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Court of Final Appeal Building
The Court of Final Appeal Building, also known as the Old Supreme Court Building, houses the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. It served as the former Supreme Court from 1912 to 1983 and the Legislative Council from 1985 to 2011. Located at 8 Jackson Road in Central, the building sits along the eastern side of Statue Square, directly west of Chater Garden. Its exterior is a designated monument of Hong Kong, reflecting its historical significance. Designed by British architects Sir Aston Webb and Ingress Bell, who also designed parts of Buckingham Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the building opened on January 15, 1912, after construction began in 1900.
The building is a two-story neo-classical structure made of granite and supported by Ionic columns. Atop it stands a 2.7-meter-high blindfolded statue of Themis, the Greek goddess of justice, inspired by the statue at London's Old Bailey. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–1945), it was used as the headquarters for the Kempeitai (Military Police). In 1978, the building required restoration due to the construction of the MTR, temporarily relocating the Supreme Court to the Former French Mission Building.
In 1985, the building became the Legislative Council Building, while the Supreme Court moved to Admiralty. After the Legislative Council moved to the Tamar site in 2011, the building reverted to its judicial role, housing the Court of Final Appeal starting on September 7, 2015. The opening ceremony was attended by Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li.
The building was constructed on reclaimed land, with a foundation supported by hundreds of Chinese fir tree trunks, effectively 'floating' on a timber raft. A groundwater replenishment system maintains the necessary groundwater level. The building's symmetrical design covers an area of 2,660 square meters (28,600 sq ft), with a height of around 40 meters (130 ft). A pediment above the central section features a Statue of Justice and an inscription reading 'Erected AD MDCCCCX.' Beneath it is a carving of the British royal coat of arms, which includes the emblems of England, Scotland, and Ireland, supported by an English lion and Scottish unicorn, topped with a royal crown. The motto 'Dieu et mon droit' (God and my right) appears beneath the arms, flanked by the figures of Mercy and Truth.
Type of Data Point - Basic Data Point - Source Wikipedia
Court of Final Appeal Building - Wikipedia
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Inserted: 02-12-2024 21:12:20
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How did the Court of Final Appeal Building's use evolve from 1912 to 2015?
How does the Court of Final Appeal Building’s location contribute to its historical and political importance in Hong Kong?
How does the design of the Court of Final Appeal Building reflect its historical and judicial significance?
How does the restoration work in 1978 impact the long-term preservation of the Court of Final Appeal Building?
What are the architectural implications of the Court of Final Appeal Building’s "floating" foundation?
What is the significance of the British royal coat of arms on the Court of Final Appeal Building’s pediment?
What role did the Court of Final Appeal Building play during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong?
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Architecture in the city
Historical buildings
Map of Hong Kong
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