value, it has been a declared monument since 1990.
History
The concept for the Kowloon-Canton Railway was established in 1904, with its terminal planned in Tsim Sha Tsui. The design was crafted by A. B. Hubback, who brought expertise from his work in Malaya. The railway commenced operations on 1 October 1910; however, construction of the station itself began in 1913 following site preparation and land reclamation. Progress was interrupted by World War I due to delays in receiving materials. By 1915, the Clock Tower and a portion of the station were completed, with full station operations starting on 28 March 1916.
The bell housed within was manufactured in 1919 by John Taylor & Co in England and arrived in Hong Kong in 1920. The Clock Tower incorporated the clock mechanism from the dismantled Pedder Street Clock Tower; initially, only one clock face was installed, with the remaining three added and operational by March 1921. The structure suffered damage amidst World War II conflicts and was camouflaged during Japanese occupation, leading to a suspension of bell ringing until it resumed in October 1945. In 1950, individual motors were installed for each clock face, resulting in minor discrepancies in timekeeping.
During the early 1970s, a government dental clinic operated within the Clock Tower. The Kowloon station moved to what is now Hung Hom station in 1975 on newly reclaimed land; subsequently, the original station was demolished in 1977 despite public opposition aimed at preserving it. As a result of these efforts, the Clock Tower was retained and now stands adjacent to cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Space Museum and Cultural Centre.
On 13 July 1990, the tower received official monument status. The bell was exhibited at Sha Tin station from the mid-1980s until 1995 before being relocated to KCRC offices and eventually returned to its original site at the Clock Tower in 2010. Since 9 December 2021, bell chimes have been digitally restored to sound hourly between 8am and midnight, synchronized with the Hong Kong Observatory’s web-based time system.