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Other
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| [diecast models] - [information] - [links] - [news] - [plastic models] - [resin models] - [trams] - [xtra] |
|
Other
items of interest ... Shek-O Bus Terminus |
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You can return to the main XTRA index page by clicking on the XTRA logo |
 |
| This page was created in March 2005 following the release of a model of a China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V double-deck bus with a diorama of Shek-O Bus Terminus. The page has been updated several times since then, with the addition of numerous photographs spanning the life of the bus terminus and recording the various bus types using the terminus during this time. If you are able to provide any additional information or photographs, then do please e-mail me. |
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INDEX Its history The original diorama - 2005 The terminus - the '70s, '80s & '90s The terminus - 2000 to 2009 The terminus - 2010 to 2019 PIN-UP article - July 2020 The re-issued diorama - 2020 The terminus - 2020 to present day |
| Its history |
| The building at Shek-O Bus Terminus was constructed in
1955. It was
formerly used by the China Motor Bus Company Limited (CMB) as a bus
terminus, a watchman’s quarter and garage. Shek-O Bus Terminus is designed by Hsin Yieh Architects which was founded by a well-known Chinese architect Su Gin Djih. It is a two-storey utilitarian building of reinforced concrete frame with beams and columns which support the first floor slab, the cantilevered balcony, and the mono-pitched flat roof. The use of reinforced concrete framing allows hollowed-out spaces for the bus shelter, open balcony and stairwell creating the illusion of a floating box. A rear staircase provides access to the first floor from the car park. It is built in the Modernist or International Modern style. This style of architecture is generally accepted as having originated in Germany at the Bauhaus school of art in the 1920s. The elegantly composed volumes together with the cantilevered first floor slab and roof slab give the building a sticking elegance and lightness. The horizontal emphasis derives from the prevalent International Mannerist of the time. Natural organic materials are used in the masonry plinth, the end flanking walls and the stacked stonewall at the NW and the stack stone wall at the NW end which anchors the building to the ground. The use of stone cladding in this way possibly derived from so-called “organic architecture” that is visually and environmentally compatible and closely intergraded with the site. There are a number of examples of this style to be found in Hong Kong, but the most famous was Frank Lloyd Wright’s. Fallingwater (Kanfmann House), built in 1935-39, has been described as arguably the most important twentieth-century house in the United States. The use of natural materials contrasts with the plain man-made concrete structure and is said to symbolise both the romance of nature and the triumph of man. The playful use of Art Deco lettering on the balcony fascia and the chevron shaped ventilation holes in the shelter wall of Shek O Bus Terminus Building are typical of 1950s decorative art and give the building a cheerful and appealing look. This unique character and appearance is a great reminder of a certain period of history in Hong Kong. The terminus appears briefly in the opening sequence of Steven Soderbergh's 2011 film 'Contagion' - more about this can be found in the PIN-UP article below. The small bus terminus is possibly unique in Hong Kong and should be considered to be a rare piece of iconic 1950s architecture with built heritage value. It has retained its authenticity although some windows and a doorway in the rear elevation have been blocked up and the staircase balustrading replaced. Doors and windows to the ticket office and quarters have also been replaced. These alterations are considered to be easily reversed. In November 2021 scaffolding was erected and work commenced to renovate the building to its original condition. This work was completed by late December. |
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| Above photograph courtesy and copyright
of Andrew Suddaby 367 Association. This photograph is believed to have
been taken in 1958 and
shows the terminus in pristine condition. I am grateful Andrew Suddaby for
allowing me to share this photograph
and also to the website "Gwulo:
Old Hong Hong", where I came across the photograph, for
their assistance. The site
features over 30,000 pages about
old Hong Kong and I would strongly recommend you take a look.
