On the south side [of Statue Square] stands the New Law Courts. It was designed in England, and the only feature of note is the inartistic roof. Like all buildings erected by the Government, the edifice has been in course of construction nearly 15 years, and is still not completed. All the granite used in the construction of this massive block of buildings is the product of the Island and the mainland.
—Picturesque Hong Kong: a handbook for travellers. Hong Kong: Tillotson & Sons. 1911. pp.67–68[1]
Construction of the building started in 1900 and it was opened on 15 January 1912 by the Governor Sir Frederick Lugard.[2] The two-storey granite building is neo-classical in style supported by Ionic columns. It is surmounted by a 2.7 m high blindfolded statue of Justice, represented by Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice and Law.[3] This statue was inspired by the one erected at London's Old Bailey.
In 1978, this building was severely affected by the construction of MTR, requiring restoration work.[3] As a consequence, for part of the early 1980s, the Supreme Court was moved to the Former French Mission Building,[4] which was then used by the VictoriaDistrict Court.
In 1985, the building took up service as home to the Legislative Council, when it was known as 'the Legislative Council Building', while the Supreme Court moved to the Supreme Court Building in Admiralty - renamed the High Court Building in 1997.
On 7 September 2015,[5] the building reverted to its former judicial function. It now houses the Court of Final Appeal. The opening ceremony was held on 25 September 2015 by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Geoffrey Ma Tao-li.[6]
Architectural featuresedit
The building was erected on reclaimed land. Its foundation was formed by driving hundreds of Chinese fir tree trunks into the mixture of reclamation materials and silt on the site. As a consequence, the Building is in effect "floating" on a timber raft. Such a foundation system requires the groundwater level to be maintant level, and a groundwater replenishment system is installed to replace groundwater as required.[2]
The plan of the building follows a rectangular pattern and is symmetrical. The building occupies an area of around 2,660 square metres (28,600 sq ft) (about 70 by 38 metres (230 ft × 125 ft)) and is surrounded by columns. Its height, fronze Tudor Crown, is about 40 metres (130 ft).[2]
Themis and the royal coat of arms
A pediment surmounts the central section of the building facing Statue Square. The pediment is topped by a Statue of Justice and under it is the inscription "Erected AD MDCCCCX" (Erected AD 1910). The pediment incorporates a semi-circular window and the carving of the British royal coat of arms is above it. The shield shows the various royal emblems of the various parts of the United Kingdom: the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. The shield is supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the royal crown. The motto of the sovereign, Dieu et mon droit (God and my right), is displayed underneath it. The figures of Mercy and Truth are located on both sides of the British royal arms.[2]
Galleryedit
Interior of the building as the Legislative Council Building (1985 to 2011)edit
^Cheung, Karen (7 September 2015). "Court of Final Appeal moves into former Legislative Council Building". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^. GlobalPost. Xinhua News Agency. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Court of Final Appeal Building.
Home of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong SAR 2015 – present
Succeeded by
current
January 01, 1970
court, final, appeal, building, similar, building, macau, court, final, appeal, macau, also, known, supreme, court, building, home, court, final, appeal, hong, kong, housed, former, supreme, court, from, 1912, 1983, legislative, council, from, 1985, 2011, loca. For the similar building in Macau see Court of Final Appeal Macau The Court of Final Appeal Building also known as the Old Supreme Court Building is the home of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong It housed the former Supreme Court from 1912 to 1983 and the Legislative Council from 1985 to 2011 It is located at 8 Jackson Road in Central 2 along the eastern side of Statue Square directly west of Chater Garden As the Old Supreme Court its exterior is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Building終審法院大樓Court of Final Appeal BuildingFormer namesSupreme Court BuildingLegislative Council BuildingGeneral informationTypeCourt buildingArchitectural styleNeo classicalLocationHong KongAddress8 Jackson Road CentralCoordinates22 16 52 N 114 09 36 E 22 280996 N 114 160116 E 22 280996 114 160116Completed15 January 1912 112 years ago 1912 01 15 Opened7 September 2015 8 years ago 2015 09 07 current use Renovated2013 2015OwnerJudiciary of Hong KongDimensionsDiameter70 m 38 m 230 ft 125 ft Design and constructionArchitect s Sir Aston Webb Ingress Bell Court of Final Appeal BuildingTraditional Chinese終審法院大樓Simplified Chinese终审法院大楼TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhōngshenfǎyuan DalouYue CantoneseYale RomanizationJung sam faat yuhn daaih lauhJyutpingZung1 sam2 faat3 jyun6 daai6 lau4Old Supreme Court BuildingTraditional Chinese舊最高法院大樓Simplified Chinese旧最高法院大楼TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinJiu Zuigaofǎyuan DalouYue CantoneseYale RomanizationGauh jeui gōu faat yuhn daaih lauhJyutpingGau6 zeoi3 gou1 faat3 jyun6 daai6 lau4 On the south side of Statue Square stands the New Law Courts It was designed in England and the only feature of note is the inartistic roof Like all buildings erected by the Government the edifice has been in course of construction nearly 15 years and is still not completed All the granite used in the construction of this massive block of buildings is the product of the Island and the mainland Picturesque Hong Kong a handbook for travellers Hong Kong