Love Circles - Michelle Siu (1985) - Murray Building, Central

So whilst Yo-yo changes her clothes in the back of the car on the way to her sister's place, she's managing to catch the attention of a local man (a Cliff Richard lookalike) who can apparently see what is happening on Salisbury Road in Kowloon from all the way over on Garden Road in Central. To be fair, judging by the size of his glasses, I'm not all that surprised. We know it's Garden Road because we can see the white-arched ground floor of the Murray Building in the background.

China Rose - George C. Scott (1983) - Cotton Tree Drive, Central

One of the first things on the agenda when they land in Hong Kong is a trip to the US Embassy, which they start out on by heading up Cotton Tree Drive. The 1983 view of this area is vastly different compared to today. At the back we can see (from right to left) Fairmont House, almost brand new after being completed in 1982. Behind that is Bank of America Tower although at the time it was  called Carrian House (a big scandal revolved around it in the 80's). In front of them all is the Murray Road car park that was sold for redevelopment recently and behind that is Hutchinson House.

Now gone is the Furama Hotel and the small building next to it was Sutherland House. What's missing of course is the Bank of China Tower that was eventually built where all the cars are parked. Construction didn't start until 1985 though so this view shows the site after Murray Barracks had been dismantled but before the bank building construction started.

The second screencap shows the view up the road with the Murray Building on the right - currently being turned into a hotel - and the two towers of St Joseph's College further up the hill.

Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon - Sonny Chiba (1977) - Garden Road, Central

Some car action around Central takes in some of the sites along Garden Road including the US Consulate and the old Govt offices East Wing where the road joins with Lower Albert Road. The interesting thing about the Consulate is that in the 1977 it still had the external balconies - no doubt removed for security purposes and to give the place a rather more imposing appearance.

Looking up (south) Garden Road

 

The old front of the US Consulate

The view to Lower Albert Road and East Wing

Looking down (north).

You can just catch a glimpse of the Murray Building's columns in the lower picture. This former office block is currently being turned into a hotel.

Game of Death - Bruce Lee (1978) - Murray Building, Central

This place - not to be confused with Murray House in Stanley - sits just in front of the Peak Tower lower terminus and so should really be recognisable to anyone who has been to HK (and gone on the Peak Tram). In G.O.D it houses the carpark where Billy's girlfriend is kidnapped by the mob, but before that unfortunate incident we get to see the outside of the building as her car drives down the slope.

I don't seem to have a personal photo of this place so Google's Streetview comes to the rescue with this shot taken at pretty much the same angle the film camera used. Well, near enough.