High Life Issue #5

HIGH LIFE #5 February 2017 55 H ong Kong’s Central district is a magical place. It is where the city’s finest shopping, entertainment and historical areas are located, offering the perfect spot for both leisure and business travellers. Regarded as the epitome of contemporary luxury combined with oriental heritage, the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has delighted guests with superb service and impressive facilities for over 50 years. Indeed, it is not only just a hotel, but also a modern institution and a much-loved address for those seeking an exclusive sanctuary in the heart of an exciting metropolis. In 1958, the Honourable Hugh Barton, Chairman of the Hong Kong Land Company, had a dream that Hong Kong’s Central district needed a world class hotel. His dream became reality on 1 September 1963 when the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong – formerly The Mandarin – was launched with a soft opening. John Howarth of the Leigh & Orange architectural firm was appointed architect, while interior design responsibility fell to Don Ashton, art director for such films as “Bridge Over the River Kwai”, “Indiscreet” and “Billy Budd”. At that time, the South China Morning Post enthused over the space-age lifts that catapulted guests to the top floor in just 21 seconds. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong was the first hotel to have direct-dial telephones and was also the first inAsia to have a bathtub in every room– leading the architect of the hotel to ask, “Are the guests amphibious?” When it officially opened on 25 October, the 650-room, 27-storey property was the tallest building on Hong Kong Island and instantly became a historic landmark – a status it still holds today.