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| The original diorama - 2005 | |
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above photographs show the Best Choose diorama featuring China
Motor Bus Guy
Arab Mk V
(02046S)
and a model of the
terminus, which was released
on 31st March
2005. Photographs courtesy and copyright of Philip Chan. |
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| The terminus - the '70s, '80s & '90s | |
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| Captured on 7th May 1976 by John Scragg is China Motor Bus Guy Arab S28, which was originally a single-deck bus. | |
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| Pictured above (top) is China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V M17 taken in 1983 whilst two years later, in 1985, rebodied Guy Arab Mk V LX344 is captured in the same location. | |
| Photographs courtesy and copyright of John G Lidstone. | |
John is renowned for his huge collection of transport photographs and his Flickr site contains almost 100,000 photographs, so well worth a look. The above photographs are taken from his albums, CMB Snapshot 1983 and CMB Snapshot 1985.  Photograph courtesy and
copyright of Donald
MacRae
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| Following the creation of this page, regular contributor Donald MacRae kindly sent me the above photographs which he took at the terminus in October 1995. These show China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 LV138 leaving the terminus and heading back to Shau Ki Wan on Route 9. Donald has a superb collection of bus photographs, totalling over 80,000 on his SmugMug site, so well worth a look. | |
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 My thanks to Jonathan Ho
for allowing me to share his photograph of the terminus
taken in 1997.
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| Captured in January 1998 is
China Motor Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 LV89. © Tim Moore |
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| This photograph shows China Motor
Bus Leyland
Victory Mk2 LV131 arriving. © Winston Lau |
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This photograph, believed to have been
taken either in 1999 or 2000,
shows New World First Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 LV12 (CF9655)
getting ready to head back to Shau Ki Wan. New World First
Bus
took over many of the China Motor Bus routes in 1998 after
that
company lost its franchise. I
am assuming the driver's cab door was left open to cool the cab.
Photograph purchased by me - original
photographer unknown.
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| The terminus - 2000 to 2009 | |
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| New World First Bus lowheight Duple
Metsec bodied Dennis Trident 3321 captured in March
2002. © Dave Rogers. |
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Having
visited
Shek-O myself in November
2002, it prompted me to look out the photos l took. The
Guy Arabs of
CMB
had gone, as had the company itself! Plenty of low floor
buses of
New World First Bus were in evidence, these being short (10.3 metre)
Dennis
Tridents with a low-height Duple Metsec body, some of which were a only
a few months old when photographed. Here we see New World
First Bus Dennis Tridents
3319 (left) and 3348/3347
(right). |
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| When Donald MacRae
visited again in November
2007, the terminus had
clearly received a makeover! |
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 This photograph shows
the terminus in April 2008.
My thanks to Yun Huang Yong for allowing me to share his photograph, which is from his Flickr site. |
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 I am grateful to Martin
Ng for allowing me to share his photograph of the terminus taken on 13th September 2009. Duple Metsec bodied Dennis
Trident 3334 is preparing to depart
for Shau Kei Wan.
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| I made a further visit on 25th November 2009, arriving on Trident 3340 and leaving on 3331. Clear blue skies were evident and the beach idyllic! | |
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| The terminus - 2010 to 2019 | |
| I am again grateful to Donald MacRae
for allowing me share this selection of photographs taken during his
visit in April 2011.
