The other day I ventured out and about in Happy Valley and realised that there is a small private street that I never noticed. It is tucked away behind the Sanatorium hospital, just to the right of Celeste Court. I decided to walk uphill, it is just a short slope.
There are just a few houses in this dead-end street, and the one on the left hand slide (up the slope) are really beautiful – at least the old ones that remain. Apparently they were built in the 1920s as part of the development of Happy Valley as a residential area.
At that time houses had to be of European style and were not allowed to exceed 35 feet in height. Can you imagine this? Nowadays it seems all the houses and buildings are getting taller and taller – when I tell friends back at home that I used to work on the 66th floor of the Centre, they just shake their head.
Anyway, the Fung Fai Terraces look beautiful from the outside, and what I have heard from friends, also inside. It is hard to find a flat in there (no surprise) as it is such a quiet area in Hong Kong.
There is also a big, old stair case and I wonder where that used to lead to. Nowadays there is just another block of buildings at the end of the stairs – but maybe in the past there used to be a street?
I would love to know more about this quiet and old area of Hong Kong – does anyone know more about the history of the Fung Fai Terraces?
bluebalu 
Ruth, aren’t you afraid you might get lost? You investigate all sorts of places, I would be worried I might not find my way back home.
Hahaha. No, Hong Kong is very small and also safe – it’s hard to get lost :)
Wow, so pretty! I used to live so close by, I can’t believe I never explored there myself!
I would love to see the inside of the houses, I’ve heard from two different friends that there are some amazing flats – with stained glass doors. That sounds so beautiful!
My father was the second owner of the house next to the hospital. First owner being his Dad who built the complex. David (Man Hing) O’Young was the founder of Wing On and returned to China after founding Wing On in Sydney.
My family lived there until 1960 and each floor is around 2000 sq ft with high ceiling. Indeed it was very old and grand.
That’s great feedback – thanks for sharing!
Hi Hing,
I visited this afternoon to this place. It is amazing to see the beautifully crafted houses in HK where surrounded by concrete Jungle. A few years back, I read the article that on 1943 Xu Beihong (King of Modern Chinese Artist) stayed a few months. Do you know, which building he stayed?
Regards
Asok
Thanks for visiting Asok – unfortunately I don’t have that information, I’d love to wish it too!