Sham Shui Po – Nam Cheong Street ca.1940
360-degree panoramic artwork created by Flyingpig
Historical Hotspots:
Nullah
The rest garden built in the middle traffic lane on Nam Cheong Street was once a large-scale nullah spanning across the Sham Shui Po district. Completed in 1924, the nullah was extended from the intersection of Tai Po Road and Nam Cheong Street to the seaside, which is the current site of the West Kowloon Corridor. Nullahs were generally 10 feet or wider, and the one on Nam Cheong Street was even constructed at the centre of the road, making its presence tremendously inconvenient to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Therefore, this nullah was culverted after World War II.
To resettle the residents who lost their homes which were damaged by the fire that took place at the squatter area at Shek Kip Mei in 1953, the Government allowed them to begin their street vendor businesses to make a living on Nam Cheong Street. However, due to the traffic jams and hygiene concerns caused by an increasing number of illegal hawkers on the street, the Government decided to remove the stalls set up above the culvert in the 1980s. The land was subsequently redeveloped as a recreation park for the community.
For reference only, the photo shows the nullah in Wan Chai.
Photo courtesy of the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Libraries
Tung On Pawn Shop (Current: Nam Cheong Pawn Shop)
Built as a 5-storey building in the 1920s, named as Nam Cheong Pawn Shop in the 1950s, was situated at No. 117 Nam Cheong Street. As an establishment with a relatively tall pre-war architecture including verandahs, it was furnished with barrel-shaped windows and the main door was polished with plain cement, fully displaying the characteristics of Bauhaus and Modern style. The verandahs are now sealed by glass for protection. Nam Cheong Pawn Shop was ranked as a grade III historic building in 2010.
Nam Cheong Pawn Shop’s red signboard was an upside-down bat holding a coin, symbolising auspiciousness and good fortune in Chinese culture. As a vintage architectural building, the saloon door at the entrance further displayed its traditional elements. As a result of the legalisation of pawnbroking in Hong Kong in 1926, the entire industry rapidly bloomed. Nam Cheong Pawn was established at Sham Shui Po and since then, serves as a reminder of this once-flourishing business in the annals of Hong Kong’s history.
Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board
Verandahs
Verandahs were commonly found in southern Chinese architecture from the 1850s to the 1960s and had a notable presence in Hong Kong in the late 19th century. Supported by two stone columns, the verandahs on the first floors were generally extended from the external wall to form a balcony and consequently created a shaded corridor at the street level.. In regions with humid climates, verandahs played an important role in sheltering the people from the rain, the wind, and the sun. Mixed use of commercial and residential purposes was a major feature of buildings with verandahs. The ground floors often housed stores and stand-alone businesses, while the first floors or above were reserved for dwelling units.
The number of existing developments with verandahs is very limited nowadays. On No. 117 to 125 Nam Cheong Street, there were 5 blocks of verandah buildings established in the 1930s. As the largest verandah complex in Sham Shui Po, they were declared as grade III historic buildings in 2010. These 5 blocks varied in height, from 3 to 5 storeys, all with an individual design and decorative style to represent their unique architectural features.
For reference only, the photo shows similar historical buildings
Photo courtesy of the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Libraries
Animation:
In the 1940s, many people made living as hawkers. At that time, the area surrounding Pei Ho Street, Yu Chau Street and Nam Cheong Street was the hotspot for these hawkers.