Central Market

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For other uses, see Central market (disambiguation).

Central Market, view from Queen's Road Central

Central Market (中環街市, or 中央街市) was a fresh food market in Central, Hong Kong. Located between Jubilee Street, Queen Victoria Street, Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central , it was the first market in Hong Kong. By its side is the first public female toilet and first above-ground toilets in Hong Kong. It is one of two existing Bauhaus market buildings in Hong Kong.

1 History
2 Structure
3 Current
4 Footnotes
5 External links

[edit] History

The precursor of the market was Canton Bazaar (廣州市場), which was established in 1842 on Queen's Road Central between Cochrane Street and Graham Street. The Chinese population was later relocated from Central to the Tai Ping Shan area, and the markets were replaced by the residential houses for westerners. The bazaar was moved to Queensway, where the present-day High Court stands. It housed Chinese furniture deals, joiners, cabinet makers and curio shops.^[1] Due to its proximity of Naval Yard and the construction of cantonment, the bazaar, shops, civil tenement had to be removed. In the 1850s, it was moved to its current location on Des Voeux Road (then known as The Praya). Its name also changed to Central Market (中環街市).

Old Central Market of 1895

The market was rebuilt in 1858, then completely replaced with a Western marble structure in 1895. The rebuilt market was a 3-storey Victorian-style structure with a tower in the middle.

The market was demolished again in 1937, this time replaced with a Bauhaus structure. Construction was completed in 1938, and cost HK$900000. The market re-opened on 1st May 1939.

During the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945, the Chinese name of the market was changed from 中環街市 (chung wan kai shi) to 中央街市 (chung yeung kai shi). The Chinese name displayed at the Des Voeux Road Central entrance was not restored until 1993. Central Market was the biggest meat markets in Southeast Asia and the then-Governor of Hong Kong David Trench made a visit to the market in 1967. The importance of the market attracted another Governor Alexander Grantham to pay another visit.

In 1994, the western part of its second floor was converted into the Central Escalator Link Alley Shopping Arcade, an access between Central Elevated Walkway and Central-Mid-Levels escalator.

The market was closed in March 2003. It was managed by the Urban Council until its dissolution in 1999.

[edit] Structure

The market is housed in a 4-storey reinforced concrete structure, and contains 200 booths inside. The market is spacious with a central court, high ceiling and window walls for natural light and ventilation. There are two entrances of the market. The Des Vouex Road Central entrance is one the ground floor while the Queen's Road Central entrance bridges the first floor. In the early days, the root floor were offices and quarters of hygiene inspectors and other staff.

[edit] Current

Corridor within Central Market (Central Escalator Link Alley)

The building is largely abandoned with few stores by a renovated pedestrian corridor inside, Central Escalator Link Alley Shopping Arcade (中環購物廊). The corridor is linked by two footbridges to Hang Seng Bank New Headquarters Building and Central Elevated Walkway, and another footbridge to the Central-Mid-Levels escalator. Shops in the arcade include tailors, Seven Eleven, cleanser, collectors and other trades. On Sunday, one side of the corridor is a popular gathering place among Filipino maids.

The building has been planned for re-development many times. The land is going to be sold and the market may be demonlished.