Symbolic past strikes a chord

The two-storey Victorian building at 28 Kennedy Road has symbolic meaning to Hong Kong people - it was where British and Chinese officials conducted the final stage of negotiations for Hong Kong's future post 1997.

It was built in the early 20th century as a British school. It was a French bank's dormitory in the 1920s; afterwards it became the Russian consulate.

It was chosen by the British to be the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group office, as its old office was being demolished to make way for the British consulate.

The building is well known to reporters who spent hours being pestered by mosquitoes in the small garden, waiting for briefings from both sides of the consultations.

Since 2002 it has been home to the Hong Kong Design Centre, showcasing Hong Kong achievements in graphic and fashion design.