When Hong Kong’s Legislative Council got a new home in the old Supreme Court building
- Designed by the architects behind Buckingham Palace facade, the Supreme Court building opened in 1912
- After it was vacated by the judiciary, the new Legislative Council Chamber was opened in 1985
“Time Legco got a decent home,” ran a headline in the South China Morning Post on January 24, 1980. “While Hongkong is marching with the times and maintaining itself as one of the world’s major trading and manufacturing capitals, the Legislative Council Chamber where law is made and amended, ideas promulgated and social issues debated, is almost the same as it was 23 years ago,” the story continued.
The existing chamber, “an annexe to a functional block of offices on Lower Albert Road”, that had been completed in 1957, was described as “not inspiring” and “cramped”.
On May 12, 1983, the Post reported that the old Supreme Court building, which was soon to be vacated, was being considered as a home for the Legco chambers. “If all goes well, conversion work will begin in the middle of next year, when the building is vacated by the judiciary. The new chambers could be ready for use in the latter half of 1985.”
“The conversion of the old Supreme Court building for use as the Legislative Council chamber and for associated purposes has been approved by the Governor-in-Council,” announced the Post on May 28.
Designed by Aston Webb and E. Ingress Bell, the architects behind the facade of Buckingham Palace, the Supreme Court building had opened in 1912 but was not without its detractors.