page_title: Central Market, Hong Kong
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Central Market, Hong Kong / History
context_page_description: Central Market was a fresh food market in Central, Hong Kong. Located between Jubilee Street, Queen Victoria Street, Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central, it was the first wet market in Hong Kong. By its side is the first public female toilet and first above-ground toilets in Hong Kong. It is one of two existing Bauhaus market buildings in Hong Kong, the other one being Wan Chai Market.
context_section_description: The precursor of the market was Canton Bazaar, which was established in 1842 on Queen's Road Central between Cochrane Street and Graham Street.  In 1843 it was also known as the Middle Bazaar.  The Chinese population were later forced to relocate from Central to the Tai Ping Shan area due to a series of fires.  The market was then replaced by residential houses for Europeans.  The bazaar was moved to Queensway, where the present-day High Court stands.  It housed Chinese furniture dealers, joiners, cabinet makers and curio shops.  Due to its proximity of Naval Yard and the construction of cantonment, the bazaar, shops and civil tenement had to be moved. In the 1850s, it was moved to its current location on Des Voeux Road (then known as The Praya).  Its name also changed to Central Market (中環街市).
  The market was rebuilt in 1858, then completely replaced with a Western marble structure in 1895.  The rebuilt market was a three-storey Victorian-style structure with a tower in the middle.
  The market was demolished again in 1937, this time replaced with a Bauhaus structure. Construction was completed in 1938, and cost HK$900,000. The market re-opened on 1 May 1939.
  During the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945, the Chinese name of the market was changed from 中環街市 (chung wan kai shi) to 中央市場 (chung yeung shi cheung).  The Chinese name displayed at the Des Voeux Road Central entrance was not restored until 1993.  Central Market was the biggest meat market in Southeast Asia and the then-Governor of Hong Kong David Trench made a visit to the market in 1967. The importance of the market attracted another Governor Alexander Grantham to pay another visit.
  In 1994, the western part of its second floor was converted into the Central Escalator Link Alley Shopping Arcade, an access way between the Central Elevated Walkway and Central–Mid-levels escalators. It was managed by the Urban Council until its dissolution in 1999.  The market was then closed in March 2003.
caption: Old Central Market of 1895.
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