The film opens with a view of the old Marine Police HQ shot from what is now a non-existent location - the former front area that was removed during the building's 'renovation'. It's now a boutique hotel and the area in front, part of the hill the building stands on, is now a void filled with former high-end jewelery stores, but many now empty (because that's what happens when you put all your eggs into the "high-spend mainland tourist" basket, and then they go elsewhere).
3 comments:
Hankow Centre was still known as J. Hotung House until 1992 or 1993. It was used a lot in TV and the name of the developer was often included in the credits. The store on the ground floor with the three red identical red flags should have still been Duty Free Shops at the time of filming. There was definitely an escalator up to 1/F of DFS that I've seen in a TV series, though I can't recall if it was accessed from Ashley Road or Middle Road.
I ran into Sharla in the early 2000s in Central or Admiralty. We walked up to a shop or possibly hotel concierge counter at the same time and I let her go ahead. She smiled and said thanks in Cantonese to sent my heart fluttering. An absolute stunner.
Hi Rodney - I hadn't even thought about the Hankow Centre in the background of the middle image. There's still a little bit of the hill left, so perhaps I can try to get a similar angle next time I am in the area. Yes, Sharla Cheung is still gorgeous. Phil
I checked an old TVB series where J Hotung House / Hankow Centre was used as the main character's office. The big DFS signage was actually on Hankow Road, it had 1/F and 2/F in English and Japanese. I believe the escalator was along that side of the building as well, but I didn't see it in the particular episode.
Hotel Merlin was usually visible in the series because the camera always followed the main characters along Hankow Road and they turned on to Middle Road to get in their car. However, by then Merlin only had a couple of years left.
Post a Comment