Behind closed doors
Given Hong Kong's preference for the new and the shiny, there are few historic buildings left in the city. So, when an opportunity arises to visit one of the remaining colonial buildings, it's best to grab it.
Hullett House is one of Hong Kong's oldest structures, and now one of its most fashionable. The handsome colonial building dates back to 1881 and was originally occupied by the Hong Kong Marine Police. It was renovated by local craftsmen last year and today it houses a stylish boutique hotel, restaurants, bars and shops.
From Wednesday, visitors to the Tsim Sha Tsui site will be offered a free 30-minute tour, starting at the elegant colonnade and veranda. It takes in the parlour at the front of the house, with its three distinctive rooms. A highlight is the West Room and its mural of Britain's historic Royal Pavilion in Brighton, a stunning early-19th-century building heavily influenced by Indian and Chinese aesthetics. The walls in the East Room are decorated with 19th-century paintings of Victoria Harbour and, overhead, there are atmospheric shadow lamps.
The tour includes three prison cells used by the marine police and the Mariners' Rest, originally a watering hole for sailors and policemen.
Each restaurant and suite in the hotel has been designed by owner David Yeo to embody a historical period and highlight Hong Kong's cultural past. Yeo, founder of the Aqua group of restaurants, is no doubt hoping visitors will begin or end their tour in one of Hullett House's five restaurants, which include Loong Toh Yuen and the Stables Grill.
