Government House ( ; formerly 督憲府/香港總督府/港督府), located on Government Hill in the Central District of Hong Kong Island, is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The building was constructed in 1855, but was significantly remodelled during Japanese occupation, resulting in the current hybrid Japanese-Neoclassical form.

Government House was the official residence of the Governor from 1855 to 1997, when the city was under British rule. 25 Governors of Hong Kong, out of total 28, used this building as official residence.

History

Government House was designed by Charles St George Cleverly. Construction started in 1851, eight years after Hong Kong was declared a British colony, and took four years to complete. The first governor to live there was Sir John Bowring, the fourth governor of the territory. The last one was the last governor, Chris Patten.

In 1891, an annex was added to the house for social functions (namely the Ballroom). During the Japanese occupation during World War II (1941-1945), it was occupied by the Japanese Military Governor. The form of the building changed to a hybrid Japanese/Neoclassical image by Seichi Fujimura in 1944, primarily through the addition of a tower and roof elements.

Government House also housed the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1855 to the 1930s. The Council used the Ballroom from 1891 onward.

After the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997, the House became a Ceremonial Reception for ceremonies (such as confederation of Honours and formal banquets). Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong did not reside in Government House.

Donald Tsang, the second and current Chief Executive moved into Government House in January 2006, following extensive renovations. The Standard criticised that the renovation cost was estimated at HK$14.5 million, including a sum of HK$300,000 allocated to a new fish pond designed to accommodate Tsang's collection of koi.

Major features

The main entrance of the House faces south towards Victoria Peak. Down on the northern side is the Central Government Offices, where most Government Secretariat offices are situated.

Government House has a front lawn and a back garden. Eminent among the plants in the garden are the numerous azaleas that come to full bloom in spring. Inside, the Ballroom, the Drawing Room, the Dining Room and the Conference Room are frequently used for receiving guests at official functions.

Gate Lodges and Government House Guards

At the front entrance on Upper Albert Road, there are two buildings with an iron gate known as the Gate Lodges. The Lodges once housed the Government House Guards, who stood in front of the house and protected the Governor of Hong Kong. Various units of the British Army stationed in Hong Kong were used as guard units.

• 1st Battalion of the Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment 1962-63
• C Company of the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Beskshire and Wiltshire

Following the handover in 1997, officers of the Hong Kong Police have guarded the building.

Open Days

The Garden of Government House is open two times a year to the public. At least one will be arranged in spring to enable members of the public to share the delight in viewing the full bloom of the azaleas. Visitors are usually allowed to pass by the Drawing Room, Dining Room and Ballroom where key official functions are held.

The Open Days are generally arranged during weekends. Dates are announced through press releases one week in advance. No admission fee is charged.

Booking

In 1990's, the Ballroom of Government House is reserved on three Fridays in a month for bookings by charitable, non-profit or public organisations to host events that benefit the community. The nature of the event under application must be well-matched with the identity of Government House as an important historical monument of Hong Kong and with its status as a dignified location for the Hong Kong Government to hold official functions. In early 2006, the Chief Executive moved into Government House and used it as official residence and office. Most of the staff in the Chief Executive's Office have also been relocated to Government House to support the Chief Executive. Since then, Government House is no longer available for booking due to security and operational reasons.

Other official residences

In 1900, Mountain Lodge, on Victoria Peak, was built as an alternate summer home for the Governor, a role it retained until 1934. The building survived until 1946, but today only the Gate Lodge and Victoria Peak Garden remain. One of three "GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE" marking stones of the former Mountain Lodge was erected in the small flower bed in front of the entrance of the Government House in 1980.

From 1934, Fanling Lodge, in the New Territories, was used as a summer residence for the Governor. It has retained this role, and is now the alternate residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The lodge is occupied mainly on weekends and holidays.

Urban legend

According to an urban legend, the nearby Bank of China Tower was deliberately designed to shape like a blade so as to reflect bad feng shui to the Government House and its British administration. It is believed that willow trees were planted in the Government House Garden to block the ensuing bad luck.

That notwithstanding, a number of feng shui masters have expressed that the feng shui for Government House, which is surrounded by skyscrapers, is far from optimal. It is worth noting that the Government House was built before any major urban developments, especially those after World War II.

However, some feng shui experts have expressed the opposite, citing that the position of the Government House (with the Victoria Peak behind it and the Victoria Harbour in front of it) makes for an optimal place for decision-making, and that its exact position brings wealth and power for all of its residents.

According to The New York Times, the supposedly bad feng-shui was precisely the reason Tung Chee Hwa refused to live or work in Government House upon becoming Chief Executive. Ironically, during his terms as Chief Executive, he was still heavily criticised by Hongkongers, and his popularity fell well below 40% by the time of his resignation.

The Standard believed Tung's reason to stay away from the mansion was political: a subtle effort to reduce the age-old British legacy over Hong Kong. Other sources mention that "it was the warning about spying devices [installed throughout Government House] that scared him away".

See also

• Government House
• Government Houses of the British Empire
• Governor of Hong Kong
• History of Hong Kong
• List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
• List of official residences

References

External links

• Government House, official website
• Government House, Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office