Tillotson amp Sons 1911 pp 67 68 1 Classical architecture was used in the design of the building Contents 1 History 2 Architectural features 3 Gallery 3 1 Interior of the building as the Legislative Council Building 1985 to 2011 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe building was designed by Sir Aston Webb and Ingress Bell 3 the British architects responsible for the eastern facade of Buckingham Palace 2 and the Cromwell Road frontage of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London Construction of the building started in 1900 and it was opened on 15 January 1912 by the Governor Sir Frederick Lugard 2 The two storey granite building is neo classical in style supported by Ionic columns It is surmounted by a 2 7 m high blindfolded statue of Justice represented by Themis the Greek Goddess of Justice and Law 3 This statue was inspired by the one erected at London s Old Bailey During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong December 1941 to August 1945 the building was used as the headquarters of the Kempeitai Military Police 2 In 1978 this building was severely affected by the construction of MTR requiring restoration work 3 As a consequence for part of the early 1980s the Supreme Court was moved to the Former French Mission Building 4 which was then used by the Victoria District Court In 1985 the building took up service as home to the Legislative Council when it was known as the Legislative Council Building while the Supreme Court moved to the Supreme Court Building in Admiralty renamed the High Court Building in 1997 In 2011 the Legislative Council moved into the new Legislative Council Complex within the Central Government Complex at Tamar site On 7 September 2015 5 the building reverted to its former judicial function It now houses the Court of Final Appeal The opening ceremony was held on 25 September 2015 by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Geoffrey Ma Tao li 6 Architectural features editThe building was erected on reclaimed land Its foundation was formed by driving hundreds of Chinese fir tree trunks into the mixture of reclamation materials and silt on the site As a consequence the Building is in effect floating on a timber raft Such a foundation system requires the groundwater level to be maintant level and a groundwater replenishment system is installed to replace groundwater as required 2 The plan of the building follows a rectangular pattern and is symmetrical The building occupies an area of around 2 660 square metres 28 600 sq ft about 70 by 38 metres 230 ft 125 ft and is surrounded by columns Its height fronze Tudor Crown is about 40 metres 130 ft 2 nbsp Themis and the royal coat of arms A pediment surmounts the central section of the building facing Statue Square The pediment is topped by a Statue of Justice and under it is the inscription Erected AD MDCCCCX Erected AD 1910 The pediment incorporates a semi circular window and the carving of the British royal coat of arms is above it The shield shows the various royal emblems of the various parts of the United Kingdom the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third The shield is supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the royal crown The motto of the sovereign Dieu et mon droit God and my right is displayed underneath it The figures of Mercy and Truth are located on both sides of the British royal arms 2 Gallery editInterior of the building as the Legislative Council Building 1985 to 2011 edit nbsp Conference Room A nbsp Conference Room B nbsp Conference Room C nbsp President s office nbsp Press Conference Room nbsp Office for the members of the Legislative Council nbsp Ante Chamber nbsp President s seat nbsp Dining Hall nbsp Ceiling of the Main Chamber nbsp Chamber interior nbsp Chamber interiorSee also edit nbsp Hong Kong portal nbsp Architecture portal Court of Final Appeal Hong Kong Supreme Court Hong Kong Legislative Council Complex Central and Western Heritage Trail Former Central Magistracy List of buildings and structures in Hong KongReferences edit Picturesque Hong Kong A Handbook for Travellers Hong Kong Printed by Tillotson amp Sons 1911 permanent dead link a b c d e f g Legislative Council Secretariat Information Note IN26 02 03 The Legislative Council Building PDF archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2016 a b c The Legislative Council Building Legislative Council Archived from the original on 23 November 2011 Roberts Denys 2006 Another Disaster Hong Kong Sketches The Radcliffe Press pp 87 88 ISBN 9781845111120 Cheung Karen 7 September 2015 Court of Final Appeal moves into former Legislative Council Building Hong Kong Free Press Retrieved 10 May 2019 Hong Kong s Court of Final Appeal Building opens GlobalPost Xinhua News Agency 25 September 2015 Archived from the original on 27 September 2015 Retrieved 26 September 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Court of Final Appeal Building Antiquities and Monuments Office The Old Supreme Court 22 16 52 N 114 09 36 E 22 280996 N 114 160116 E 22 280996 114 160116 Preceded byExchange Building Home of theSupreme Court of Hong Kong1912 1981 Succeeded byFormer French Mission Building Preceded byCentral Government Offices Main Wing Home of theLegislative Council of Hong Kong1985 1997 Succeeded byNone see Provisional Legislative Council Preceded byShenzhen Guesthouse Hotel Home of theProvisional Legislative Council of Hong Kong1997 1998 Succeeded byLegislative Council Building as home to Legislative Council of Hong Kong SAR Preceded byNone refer to Provisional Legislative Council Home of theLegislative Council of Hong Kong SAR1998 2011 Succeeded byLegislative Council Complex Preceded byFormer French Mission Building Home of theCourt of Final Appeal of Hong Kong SAR2015 present Succeeded bycurrent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Court of Final Appeal Building amp oldid 1191773230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
