THE SITE
Former Elliot Pumping Station and Filters
To meet the increasing water demand at the western end of Hong Kong Island, construction of new waterworks at West Point, including service reservoir and filter beds, were planned for in the 1910s. However, as much of the surrounding land in Western Mid-levels had been designated for use by HKU, which was newly founded around the same time, space was a problem in this location. Eventually, a suitable location was identified at the former Elliot Battery alongside Pok Fu Lam Road, which had been surrendered by the British Army in 1914.
Initial construction of the Elliot Pumping Station and Filters started in 1914 and was completed in 1919. Additional construction of staff accomodation continued through the 1920s. As with all waterworks sites, staff accomodation provided was of two classes – separating the senior (usually British) public service staff from the Chinese workmen. In early 1930s, the original slow sand filter beds was upgraded to the current Treatment Works Building, to cope with the continual expansion of water collection sites in the area and the Aberdeen Reservoir newly constructed in 1929.
As time passed, the water treatment facilities of the Elliot Pumping Station and Filters finally ceased operation in 1993. With the expansion of HKU in 2012, the site was revitalised as part of the HKU Centennial Campus. Three buildings of the former Elliot Pumping Station and Filters can be seen here today.
(i) Treatment Works Building (at the listed coordinates)
The Treatment Works Building was constructed between 1930 and 1931 to supplement the operation of the Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme. Built as a filtration plant, it aimed at increasing the speed and capacity of the filtration system by mechanical processes and dosing of chemicals. Chemicals, such as sulphate of alumina, lime and chlorine, were added to the water for coagulation and sterilisation to enhance drinking water quality.
The building is a three-storey Chemical House with a two-storey operating gallery. A row of filter beds extends along each side of the operating gallery. As a utilitarian reinforced-concrete structure, the regular framing of columns and beams coupled with red-brick infill panels are appealing. Decorative panels adorn the roof parapet, with the central panel at the front elevation incised with “H.K.W.W. 1930-1931”, indicating the period when this building was constructed.
Although the building is no longer in service, the original equipment, including pipes, pumps, and valves, is still intact. You may appreciate the building from another angle via the bridge of the Centennial Garden above as well.
(ii) Workmen’s Quarters (now HKU Visitor Centre)
The Workmen’s Quarters was built between 1918 and 1919 as quarters for the Chinese staff. The one-storey red brick structure with a rectangular plan was designed to be a practical building, providing basic living accommodation. It comprised a “coolies’ room”, a “watchman’s room” and an office, together with associated bathrooms, kitchens and latrine facilities. The verandah on the south elevation is an Anglo-Indian feature. Its timber rafters are embedded in the brick wall on one end and supported by a plate resting on cast-iron columns on the other. The roof of the verandah is a seamless extension of the main pitched roof, which is laid with double-layered, Chinese pan-and-roll tiles, an indication of local adaptation. This type of design for small-scale staff quarters was common in Hong Kong during the 1910s and 1920s.
The architectural qualities and scale of this building are simple in nature, indicative of the status of labouring staff, and the stark contrast between this building and the Senior Staff Quarters reflects the strict hierarchy of employment and relative standards of facilities provided within the civil service of Hong Kong at that time
(iii) Senior Staff Quarters (now HKU Press Bookshop)
The two-storey building was constructed in 1925 as quarters for site managers. It is an excellent example of the fusion of Western Arts and Crafts style and Chinese architectural characteristics. Locally-quarried, rough-honed granite is used for both the walls and the chimneys. The French windows and balcony on the primary elevation intend to fully utilise nature and to provide more immediate access from the interior to the exterior. Similar to other local British buildings, the pitched roofs use Chinese pan-and-roll tiles. Also in the Chinese style are the distinctive “horned” ends to the hip ridges, which are found on the roofs of the porch and balcony.
The original interior layout of each floor was largely identical. On the east side, there was a spacious four-roomed flat with fireplaces for senior staff members. Either a verandah or balcony provided sweeping views of the harbour to the north – or hill views to the south. Rooms at the adjoining servants’ quarters on the west were much smaller. There were separate staircases for senior staff and servants to access the spaces.
THE CACHE
The cache is NOT hidden at the listed coordinates. To find GZ and the cache, follow the instructions below:
(1) Go to the listed coordinates.
- Find the golden plaque introducing the building. Count the number of words in the line starting with "Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme". Let this be A.
- On the upper middle of the front wall, there are letters and numbers inscribed which is related to the construction of the building. Count the total number of dots "." Let this be B.
- Find the warning sign on the fence gate. There is a phone number on the lower right corner. Let the fourth digit be C.
(2) GZ is located at:
N 22° 1(A-C).(B*C-A-B-C)(C)(B-C)'
E 114° 0(C*2).(B*3-C-A)(C)(A-B)'
The cache is magnetically attached inside something related to water. You may need a friend to help if you are not tall enough.
Notes on campus access:
Starting from 1 May 2024, tourists visiting the HKU campus between 8am and 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday, are required to make reservations through HKU’s online registration platform. No reservation is needed if you visit HKU campus outside the above hours (e.g. evenings, Sundays and public holidays).