World-Wide House

World-Wide House is a mixed office and commercial building in Central, Hong Kong. The property occupies a strategically important site bounded by Connaught Road Central, Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road Central, directly above a major interchange serving Hong Kong Station and Central Station of the MTR. Its location places it within Hong Kong's dense financial and transportation core and links it to the Central Elevated Walkway network. The building stands on reclaimed land formed around the turn of the twentieth century. Before the present development, the site was occupied by the former General Post Office, which operated there from 1911 until 1976. The post office was relocated to Connaught Place to facilitate construction of the MTR station then known as Pedder station, later renamed Central station. The site's redevelopment therefore formed part of the broader transformation of Central from a historic civic and postal district into a high-density transport, business and retail hub. During the early 1970s, public authorities considered exchanging the site for the Alexandra House plot. The proposal was connected with an ambition to create additional open space in Central and introduce pedestrianisation. The plan was not adopted, largely because of financial considerations. The MTR Corporation subsequently exercised its first-refusal position over the site and paid the Hong Kong Government approximately HK$212 million for the development rights. The transaction produced an effective return of about HK$8,700 per square foot, below the government's initial asking level of HK$10,000 per square foot. Cheung Kong, the enterprise founded by Li Ka-shing, secured the right to develop the above-ground structure. The resulting project was a 32-storey single tower combining offices with commercial space. Its design and circulation are integrated with the surrounding urban infrastructure: the building's arcade connects with neighboring properties through the Central Elevated Walkway, while its position above the MTR interchange gives it unusually strong pedestrian access. The lower floors contain World-Wide Plaza, a three-level shopping arcade arranged around an atrium-style interior without a skylight. Retail units and kiosks are generally small, often around 10 square metres, and are occupied by businesses selling telecommunications and banking services, food, magazines and other everyday goods. The arcade is particularly associated with Hong Kong's Filipino community and is especially busy on Sundays, when many Filipino-operated businesses serve residents and domestic workers seeking food, publications, telecommunications products, financial services and merchandise from the Philippines. World-Wide House is therefore best understood not as a conventional consumer product brand but as a named commercial property and urban retail destination. Its significance comes from its location, relationship with the MTR and elevated pedestrian network, redevelopment of the former General Post Office site, and distinctive tenant mix within World-Wide Plaza.

World-Wide House occupies reclaimed land in Central, Hong Kong, created around the beginning of the twentieth century. The site later became the location of the former General Post Office, which opened there in 1911 and remained until 1976. The post office was moved to Connaught Place in connection with the construction of the MTR station beneath the area. The station was initially known as Pedder station and was later renamed Central station. The completed transport infrastructure linked the site with the interchange serving Central and Hong Kong stations. The future of the site was debated during the early 1970s. One proposal called for the land to be exchanged for the Alexandra House site, allowing the area to be used for more open space and pedestrianisation in Central. The proposal was ultimately rejected, principally because of its financial implications. The MTR Corporation, which held first refusal over the site, then acquired the development rights from the Hong Kong Government for approximately HK$212 million. The transaction generated roughly HK$8,700 per square foot for the government, compared with an initial asking price of HK$10,000 per square foot. Cheung Kong, the enterprise associated with Li Ka-shing, obtained the right to develop the above-ground building. The project produced a 32-storey tower combining office accommodation and commercial uses. Its lower floors were planned as an arcade, and the building was connected to neighboring properties by the Central Elevated Walkway. This arrangement made World-Wide House part of Central's elevated pedestrian and commercial circulation system rather than an isolated tower. World-Wide Plaza occupies three lower levels of the building. It uses an atrium-style layout, although the atrium does not have a skylight. Its retail spaces are generally compact, with kiosks and units commonly measuring around 10 square metres. Tenants have included businesses offering telecommunications and banking services, food, magazines and other small-scale retail goods. The arcade developed a particularly strong relationship with Hong Kong's Filipino population. Many shops are operated by Filipino proprietors, and the retail mix includes goods and services relevant to Filipino residents and domestic workers, including merchandise from the Philippines. Sunday trading is especially significant, when the arcade becomes a prominent meeting and shopping location for the community. This social and commercial role distinguishes World-Wide Plaza from the more corporate office environment typically associated with Central. Today, World-Wide House remains an office-and-commercial landmark in the Central district. Its historical importance derives from the succession of uses on the site, its connection with Hong Kong's MTR expansion, the redevelopment decisions surrounding Central's public realm, and the specialized retail culture that emerged in its arcade.

• 1976

  General Post Office relocates

  [1]World-Wide Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The General Post Office left the site and moved to Connaught Place in connection with MTR construction and the redevelopment of Central's transport infrastructure.

• 1911

  Former General Post Office begins occupying the site

  [1]World-Wide Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The former General Post Office was located on the site from 1911, before the later redevelopment as World-Wide House.

• MTR Corporation acquires development rights

  [1]World-Wide Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The MTR Corporation exercised first refusal over the site and paid the Hong Kong Government approximately HK$212 million for the relevant rights.

• Cheung Kong develops the tower

  [1]World-Wide Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Cheung Kong obtained the right to develop the above-ground structure, resulting in a 32-storey office-and-commercial tower.

A centrally located Hong Kong office-and-retail property positioned around transport connectivity, pedestrian accessibility and a diverse small-business arcade serving both commuters and the Filipino community.

• Office and commercial property

  World-Wide House office tower

  The principal building is a 32-storey single tower combining office accommodation with commercial uses. It occupies a high-value Central location between major roads and sits above the interchange serving Hong Kong and Central MTR stations. Its pedestrian connections make it part of the district's wider elevated circulation system.

• Shopping arcade

  World-Wide Plaza

  World-Wide Plaza is a three-level arcade on the lower floors of World-Wide House. Its atrium-style interior contains compact kiosks and shop units typically used by small traders. The tenant mix includes telecommunications and banking services, food, magazines and merchandise associated with the Philippines. The arcade is connected to the Central Elevated Walkway and is particularly active on Sundays.

• Redevelopment of the former General Post Office siteStrategy

  Background

  The former General Post Office site became available after the post office relocated in 1976. Earlier proposals sought to exchange the site and create more public open space and pedestrianised areas in Central, but those plans were not pursued.

  Action taken

  The MTR Corporation acquired the site's development rights, while Cheung Kong obtained the right to construct the above-ground office-and-commercial tower.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment produced World-Wide House, integrating a high-rise building and World-Wide Plaza with the MTR interchange and Central Elevated Walkway.

  Site development-rights payment. Approximately HK$212 million paid by the MTR Corporation to the Hong Kong Government

  Source

1. 1World-Wide Houseen.wikipedia.org