The Construction History of Hong Kong Gymnasium

1884, the Hong Kong government began to reclaim the sea at the location of Hung Hom Bay-Hung Hom Bay was not called Hung Hom Bay at that time. The project was very long, until 25 years later, one day in 1909, a construction worker dug a well at the construction site as usual, and suddenly the well water gushed out of the well turned out to be scarlet. The contractor who believes in geomantic omen is very nervous, so he immediately invites geomantic omen experts to "diagnose". After investigation, Feng Shui master blamed the well water of Zhusha on the port of Long Mai, which broke ground and was injured. The essence of the flowing well water is dragon blood. On the other hand, the well water was sent to be tested, and the scientific diagnosis results showed that the well water turned red because it contained compounds of iron sulfide and mercury. Whatever the reason, this area is called red because of the red well water. In the 1960s, the Urban Council of Hong Kong planned to build an indoor gymnasium in Hong Kong that met international standards, and planned to find construction land on Hong Kong Island. But for a long time, we couldn't find a suitable place on Hong Kong Island. Later, the Urban Council took a fancy to this reclaimed land in Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, which was located next to the Hung Hom Station under construction at that time and next to the Hong Kong Cross-Harbour Tunnel which runs through Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. Adjacent to the large-scale railway transportation system and the cross-harbour tunnel, it is an ideal location with convenient transportation. The Hong Kong Gymnasium is commonly known as the Red Pavilion because it is located in Hung Hom District of Hong Kong.

1April 27th, 983, is the day when the Red Pavilion was born. On that day, Sir Edward Youde, Governor of Hong Kong, stood in front of the inverted pyramid-shaped Hong Kong Gymnasium and presided over the opening ceremony. The opening of the stadium is a major event in Hong Kong and has become the focus of the whole city. The whole process of the opening ceremony was televised live, and some media even called the Hong Kong Stadium "one of the most unique architectural projects in the world". As early as the1960s, the then Urban Council had planned to build an indoor gymnasium in Hong Kong that met international standards. At that time, it chose to find construction land on Hong Kong Island. Later, due to the lack of a suitable venue on Hong Kong Island, the Urban Council decided to build the Hong Kong Gymnasium on the reclaimed land in Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, at the side of the Hung Hom Station under construction at that time, and started the foundation works on March 1973. However, due to the project expenditure, the project was not officially started until 1977, and was completed in August of 198 1. 1983 The opening ceremony was presided over by Sir Edward Youde, then Governor of Hong Kong, and was broadcast live on TV.

The construction cost of Hong Kong Gymnasium is HK$ 65.438+40 million, of which US$ 23.5 million is paid by and managed by the Urban Council. After the dissolution of the Urban Council in 2000, it was managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The central performance venue of the gymnasium covers an area of 1.680 square meters, and the TV projection system hanging from the ceiling in the gymnasium was very advanced at that time. The open-air square outside the gymnasium can be used for related activities; There was a restaurant when the annex building next to the gymnasium was built, but it no longer exists. When the Hong Kong Gymnasium was completed, it was described by the media as "one of the most unique architectural projects in the world".

betterment works

In order to welcome the 2009 East Asian Games, the Hong Kong SAR Government is carrying out a number of maintenance works for the Hong Kong Gymnasium, which will be carried out in stages at a cost of about 65.438+0.6 billion yuan, and it is planned to be closed for half a year from July 654.38+0, 2008 to early 2009. The project includes:

:: Retrofitting and renovating all front desk and VIP reception facilities, and improving and upgrading existing support and back-office facilities.

* Replace and improve the lighting system.

* Replace all fixed seats in the performance venues (about 10500).

* Replace the existing scoreboard

* Provide ceremony facilities and decorations.