Clock Tower, Hong Kong

The Clock Tower is a 144-foot red-brick and granite landmark. Formerly known as the Kowloon–Canton Railway Clock Tower, it is the sole surviving remnant of the original Kowloon Station, which once stood on this waterfront site. For decades, the tower marked the southern terminus of the railway line that connected Hong Kong with Canton. Today, it stands just inland from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, within easy reach of the Hong Kong Cultural Center and the Avenue of Stars.

Construction of the tower was completed in 1915. Its first clock face was salvaged from the Pedder Street Clock Tower in Central, demolished in 1913, allowing the new station to carry on the tradition of a public timepiece. The other three clock faces were installed later, in 1920, completing the four-sided design. The adjacent station building, built in a distinctive Edwardian Baroque style, stood until the late 1970s.

When the Kowloon–Canton Railway terminus was moved to Hung Hom in 1975, the entire Tsim Sha Tsui station complex was scheduled for demolition. The Heritage Society of Hong Kong campaigned vigorously to save the structure, but negotiations resulted in a compromise: although the station was removed, the Clock Tower was preserved as a symbol of the city’s railway heritage. It was officially declared a monument in 1990 under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.

While the interior is not generally open to the public, limited access may occur during special maintenance or heritage events. Illuminated in the evening and framed by Victoria Harbor on one side and the Cultural Center on the other, it remains one of Tsim Sha Tsui’s most recognizable historic landmarks.