Video Link: https://youtu.be/84obB6eYGOo
Description of the theme
The theme of the video is to show the significance of the general post office in the urban fabric and account for a reason for the disappearance of the general post office. To present the theme, the video mainly focuses on the history and the architectural significance of the general post office.
Description of the subject matter
The subject matter is the fourth general post office. It was designed by K.M. Tseng, who is a local architect. The building was located in the heart of Central, positioned near the former waterfront of Victoria Harbour. Due to an agreement made with the owners of Connaught Centre, the height of the general post office building will not exceed five stories. Therefore, it is a five-storey consisting different functions including shops, public halls for parcel, speed post and parcel counters, private boxes, exhibition halls, and sorting offices. The exterior design of the general post office suggests the functions of each floor based on the sizes and alignments of the windows. The floors which contain machines lack windows, while the floors for offices have tiny windows. The expansive double-height design of the first floor indicates that it is the main public hall and the central area of the building. The General Post Office building also included a cutting-edge feature at that time. It is the city’s first central vacuum cleaning system. Yet, the central vacuum cleaning system in the General Post Office is no longer functioning. Its distinct design discriminates it from the surrounding skyscrapers, making it stands out as an architectural landmark in Central. However, due to the government’s plan – Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront (USD). The government will demolish the building for commercial development.
The general post office served as a crucial hub for postal services during its heyday. In the past, it played as an all-rounded postal facility, providing counter, post office box, sorting, and delivery services. It is also an important communication center for the exchange of letters and parcels which connect Hong Kong with cities around the world. However, with the rise of the internet and web communication, the demand for traditional postal services has significantly declined. Emails, messages, and social media platforms have transformed the way people communicate and exchange information. Consequently, the use of postal services has diminished over time. According to the annual report of the Hong Kong Post in the 2021-2022 financial year, there is a 7.5 percent drop in mail volume.
The General Post Office is a typical example of the principle “form follows function” that the design is related to the function of a building. It is carefully built to accommodate its intended functions and operations. In addition, the basement of the building was constructed for mail ships to berth because most mail was sent by sea mail, not air mail. The general post office had begun designing since 1969. Therefore, it is an essential piece of Hong Kong’s architectural heritage, representing the design principles of the post-war era in Hong Kong.
Method of conducting the research and producing the video; and reflections
The General Post office was chosen as my topic because it is an old historical building which is located in the heart of the commercial city. To start with, I conducted fieldwork at various sites near the general post office. Then, I take shots at suitable sites. To better understand the history of the General post office, I did research on the history of the general post office by reading historical records, opinions of some conservationists, the websites of Hong Kong Post and the exhibits in the General Post Office. Some academic journals also helped me to understand more about the building structure of the General Post Office. To highlight on the disappearing theme, I filmed the crowded bridge to compare the with the sparse general post office. I also investigate the history and try to propose a reason for the disappearance of the General Post Office. In the video, I try to use a third person view to examine the building and to create a sense of unfamiliar and disconnection.
There are narrations in the video. The narrations help the audience to understand more about the historical background and the functions of the general post office. The first part of the video starts with a girl trying to send a letter. This tries to introduce why and when do people visit the post office. Then, the girl takes a walk on the bridge from Central Station to the General Post Office. By using still shots and speeding up the shots, I aim to compare the low usage rate of the General Post Office to the crowded streets around it. The girl walks down the stairs from the bridge to the Jardine House. This makes a clearer view of the structure of the building and the size of the windows can be seen. After that, I tried to explain more about the basic information and the external design of the General Post Office. Therefore, there are full shots of the building from different views, including from the bridge from central to the General Post Office, from Connaught Place and from a bridge to the Central Pier. I believe the sharing of basic information can help the audience to understand more about the General Post Office before saying its historical significance. Next, the girl steps into the general post office. I used a full shot and a low angle shot to present it. It clearly shows that the girl is going into the general post office to investigate the details of it. Then, the narrator talks about the transformation of the general post office from old times to the modern era. I believe it helps to compare and to create a sense that the building is going to be demolished. By showing the slow speed of the escalator and the people inside, I hope to present a sense of defamiliarize of this general post office to Hong Kong city itself. Finally, the major history of the general post office is presented. Giving more information on the history of the general post office helps the audience to explore some hidden details of the design and the underlying reasons behind its unusual design.
Reflection:
In a city that never stops, to keep up with the rapid pace often requires the demolition of the old to make way for the new. A question arises: Why do some of us not feel the true vanishing of the General Post Office? I guess the answer lies in our experiences and our connection to postal services. For those like me, who have not witnessed the hectic operations and the central role of the General Post Office played in its glory era, we may not deeply feel that we are losing an important building. The rapid advancement of the technology and the shift towards digital communication have created mixed emotions among people. On one hand, we may feel a sense of nostalgia, on the other hand, we feel unfamiliar and disconnected form the general post office.
References:
鄺國棟. (1997). A new general Post Office. University of Hong Kong.
Group, C. &. (2018, October 4). Preserve the General Post Office! Retrieved from Support HK Environmental Petitions: https://www.supporthk.org/petition/preserve-the-general-post-office/?lang=en
Dewolf, C. (2019, January 28). HONG KONG’S MODERN HERITAGE, PART I: THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. Retrieved from Zolima CityMag: https://zolimacitymag.com/hong-kongs-modern-heritage-part-i-the-general-post-office/
Hutton, M. (2018, August 10). When Hong Kong’s old General Post Office made way for a modern building on Central reclamation. Retrieved from South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/2158931/when-hong-kongs-old-general-post-office-made-way
General Post Office. (n.d.). Retrieved from Docomomo Hong Kong: https://docomomo.hk/project/general-post-office/
Under Threat: Hong Kong’s General Post Office. (n.d.). Retrieved from Docomomo Hong Kong: https://docomomo.hk/demolition-threat-hong-kongs-general-post-office/
Chi-fung Hui, Michael Wong. (2019, March 27). LCQ10: Future plan for the General Post Office Building in Central. Retrieved from The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201903/27/P2019032600701.htm?fontSize=1
History. (n.d.). Retrieved from Hong Kong Post: https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/corp_info/history/index.html
Loss-making Hongkong Post pins hope on e-commerce amid drop in mail volume. (2022, October 26). Retrieved from The Standard: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/196331/Loss-making-Hongkong-Post-pins-hope-on-e-commerce-amid-drop-in-mail-volume#:~:text=Hongkong%20Post%20has%20recorded%20a,to%20its%20latest%20annual%20report.
Hong Kong Chronicles Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from 【認識．珍惜 香港特色建築】香港郵政總局歷史意義: https://hkchronicles.org.hk/志趣古今/志影院/香港郵政總局歷史意義
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The Stars, Hong Kong. (1976, April 14) Government – HK Land ‘Pact’ Limits New GPO’s Height.https://web.archive.org/web/20070927132435/http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/newspaper/view/12_07.01/117207.pdf
Tong Wing Sum
UID: 3036217116