Published : 2025-05-23
On Duddell Street (都爹利街) in the Central district of Hong Kong, there are four remaining gas lamps which are installed on granite steps. These lamps give the alley a strong historical atmosphere and value, making them a declared monument.
Despite over a century of social changes, the gas lamps and granite steps still stand firm, continuing to serve the local community.
Duddell Street is famous for its remaining gas lamps
Duddell Street is a cul-de-sac linking Queen's Road Central to Ice House Street (雪廠街). At the end, there is a granite steps built in 1883, complemented by Tuscan-style balustrades.
At both the top and bottom of the steps, four elegant gas lamps were installed, thus Duddell Street is also known as "Gas Lamp Street" (煤氣燈街).
The installation year of the gas lamps is difficult to trace, but according to records, the street lamps were manufactured by William Sugg & Co in the UK and are of the double-burner Rochester model.
The lamp posts were designed to be shorter, making it easier to install them on the parapets at both ends of the steps. The gas lamps began providing lighting services to the residents in the area between 1875 and 1889.
After World War II, Hong Kong's street lighting transitioned to electricity, and gas lamps were gradually replaced by electric lamps. By 1967, the only remaining gas lamps in Hong Kong were these four on Duddell Street.
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Duddell Street was designated a declared momument in 1979
In 1979, the gas lamps and granite steps of Duddell Street were officially listed as declared monuments (DMs) in Hong Kong, which means that they are protected by law and cannot be demolished.
The appearance of the four gas lamps has remained unchanged, with the gas flowing through the lamp posts' pipes intact, preserving their look from over a century ago.
However, the gas lamps provided 24-hour illumination in the past; considering energy consumption and safety issues, they have been later modified to automatic operation, and the lighting time were shortened.
Now, they light up at 6 p.m. and turned off at 6 a.m. daily.
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Douglass Street was the filming location for Anita Mui's "Dream Partner"
Over the years, many TV dramas, movies, and music videos have been filmed at the granite steps and gas lamps of Duddell Street, such as Anita Mui's MV of Dream Partner (《夢伴》) and Cecilia Cheung's appearance in the movie King of Comedy (《喜劇之王》).
As a result, Duddell Street attracts many fans and tourists for photo-taking, making it one of the tourist attractions.
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Duddell Street severely hit by Typhoon "Mangkhut" in 2018
However, the century-old Duddell Street faced a severe setback a few years ago, particularly with the gas lamps, which were left in a state of disrepair and severely damaged.
In 2018, Super Typhoon "Mangkhut" (山竹) struck Hong Kong, causing widespread flooding and tree collapses across the city. On Duddell Street, the granite steps and three gas lamps were crushed by fallen trees.
Fortunately, with the collaboration of the Antiquities and Monuments Office (古物古蹟辦事處), the Highways Department (路政署), and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (香港中華煤氣公司), the granite steps were restored using 3D scanning technology.
British experts were also hired to repair the gas lamps, which were finally lit again by the end of 2019.
With social changes, many old relics and items have disappeared under the wheel of time. Fortunately, there are still some "survivors" like the gas lamps and granite steps of Duddell Street.
Don't wait until they are gone to appreciate them. Go visit these "centenarians" and savour these well-preserved historical monuments in weekends or public holidays!
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