Talk:HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong

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Contents

[edit] The building

Does this page "HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building" refer to the "building" only? Does that mean we do not need to include information about HSBC (like its business services)? There is already a page called HSBC. - Daisyng 14:56, November 2, 2004 (UTC)

I think we should only focus on the building. so i have deleted some of the info about HSBC, like Hang Seng Index, printing notes . Wandylo - Wandylo 15:04, November 5, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Name

As I know, the building is called "HSBC Main Building".

I live in Hong Kong. Thanks.

Kenny YU. - 218.103.151.161 11:56, August 8, 2005 (UTC)

What about before the global rebranding as HSBC? Was it called Hongkong Bank Main Building? — Instantnood 13:16, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Omission (or perhaps oversimplification)

"In 1978 the bank decided to tear down its headquarters and rebuild it again."

This was not that simple, and this article omits what might be the most fascinating part of the design. The original design allowed construction of a new bank building above the old one, which accounts for some of the design features of the building. That way the old bank could be preserved until such time as additional space in the new bank building were needed, in which case the old building could be demolished. However, due to the eventual realization that the space would be needed sooner rather than later, the old bank was demolished as part of the overall process. The decision was apparently made in January, 1980, to demolish the old bank with the exception of the 1966 annexe, which would be used as temporary quarters during construction.

"On either side of the 1935 Bank building Foster proposed to construct a line of reinforced concrete lift and starcase towers, which would provide the main vertical supports for the new building.... The floors in the building were to be suspended, hung down from the trusses on a series of steel hangers.... The appeal of Foster's whole approach to the Bank's problems lay in its flexibility. He did not tell them what do do, he merely set new possibilities before them.... By choosing a structural form that could be suspended he suggested to the Bank the possibility of retaining almost everything, particularly the existing banking hall, intact, at ground level...." (From "Hongkong Bank: The Building of Norman Foster's Masterpiece" by Stephanie Williams; Little, Brown and Company, 1989, ISBN 0-316-94238-3, pp. 78-9.) This is a very interesting book, by the way. Jim 03:52, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Japanese Occupation poster

There is no relevance of that picture to be on this page. The history of the Hong Kong headquarters building does not mention it either. It was only during WW2, the Japanese occupied Hong Kong for a short while and they planted their flag on the building. It is a propaganda poster. 24.57.131.188 20:09, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Historic HSBC Headquarters Building picture

Sigh...an image I've added into this article, Image:Hkhsbc jap.jpg, is being removed by various anonymous users because "the picture has no relevance to the current building" or "it's just to show off the Japanese occupation" and etc, and then disintegrated into "that's what you Japanese are doing, covering up history"[1]....

Okay, why are people inserting Japanese colonialism connotations into an image of an innocent building, I do not know. It's not like the Japanese built it during its occupation. The Japanese flag isn't really noticeable unless you look closely. If you are so concerned about Japanese imageries, why don't you advocate the demolition of the Peninsula Hotel? It was the military headquarters of the Japanese in HK...

The picture is irrelevant to the current building, yes, but that is not the only thing covered in this article. It has a history section which mentions all of the building's previous incarnations, and the article owes the readers a glimpse of what the previous buildings look like. To remove it on the grounds of it being the Japanese government building is a NPOV violation. Also with the reckless reversions, intermediate edits (which were valid and unrelated) were also reverted...

Finally, thanks for calling me a Japanese, it's giving me days of laughter. _dk 08:48, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

The image should be re-added into the article. The image is encyclopedic in value and is relevant to the article at hand. The history section clearly indicates and refers to the type of architecture displayed in the picture. I have reviewed all the recent edit histories of the anon ips that are removing the picture. All the anon ips log only one edit in the edit history - all their one edits have been to remove this picture. The edit summaries provided by the anon ips are clearly POV slanted and not in the best interest of NPOV. It is my belief that this is just intentional vandalism. Luke! 09:31, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
This image is EXTREMELY rare since it graces the Japanese flag on Hong Kong property. WOW!!!! I have images from books on the 1st design and 2nd design of the building. I honestly have never come across a 3rd design image in any books, especially not with the flag. Very encyclopedia worthy of historical value!!! Leave it here at all cost. Benjwong 18:06, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
I agree the picture has historical value and should be retained. The Japanese occupation was a fact, but in any case the flag is not the main emphasis of the photo. Rodparkes 03:51, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
It should be removed. k thx —Preceding unsigned comment added by 218.102.179.158 (talk) 15:44, 5 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 05:23, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Meaning

What does this mean "HSBC has always aimed to adopt a new lighting scheme because Foster did not pay much attention to the illumination of the building at nighttime." Who or what is Foster. It should be removed without a source. Enlil Ninlil (talk) 05:27, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Rumours"

I noticed at least 2 "rumours" in this article - one about the possible dismantling of the building and the other about one of the lions. Has anyone ever contacted credible sources to seek clarification on these rumours? I would not think un-verified rumours have a place in an encyclopedia. tkmb