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China Motor Bus - Chai Wan Depot
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China Motor Bus opened their new five-storey bus depot in Chai Wan in 1978. Upon losing their franchise to operate buses in the former colony in 1998, the four lower floors were used for several years by Citybus/New World First Bus with the Company retaining the top floor. Citybus/New World First Bus relocated to their new depot in July 2004 leaving the bulk of the depot unoccupied. 

The company first applied to the government in 2002 for permission to build to a 1,316-home residential project, which won approval in 2004.

However, in 2008 China Motor Bus submitted a new plan which called for developing the site into four 57-storey skyscrapers. After that plan was rejected by the building department, the company submitted another plan for building three residential towers comprised of 780 units, only to have that scheme turned down in 2012.

In 2018, approval was received for development into a residential and commercial complex, providing up to 436,800 square feet of homes above a three-storey commercial podium totalling 1,999 square feet.

I
n 2020, scaffolding was being erected in advance of the buildings' demolition.

   
I have divided the following photographs, which are all 'clickable', into three groups. The first shows the exterior of the building whilst the second shows more specific internal and vehicle shots. A third section was added on 30th April, these featuring photographs taken in January 2020. A fourth section of aerial shots was added on 1st May.
 
I would like to thank the following for allowing me to share their excellent photographs:-

Donald MacRae, take a look at his excellent SmugMug site
Joe Kwong of Jotus.com, a Hong Kong based online retailer of model buses
Island Vintage Bus, a group of classic car enthusiasts dedicated to preserving vintage vehicles.
Philip Chan, a regular contributor to this site
and 
The Industrial History of Hong Kong Groupgroup for anyone who has a knowledge of,
or who wishes to learn about, Hong Kong's wide ranging industrial history, to
Vincent Chong for his photographs taken in January 2020 and finally to
Ka Ho Ng for his aerial shots taken in August 2019.

The Building
 
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Photograph courtesy and copyright of Island Vintage Bus
 
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November 1996 - Donald MacRae October 2000 - Donald MacRae

   
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October 2002 - Donald MacRae February 2004 - Donald MacRae
         
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November 2012 - Donald MacRae  
       
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February 2015 - Photographs courtesy and copyright of The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group
     
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May 2015 - Philip Chan
   
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November 2015 - Donald MacRae
     
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June 2019 - Philip Chan April 2020 - Philip Chan
   
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April 2020 - Joe Kwong
   

Activity
   
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November 2002 - Oriental Model Buses
     
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February 2004 - Oriental Model Buses

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November 2012 - Donald MacRae


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November 2015 - Donald MacRae
   
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Island Vintage Bus was privileged to have been invited by China Motor Bus for a final salute to this depot earlier this year, during which part of its restored fleet was reunited with several members of the company's retired and current staff.
Photograph courtesy and copyright of Island Vintage Bus
   
   
After publishing the above feature on 24th April, I was contacted by Vincent Chong, who kindly sent me a large selection of photographs taken during his visit to the Depot in January 2020, and below is a selection of these. All the images are 'clickable'.
    
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3rd Floor parking
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3rd Floor parking
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Fourth Floor
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Ground Floor
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Ground Floor
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Logo
Offices
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Offices
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Ramp 1st Floor to 2nd Floor Ramp 3rd Floor to 4th Floor
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Ramp 3rd to 4th Floor Traffic Light - Ramp 3rd to 4th Floor
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Ramp Ground Floor to 1st Floor Reception
 
All the above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Vincent Chong
   

And finally, here are four aerial shots taken in August 2019
    
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All the above photographs are courtesy and copyright of Ka Ho Ng
   
   
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This page last updated Friday, 1st May 2020
 
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