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18 November 2024Strolling along Argyle Street towards Ho Man Tin from the hustle and bustle of Mong Kok, I find peace as my eyes meet the 80-plus-year-old CLP clock tower. Research has shown that visiting heritage buildings can promote positive emotions, and I have just experienced this firsthand.
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CLP Clock Tower (1940)
Completed in 1940, the tower served as the headquarters of the CLP Group until 2012.The location was carefully selected by its then boss Sir Elly Kadoorie and J.P. Braga, who were at that time building a “Garden City” in what is now the Kadoorie Hill residential area. The foot of the Hill was strategically located at the heart of Kowloon with a good transport network and within easy reach of community facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and churches. Without reservation, the two moguls decided to establish their base there.
Photo courtesy: CLP Pulse
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CLP Clock Tower (1960)Since then, the tower not only served as an office space for CLP employees, but also opened its door to customers for bill payments and inquiries. Those who simply passed by en route were often drawn to its clock faces and red-tiled architecture, while nearby residents frequently glanced up to check the time. Over time, the clock tower has become an integral part of people’s daily lives.
Photo courtesy: CLP Pulse
In 2018, the tower was listed as a Grade 1 historic building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office, which described it as “a landmark of the district”. CLP Chairman the Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie thus made the decision to preserve it for the people of Hong Kong. The building has been revitalised into CLP Pulse, keeping the enduring stories shared between the tower and the community alive.-
Opened to the public for free since May last year, CLP Pulse houses an in-depth chronology of the history of the electricity company and how it has been powering the modernisation of Hong Kong. A “Sustainable Future” zone is also set up to provide visitors with information on climate change and zero-carbon energy sources via display panels, interactive games, and immersive activities.
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In the middle of the premises lies a spiral staircase that has been diligently restored. These vintage stairs lead visitors to an exhibition on 1/F that tells the intertwined stories of the Kadoorie family and the local community. On the other side of the floor, there is a showcase curated by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office, highlighting the preservation of traditional craftmanship by the younger generation.
Today, the clock tower has transformed into a museum of science, culture, and history. Times change, but the bond between the clock tower and the Ho Man Tin community, as well as the city at large, remains unchanged. -
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