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| A selection of Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Tridents in the terminus whilst the final photograph was taken on the Dragon's Back where Dennis Trident 3334 was spotted on Shek-O Road. | |
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| My thanks to David Howlett, not only for sending me this photograph taken on 12th November 2013, but also for advising that the terminus had received a higher historical status. | |
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| The following is the article that appeared in the South China Morning post on 11th September 2013 | |
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A 58-year-old bus terminus that was in a Hollywood movie scene will get a higher historical status, government heritage advisers have decided. The terminus, which was featured in Steven Soderbergh's 2011 film Contagion starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, was built in Shek O in 1955 by the now-defunct China Motor Bus, which operated routes on Hong Kong Island. It was used as a watchman's quarters and garage. The two-storey privately owned building was one of the few non-residential architectural examples still standing in the Southern District, the Antiquities Advisory Board noted at its meeting yesterday. A lower grade-three status had been initially proposed, but many on the 23-member board, as well as Shek O residents, believed it merited a higher rating. "The building was constructed in a very unique cantilevered style. The assessment panel has decided to upgrade it from grade three to grade two," board chairman Andrew Lam Siu-lo said as he announced the majority decision. "The grading reflects the special merits of higher architectural and heritage value." The terminus, which sits on government land, is known for its large cantilevered balcony, mono-pitched flat roof and art-deco lettering on the fascia. The board concluded the building was designed in a unique Bauhaus style of architecture, which promotes clean, modern lines and functionality. A changing room previously occupied the upper floor, with an office on the lower floor. Drivers of CMB, which once held a monopoly on Hong Kong Island bus routes, used the building as a rest area after long trips into Shek O. He said the board endorsed the conversion of old buildings for new uses as long as mitigation measures were put in place to safeguard architectural, design and heritage values This
article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Bus
terminus gets heritage upgrade on 11 September 2013
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| Blue skies prevailed when the following photographs were taken in January 2014. I came across these on The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group website, where a whole host of historical topics are featured and it is well worth a look. My thanks to Hugh Farmer and Malcolm Morris for allowing me to share these excellent photographs. | |
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| ©
Hugh Farmer and Malcolm Morris The Industrial History of Hong Kong Group |
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| The following evening shot was also taken in 2014 | |
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My thanks to the Hong Kong Free Press for allowing me to share this photograph, which appears in an article on the bus terminus written by Mercedes Hutton and published in May 2022. To view this article, just follow this link. |
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| New World First Bus 3846 ADL 'facelift'
Enviro400 seen here in October
2019 undergoing route training. © Filmnbus |
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PIN-UP magazine article - July 2020
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| Following the
release by Tiny of their
two unlicensed Citybus ADL Enviro400s in June
2020, Singson Wong posted
a photograph
of one of these models placed on the diorama where
previously the
China Motor Bus Guy Arab Mk V had rested. Singson was then kind enough to take a selection of photographs of the diorama and these are featured below.
All photographs © Singson Wong
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| In late August 2020, Hong Kong model bus retailer Network Shuttle listed the model of the terminus, without a bus, on it's website. Having ordered one, it arrived in early September. The only difference I can spot between that issued back in 2005 and this one is the use of etched metal railings on this model, whereas the original appears to have tubular style railings that were possibly plastic.  |
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| In October
2021,
Matthew Chung posted
the following photographs on social media, These show a diorama of the bus terminus with a
low-height New World First Bus Duple Metsec bodied Dennis
Trident. |
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| The photograph below shows New World First Bus Leyland Victory Mk 2 LV4 awaiting departure. |
| © Matthew Chung |
| The terminus - 2020 to present day | |
 © Charles Lai |
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This photograph was taken in October
2020 and shows
the terminus in a state of disrepair.
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 © Terence Tong |
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Captured on 19th February 2021 is New World First Bus ADL Enviro400 3849 displaying 'Happy New Year' on it's destination screen. The wearing of masks confirms the ongoing presence of the Covid-19 epidemic. |
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| The following
photographs give a close-up view of the terminus and were taken on 26th
May 2021. Again
the poor state of the building is emphasised. My
thanks to Henry Chow for allowing me to share his excellent
photographs.
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| © Henry Chow | |
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| On the evening of 14th November 2021, New World First Bus 'lowheight' Alexander Dennis 'facelift' Enviro400 3823 (US6599) is parked up awaiting its departure for Shau Kei Wan. Scaffolding for renovation work on the terminus is evident. | |
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| © Dennis Ngan | |
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| The following photographs were taken on 21st November 2021, a week on from the above photograph, and show the current state of work and also 'close up' details of the ground floor. My special thanks to Dennis Ngan for sending me these photographs and for parking 'his' bus in an appropriate position so as to facilitate them!! | |
    © Dennis Ngan |
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Almost
two weeks on (4th December 2021)
and the work continues, with clear
signs of the vast improvement in the building's appearance.
