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Mercedes Hutton

Copy Editor and Post Magazine Columnist


“Ocean Terminal – Another Pearl In The Oyster,” ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on July 2, 1965.
“A direct result of the increase in travel and shipping in this part of the world, the [Ocean] Terminal is being built by the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company at a cost of H.K.$70m,” the story reported, conti­nuing: “Travellers arriving in the Colony by sea increased 24.4 per cent between 1962 and 63, and 32.4 per cent between 1963 and 64.”
Shopping revolution: the 50 years since Hong Kong’s first mall, Ocean Terminal, opened
Although tourism was a driving force behind the development, the demands of the shipping industry were even more pressing.
“In 1898, 11,000 ships entered Hongkong harbour and carried 3.5m tons of cargo. Last year, the numbers had multiplied fourfold to 48,435 ships and 10.39m tons of cargo,” the Post story read.

Earlier, on March 6, 1965, the Post had reported: “When the terminal is in operation, it will provide the Colony with additional berthing space for four ocean liners, parking space for 1,200 cars, an extensive shopping centre, and capacious transit godowns.”
On April 16, the Post carried a story reporting that Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown “had timed the opening of the $100m Ocean Terminal [for March 1966] to coin­cide with the arrival of the 46,000-ton liner, Canberra”, a ship that had always bypassed Hong Kong because no berths had been able to accommodate her.
How Hong Kong might have looked: the landmarks that didn’t get off the ground
On March 22, the Canberra called into port as planned.
“The Ocean Terminal proved a big attraction to the Hongkong public at its opening yesterday,” the Post reported the following day. “From the time it opened to the public at 6pm, a constant stream of people visited the shopping centre, and passenger facilities, and at the same time, took a close look at the giant modern passenger liner Canberra berthed on the south side.
“Many visitors to the terminal agreed that it would soon become a popular rendezvous for relatives and friends in the Tsimshatsui area.”


When a blackmail plot ended in the murder of an Australian tourist in Hong Kong

Hongkongers brace for disruption as CMB drivers go on strike in 1989 – from SCMP archive

Hongkongers vote in first post-handover district-level elections – from the SCMP archive

Disappointed Hong Kong missed a live moon transmission from Apollo 12 in 1969

From our archives

How Ocean Terminal let biggest cruise liners serve Hong Kong

Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1970. Picture: SCMP

A recent photograph showing progress in the construction of the new Ocean Terminal at Kowloon Wharf and Godwon Company next to the Star Ferry terminus. The photo was taken from the air by Mr R. Fournier.

How Hong Kong might have looked: the landmarks that didn’t get off the ground

From drawing board to dustbin, the schemes that never materialised, as well as some that made the leap from concept to reality

Observation Wheel

Ngong Ping 360

High Island Reservoir

Off the map

The Peak Tram

harbour

The International Commerce Centre reflected in M+ Pavilion at West Kowloon Cultural District. Picture: Sam Tsang

When Concorde first landed in Hong Kong, in November 1976

The supersonic airliner that would later crash in Paris, ending the Concorde era, arrived in Hong Kong 41 years ago with, among its passengers, a certain Mrs Marcos on a shopping trip from Manila

A Concorde airplane flying above Kowloon City.

The Concorde at Kai Tak airport.

Shopping revolution: the 50 years since Hong Kong’s first mall, Ocean Terminal, opened

Customers at the newly opened Toys ‘R’ Us at Ocean Terminal, in November 1986. Hong Kong’s malls and shopping centres have transformed the city in the half century since Ocean Terminal opened. Photo: SCMP

The Japanese department store Daimaru in Causeway Bay. 05DEC76

A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet is displayed in the Zung Fu Motor Show held at the Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

YAOHAN DEPT STORE AT WHAMPOA ESTATE, HUNGHOM.

Last day of Daimaru Dept Store after 38 years in Hong Kong. Causeway Bay. 31 DECEMOBER 1998

A view of Tsim Sha Tsui.

Children enjoying dessert at the newly-opened Dairy Farm Ice Cream Express at Ocean Terminal.

One of the spectacular shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui -- Harbour City. 25MAY83

Customers pick bargain pieces at Matsuzakaya department store. 31 aug 98

Underground goes up ... It looks like a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) driver has taken this train well off the beaten track. In fact, it is a mock-up of an MTR train which is part of a promotion campaign by Mitsukoshi Ltd, a department store in Causeway Bay, to coincide with the opening of the MTR's Island Line this week.

A chef cutting the largest moon cake ever baked in Hong Kong at Ocean Terminal.

Shopping frenzy at the opening of Marks and Spencer in Ocean Centre.

--LOW RES. IMAGE, ONLINE ONLY-- Hong Kong tourism authority advertising poster from 1976. Photo / HANDOUT [2016 FEATURES ONLINE SHOPPING STORY]

Australian Fair at Daimaru department store. Australian food products being display. 18OCT87

Interior of The Landmark in Central during the opening ceremony. 15DEC80

An advert for Mitsukoshi showing some of the brands it stocked.

A Christmas ad from Daimaru.

An Oxfam shop at Harbour City in September 1986, before it became the home of high-end brands. Photo: SCMP

People waiting outside the Pizza Hut in The Landmark in February 1988. Photo: David Wong

Mitsukoshi displays handover souvenirs in 1997. Photo: Oliver Tsang.

Yaohan at Lam Tin, on the verge of collapse in 1997. Photo: Denise Tsang

Last day at Mitsukoshi in September 2006. Photo: Martin Chan

An ad for Matsuzakaya from 1975.

In pictures: how Hong Kong’s Big Buddha statue was built on Lantau Island

A crane hoists one of the statue’s giant hands towards the main body of the Big Buddha (right) during its construction at the Po Lin Monastery on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. Photo: SCMP

The Big Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery will be officially unveiled at the end of this year.

Bronze plates are being lifted to fit on the framework of the $60-million giant Buddha in the Po Lin Monastery.

The Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery is not ready for public eyes yet.

Masterpiece ... A procession of Buddhist monks moves through the crowd of 10,000 who attend the colourful inauguration ceremony for the giant Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery.

A view of the purification ceremony of the nearly completed Tian Tan Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery.

A huge hand of the Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery being lifted into place.

A monk at the Po Lin Monastery blesses the first bronze plate before it is fixed to the framework of the $60-million giant Buddha.

Frames protect the Big Buddha's head during construction of the statue. Photo: SCMP

A New Lantao Bus taking passengers to the Po Lin Monastery passes the Big Buddha during its construction.

The Big Buddha not long before its official opening.

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Tourist and transit facility in Tsim Sha Tsui was built to accommodate the rapidly rising volumes of visitors and cargo arriving by sea


Tourist and transit facility in Tsim Sha Tsui was built to accommodate the rapidly rising volumes of visitors and cargo arriving in the colony by sea
