Originally a home for waterworks managers, the Run Run Shaw Heritage House now stands before us. Built in 1923-24, this building once housed the senior staff of the Elliot Pumping Station and Filters. Imagine the site managers who once lived here. They oversaw the vital work of filtering water for Hong Kong Island’s western side.
The Run Run Shaw Heritage House is a two-story building. It features two four-roomed flats. Adjoining these were servants’ quarters. Notice the architectural details. Multi-casement windows catch the light. The granite walls are rough-honed. French windows add a touch of elegance. All these make it an excellent example of colonial domestic architecture.
The Elliot Pumping Station and Filters were crucial. Built between 1910 and the early 1930s, they supported the Aberdeen Reservoir. They channeled filtered water to the western part of Hong Kong Island. The premises closed in 1993. Now, the Run Run Shaw Heritage House has a new purpose.
Today, the Run Run Shaw Heritage House is home to the Hong Kong University Press. Books and scholarly works fill the rooms where families once lived. It is a Grade 2 historic building that has been preserved. Its history is now intertwined with education and knowledge.
But why “Run Run Shaw”? Run Run Shaw was a famous Hong Kong movie mogul and philanthropist. Although this building was not directly connected to him during its construction, its current name honors his legacy. Run Run Shaw also has a Conference Centre named after him. This is the Run Run Shaw International Conference Centre.
The Run Run Shaw International Conference Centre covers an area of 11,000 square metres. It includes an auditorium and a concert hall. Practice rooms, lecture halls and meeting rooms are also available. It opened in November 2023. The Centre serves as a venue for international conferences and cultural events. It also hosts daily teaching and research activities.
The spirit of Run Run Shaw lives on in CUHK-Shenzhen. The university wants to foster his ethos of benevolence and philanthropy to all. They also nurture exceptional talent for societal advancement.
So, as we stand before the Run Run Shaw Heritage House, consider its layers of history. From a home for waterworks managers, to its place in history. It now houses the Hong Kong University Press. It also stands as a reminder of colonial architecture, and honors a great philanthropist. The Run Run Shaw Heritage House remains a vital part of Hong Kong’s story.