[Explanation] At 6 o'clock in the afternoon on December 9th, the clock tower, which has been standing on the waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui for more than a century, has been silent for more than 70 years, and six vigorous bells once again sounded with reverberations.
[Explanation] This clock tower surrounded by dense palm trees is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hong Kong.
People often simply call it "Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower".
Wu Guoliang, the first-level assistant curator of the Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office, introduced to reporters that the original name of the "Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower" was the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower.
As the name suggests, the clock tower was part of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Kowloon Terminus complex and was completed in 1915.
[Concurrent] Wu Guoliang, Assistant Curator of Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office
As you can see (behind) the clock tower was completed probably in 1915. It accompanies the Kowloon Terminus of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. It is a very important part of the building. This station was completed in 1916, and then a bronze bell was installed. It was there in 1921. "Toll the bell to tell the time."
[Explanation] He Shaoming, Senior Manager of Plaza and Waterfront Management (Hong Kong Cultural Center) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department (Hong Kong Cultural Center), introduced to reporters that the clock tower officially rang in March 1921 to announce the time for the citizens and also for those who travel far away. Blessings.
However, due to technical reasons, the bronze bell ceased operation after 1950.
[Concurrent] Ho Shaoming, Senior Manager of Plaza and Waterfront Management, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
In 1950, it was discovered that the electronic clocks powered by batteries started to have problems, so later it was replaced with a four-sided clock and operated separately with motors. One of the motors pushed the bronze clock to ring the clock. When four different motors were running At the time, I found that there was a slight difference. As a result, the time when it was ringing was somewhat different from that of other four-sided clocks, so after 1950, the time of the bronze bell was also stopped.
[Commentary] Wu Guoliang told reporters that after the operation ceased in 1950, the bell stopped abruptly.
More than 20 years later, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus was moved to Hung Hom, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Terminus building was also demolished. Fortunately, the clock tower on the original site has been preserved and it has become an important symbol of the early history of the Hong Kong Railway.
[Concurrent] Wu Guoliang, Assistant Curator of Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office
But fortunately, the clock tower behind us decided to keep it at that time. Because of its great historical value and architectural features, in 1990, the Hong Kong government officially listed it as a “statutory monument” and kept it here forever. Great maintenance.
[Explanation] He Shaoming said that 2021 coincides with the centennial of the bell tolling in the clock tower, and they most hope that on this memorable day, the bell will ring the bell again.
After many studies and investigations, in order to avoid affecting the structure of the monuments, they decided to use a special method.
[Concurrent] Ho Shaoming, Senior Manager of Plaza and Waterfront Management, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
We cannot start from the structure, but only from the technological aspect. With the assistance of the United Kingdom, we later recovered the "tune" of the bell, and can use the sound file and output it in digital form. So in this case Next, we use technology to implant this sound into the clock tower, and use electronic clocks and network time to promote it (operation).
[Explanation] Thousands of citizens gathered next to the clock tower. They raised their cameras in their hands and tried to record the moment the bell rang.
People stood silently in that bell, pricked their ears, and listened to the echoes of history.
From now on, every morning from 8 am to midnight, the bell tower will ring every hour to tell the citizens the time and restart the century-old story.
[Commentary] Many citizens said in interviews with reporters that the sound of the bell gave them a lot of memories of the past.
[Concurrent] Hong Kong citizens
I remember that when I was young, the clock tower used to be a railway station. When there was no Hung Hom railway station, it was a railway station. It feels like the clock tower is like the head of a railway station, and it is a bustling and prosperous landmark with people coming and going.
When I was a teenager and 20 years ago, when I first traveled to Hong Kong, I came to the clock tower and came to this Victoria Harbour. At that time, I was wondering what is special about this clock tower. But this grand (event) is a rare sight in a century, and I think it's really special.
The impression of the bell tower to our citizens is very classical. It is very rare today. It is the first time the bell has sounded in 71 years, so I think today is a rare opportunity to listen to the sound of the bell tower.
Reporter Liang Yuan from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]