The site housed the city’s first “Sailor’s Home” opened by huge trading firms such as Jardine Matheson in 1863 to provide seafarers a welcome rest on dry land.
Located in what has now become a prime location in the heart of Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui commercial area, the standout current blue and white building was opened in 1967 has been hosting seafarers and a wide range of maritime-related activities for over 50 years. These include religious services, which began at the Sailors’ Home’s St Peter’s Church in 1884 as well as seminars, talks and other activities by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the Nautical Institute for example.
The current building and facilities are getting old and have dropped well below modern standards, impacting on the level of service to seafarers, The Mariners’ Club operator, The Sailors Home and Missions to Seamen chairman Anthony Nightingale was quoted as saying.
The redevelopment will ensure the mission is self-sustaining in the future and will bring modern new facilities, including accommodation for seafarers and their families as well as enable the mission to continue to provide and expand its services to wider maritime, church and community groups in Hong Kong.
After a tender exercise, the redevelopment contract was awarded to Empire Group, who will spend HKD6b on ($769m) converting the site into a 42-storey building. There will be a commercially operated hotel with about 500 rooms, all with a sea view from the 9th to 42nd floors. The first eight floors will accommodate a garden, 75 rooms for seamen, a rebuilt church capable of holding 200 worshippers, conference rooms, a lounge and restaurants.