Western Branch 西區分局 (HK)
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Located in the Sheung Wan area of Hong Kong Island, Western Branch Post Office was initially opened 1898.07.05 at 111 Praya West, in the City of Victoria. There is some suggestion that it closed for lack of business at some time in 1899; however, Webb ['The Philatelic and Postal History of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan', F.W. Webb, Royal Philatelic Society London 1961] states that there is no actual evidence of this closure.
Webb: "The branch office certainly opened again near the Canton and Macao Wharf on July 1 1906, but this was a direct move from 111 Praya West where it had functioned for eight years."
...and
"On 1 May 1914, the name of the office was changed to 'Sheung Wan District Branch Post Office', on account of another branch office, Sai Ying Pun, being opened in the western part of Victoria. However the change of name was not reflected in the cancellations for several years, for the earliest cancellation showing Sheung Wan is March 1922, while the registration marking continued to read HONG KONG W.B. as late as 1925."
Praya West (and East) no longer exist today, having been long erased by reclamation. One address given for Western Branch Post Office is: 摩里臣街近德輔道中路口(上環街市對面), which translates as "Morrison Street near the intersection with Des Voeux Road Central (across from Sheung Wan Market)". [1].
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