Programme title (Webinar)
Hong Kong’s Export of Quality Granite in the 19th and 20th Century
Date, Time and Venue
16 May 2023 (Tuesday) 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Programme highlights
This talk is about the export of Hong Kong’s granite in the 19th and 20th century.
In 1844 granite was shipped to China as recorded by the colonial government. During 1850s and 1860s, granite blocks were transported to China, New South Wales, San Francisco and Siam as building materials as well as paving slabs.
Between 1928 and 1933, Hong Kong granite was used for projects of The Mausoleum in Nanjing, The Memorial Auditorium and the Memorial Cenotaph in Guangzhou in remembrance of Dr. SUN Yat-sen.
The talk will share the reasons why Hong Kong’s granite, not just being substantially used in local construction, but also exported to China and countries abroad.
The Webinar will be conducted in Cantonese with supplement of English presentation PowerPoint.
Speaker
Ir Dr. Poon Sun-wah is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer, a Corporate Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and a Member of Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
He worked in consulting firms for several years before commencing teaching and research at the universities in Hong Kong and Singapore. In the last two decades his research interest has focused on Historic Lighthouses in Hong Kong and Nearby Places, The Use of Hong Kong’s Quality Granite in Local and Overseas Construction and Heritage Waterworks in Hong Kong.
Registration details
Prior registration is required for provision of access right to the webinar. For registration, please
apply online at the Google link below: –
https://forms.gle/C6nezbiRSdRpM6QZ7
Enquiry details
For enquiries, please contact Ir Paris Wong (tel: 2859 5592) or via email pariswong@meinhardt.com.hk
Ir Dr. Poon delivered an informative and interesting presentation of granite history
Title: Hong Kong’s Export of Quality Granite in the 19th and 20th Century
By Ir Paris WONG
A webinar presenting the history of quarrying and export of Hong Kong’s granite in the 19th and 20th century was conducted by Ir Dr. Poon Sun-wah on 16 May 2023.
Based on the geology in Hong Kong, quality granite was abundant and could be found on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and western of New Territories. The granite industry has been in existence long before the British’s arrival. In 1844, granite was shipped to China as recorded by the colonial government. During 1850s and 1860s, granite blocks were transported to China, New South Wales, San Francisco and Siam as building materials as well as paving slabs. Between 1928 and 1933, Hong Kong granite was used for projects of The Mausoleum in Nanjing, The Memorial Auditorium and the Memorial Cenotaph in Guangzhou in remembrance of Dr. SUN Yat-sen.
Ir Dr. Poon highlighted a square stone well built in the Sung Dynasty was unearthed on the construction site of Shatin to Central Link Sung Wong Toi Station in 2014. The stone well was carefully preserved and protected at the site for later presenting to the visitors. He also presented the history of Murray House, which was a Victorian-era building in Stanley, Hong Kong. The building was originally erected in the business districtofCentralin 1846 as officers’ quarters of the Murray Barracks. It required 36 workers to transport a granite column at that time. It was moved to the Stanley during the 2000s. This building has become an iconic landmark in Hong Kong. It was one of the historical buildings designed in Classical architecture style.
Towards the end of the webinar, Ir Dr. Poon shared two short videos to illustrate the quarry industry development in Hong Kong and the quarry workers’ hard life in the past. Hong Kong was not just a small fishing village but also a well-known world-class place in supplying good quality granite.
On behalf of the Building Division, we would like to convey our sincere gratitude to Ir Dr. Poon for kindly delivering and sharing with our members the history of the granite quarry in Hong Kong and the iconic granite buildings in Hong Kong and other countries.