The beauty of Hong Kong's colonial neoclassical architecture is demonstrated well here by the former Supreme Court building, (now Legislative Council), which was built in 1912. It is surrounded by the exciting new architecture of the Hongkong Bank building, designed by Lord Foster, and the new Bank of China building designed by I M Pei. The old Bank of China building is just across the street in Des Voeux Road Central, and houses the China Club, exquisitely decorated in 1920s Shanghai style by its founder Sir David Tang, (of Shanghai Tang fame).
The (now) Legislative Council building faces Statue Square, so named because it used to have a statue of Queen Victoria, removed many years ago to Victoria Park. The only statue that now remains is that of Sir Thomas Jackson, the first chief manager (chairman) of The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation, now called HSBC.
The recent visit to Hong Kong is a reminder of a good legacy of the British empire. Would that others were as successful.
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