Hong Kong’s PLA headquarters was originally home to the British Forces
- Details of the 23-storey tower block perched on a five-storey podium were kept confidential from public
- The Prince of Wales building was opened by Prince Charles and designed to withstand bomb attacks
“Skyscraper at Tamar new Army home?” mused the South China Morning Post on December 30, 1975. “A multi-storey building, possibly a skyscraper, is believed to have been proposed for HMS Tamar to house all Army units to be vacated from Victoria Barracks under the new defence agreement between Britain and Hongkong,” the story continued.
On June 17 the following year, the Post confirmed its conjecture, reporting the complex “will consist of a 20-storey tower on a five-storey podium and will contain offices, messes and quarters and other facilities”.
The foundation stone was laid on March 18, 1977, by John Archer, commander of the British Forces, using the Victorian trowel that had been used to perform the same task for the British Navy base in 1902.
Guests at the ceremony were shown a model of an unusual building, although details of what would be housed underneath the complex remained “confidential”.
Construction progressed well, and on September 22, 1978, the Post reported that the HK$66.5 million project was “well on its way to meeting its target completion date” of March the following year.
“If anyone has doubts as to the future of Hongkong and that of the British Forces role here, a glance towards HMS Tamar should undoubtedly reassure even the most ardent pessimist,” ran a Post article on February 12, 1979.
Since it was first mentioned the complex had gained height, becoming “a 23-storey tower block perched on a five-storey podium” with a cantilever “designed to withstand bomb attacks”.
The headquarters of the British Forces was opened on March 5 by Prince Charles, on what the Post described as “an occasion to remember”. The British royal crossed the harbour aboard HMS Wasperton, alighting at the new headquarters, where he was greeted by officials and unveiled a plaque on the new Prince of Wales Building.
