High Court Building (Hong Kong)
| High Court Building | |
|---|---|
高等法院大樓 | |
 High Court Building | |
| Former names | Supreme Court Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Courthouse |
| Location | Admiralty |
| Address | 38 Queensway |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Current tenants | High Court |
| Completed | 1985 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Concrete and glass |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | K. M. Tseng |
| Other information | |
| Public transit access | Admiralty MTR |
| High Court Building | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 高等法院大樓 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 高等法院大楼 | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
The High Court Building is the seat of the High Court of Hong Kong. It is located at 38 Queensway, Admiralty. The building was completed in 1985 as the home of the then-Supreme Court.
History
The first-generation Supreme Court Building was located on Pedder Street in Central, where the China Building stands today. In 1912, the court moved to the newly constructed Supreme Court building on Jackson Road, where it remained until 1983, when it was temporarily moved to the former French Mission Building for emergency repairs caused by the construction of the MTR. The Supreme Court then moved to the present building, now the High Court Building, in 1985.
The Supreme Court Building was renamed the High Court Building in 1997 following the Handover of Hong Kong. However, the road leading to its main entrance still bears the Supreme Court name.
Structure
The 20 storey building was built in 1985 as the home of the then Supreme Court of Hong Kong, which was renamed in 1997. The structure is a white clad tower and has a water fountain outside its front door. Demonstration and media coverage take place at the entrance of the building.
As of 2020, the building contains a total of 46 courtrooms, with plans to build an additional 6 civil courtrooms on the site of the High Court Library, which is to be relocated to the adjacent Queensway Government Offices.[1][2]
Proposed relocation
In 2017, the Judiciary announced plans to construct a new High Court building in the Central Harbourfront, next to the Legislative Council Complex.[3]
In January 2024, the Chief Justice announced plans for the new High Court complex to be built on the site of the adjacent Queensway Government Offices instead, while retaining the current High Court site as well. The current High Court Building is expected to be demolished and rebuilt after the opening of the new premises.[4][5]
In popular culture
While filming in courtrooms is not permitted, the exterior of the building, in particular its forecourt and water fountain, is frequently featured in legal and crime-themed films and television shows set in Hong Kong. Films and television shows featuring the building include The Prosecutor (2024),[6] A Guilty Conscience (2023), The Sparring Partner (2022),[7] and Legal Mavericks (2017).
References
- ^ Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services (25 May 2020). "Additional courtrooms and associated facilities at lower ground fourth floor in the High Court Building". Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE" (PDF). www.legco.gov.hk. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "CJ's speech at Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2018 (with photos)" (PDF). www.hkcfa.hk. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "CJ's speech at Ceremonial Opening of Legal Year 2024 (with photos)". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Government reserves Queensway Government Offices site for expansion of High Court". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "《誤判》｜花4個月搭建可動MTR列車 高等法院場景 金像最佳美術指導王慧茵 1句話要甄子丹坐定定飲水". www.singtaousa.com (in Chinese). 31 December 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ "香港电影《正义回廊》：一部描绘凶杀案的影片为何卖座". BBC News 中文 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 20 August 2025.
External links
Media related to High Court Building at Wikimedia Commons
22°16′42″N 114°09′48″E / 22.27824°N 114.16324°E