The cantilevered balcony has been painted and the lettering is complete!
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| © Network Shuttle | |
| In
November 2021 I contacted 1823.gov.uk to enquire about the works being
carried out at the terminus and received the following response on 14th
December:- "Upon receipt of your enquiry, the Transport Department has referred to the concerned bus company for their response. The bus company replied that the undergoing works include the overall repair and renovation of the Shek-O Bus Terminus. The works is expected to be completed by early 2022. Thank you for your attention." |
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| The following photographs were taken on Christmas Day 2021 and show the renovation work almost completed. My thanks once again to Dennis Ngan for taking the time to take the photographs and to send them to me. Once again he has positioned his bus so as to get a clear view! | |
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© Dennis
Ngan
A further scale model of the terminus was announced in late December 2021, this time being to a scale of 1/120. It is produced by Model 1.  |
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| This superb shot was
taken by Dennis Leung on 2nd
January 2022.
 © Dennis Leung
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The above photographs
were taken on 10th February 2022.
© Matthew Chung |
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The above photographs
show the interior of the terminus and were taken on 19th February 2022.
© Dennis Ngan The following
photograph was taken on 21st April
2022.
 Looking like new and not a bus in sight - my thanks again to the Hong Kong Free Press for allowing me to share this photograph, which appears in an article on the bus terminus written by Mercedes Hutton and published in May 2022. To view this article, just follow this link. |
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The following
photograph was taken on 25th
April 2023.
 ©
Network Shuttle
On 24th April 2023, NWFB announced it had applied 'Farewell NWFB' banners to two ADL 'facelift' Envro400s, namely 3807 and 3830. 3807 was spotted the following day at Shek O ready to depart on route 9 to Shau Kei Wan. |
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The following
photograph was taken on 3rd
June 2023
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 © Terence Tong
My thanks to Terence Tong for parking his bus so as to get this image of New World First Bus ADL 'facelift' Enviro500 3830. |
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The following
photographs were taken on 29th
June 2023, the day prior to the end of the New World Fist
Bus brand. 3830
is again the visitor, again ready to depart for Shau Kei
Wan. My
thanks to Wei
Shen Teo for sharing his photographs.
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| © Wei Shen Teo | |
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This was the scene at
1.30am on Saturday 1st
July 2023 with the last New World First Bus departure on
route 9. My thanks to Puch Thom
for sending me these photographs.
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  © Puch Thom |
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Hong Kong experienced its worst flooding in 140 years on 7th/ 8th September 2023 when some parts of the city saw over 19 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. Shek O Road was closed as a result of landslides meaning the village was cut off. A single lane carriageway was opened on Saturday evening (9th) allowing light vehicles to pass. On Sunday 10th, buses were allowed to pass, but only single-deckers. Former New World First Bus 2504 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 is pictured below. Double-deck buses returned to the route on 23 September and former New World First Bus Alexander Dennis 'facelift' Enviro400 3852 is pictured below. Once again Dennis Leung has kindly parked his bus to enable a clear shot of the terminus! My thanks to both Dennis and Empty Transport for allowing me to share their photographs. |
  © Empty Transport  © Dennis Leung |
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I am, once again, grateful to David Howlett for sending me a selection of photographs taken during during his recent visits to the terminus on 14th and 15th October 2024. David previously sent me a photograph back in November 2013, which can be seen above, along with confirmation that the terminus had received a higher historical status.
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Towards the end of October 2024, Andrey M visited the terminus and knowing of my interest sent me the following photographs.
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I visited Shek-O on 16th November 2024 when the following photographs were taken.
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| Page last updated Tuesday, 26th November 2024 | |
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