A park with a past
The most recent strip of land reclamation at the shore of Central on Hong Kong Island, supposedly the final one in this area, is used not only for building lots, but also for a one-mile walkway along the promenade and the extensive Tamar Park, which slopes gracefully down to the water.
Only very few people know why it is called Tamar Park. Before the land reclamation, this area was a dock belonging to the naval shore station HMS Tamar, named after a decommissioned warship that lay at anchor at one of the piers here for more than 40 years. Built in London in 1863, HMS Tamar initially served as a troopship but in 1897 it dropped anchor for good and served as a naval base in Victoria Harbour. All Royal Navy operations in the North Pacific were orchestrated from here. In the course of a Japanese raid in December 1941, the HMS Tamar was deliberately scuttled, so that it not would fall into the enemy’s hands. An eyewitness later reported that it had literally been possible to see rats leaving the sinking ship.
During land reclamation in May 2015 a metal part measuring 40 by 11 metres was found in the harbour next to Wan Chai Pier. It was assumed that this was a part of the sunken HMSTamar. Since it could not be confirmed if the find had any historical value, and construction work had to go on, it was dragged off some 100 metres to another location for the time being.
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Address Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Admiralty | Public Transport MTR Island Line (blue), Admiralty Station, Exit A or walk from the Ferry piers along the promenade towards Wan Chai | Tip The old Government House on Lower Albert Road is also interesting in its architectural design; now that the government has moved out it is planned to preserve its East Wing (1954) and the Main Wing (1956).
The park, which boasts a small amphitheatre and café, spreads out below the new government building whose shape is designed to remind citizens that the door is always open to them. The question of whether this is true or not is debated quite vigorously by Hong Kongers, but the park is universally appreciated.
It is possible to walk almost without interruption and by way of footbridges and through shopping malls (Admiralty Centre and Pacific Place) from Tamar Park to Hong Kong Park.
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