Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong

Victoria Barracks, c 1870

The Victoria Barracks (Chinese: 域多利兵房) were a barracks in the Admiralty district of Central on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The barracks were constructed between the 1840s and 1874,^[1] and situated within the area bounded by Cotton Tree Drive, Kennedy Road and Queensway, Hong Kong. The Barracks with Murray Barracks, Wellington Barracks and Admiralty Dock formed a British military zone in Central. The barracks was named for Queen Victoria, monarch at the time of construction.

The barracks were one of the first British military compounds in Hong Kong and were used by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation (1941–1945). They underwent major restoration after World War II. Part of the land was returned to the Hong Kong Government in 1967;^[2] most of the rest was transferred to the government in 1979.^[1]

According to the Hong Kong Heritage Society, a Shinto-style arch was built and a pilau stone was erected by the Japanese Navy during the war.^[3] These Japanese structures still existed in the barracks in the late 1970s.^[2]

Part of the barracks were subsequently used as a branch office of the Immigration Department;^[4] illegal immigrants went to the Victoria Barracks office for registration and application for Hong Kong Identity Cards in 1979.^[5]

The Planning for the redevelopment of the Barracks

In March 1977, the Governor of Hong Kong appointed the Victoria Barracks Planning Committee to advise him and the Executive Council on the planning of the area; in September in the same year, the committee published the Report to the Governor-in-Council on the Future Development of Victoria Barracks.^[3]

The planning of the redevelopment of the Victoria Barracks had led to the strong public pressure in the late 1970s. According to the Report, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Hong Kong Heritage Society objected to the setting up of the ad hoc committee, separate from the Town Planning Board.^[3]

In the report, the committee suggested that the public supported the preservation of the mature trees and the green zones, including the wooded slopes, in the Barracks; also, it was suggested that Flagstaff House and other historic buildings should be preserved. The Hong Kong Squash Racquets Association supported the retention of the historic squash court building,^[3] which was later demolished during the redevelopment and replaced by a new one. The Scout Association of Hong Kong requested to be allocated some of the buildings and structures to set up a scout training centre.^[3]

Some people proposed that the government should re-site the proposed new secondary school, the government offices and the then Supreme Court (now the High Court).^[3]

In 1979,the Government released the final planning proposal; the Urban Council, the Conservancy Association and the Hong Kong Heritage Society were dissatisfied that the Government refused to preserve the whole site of the Barracks.^[6]

Part of the site was converted to the Hong Kong Park while the southern part of the barracks was where Pacific Place, the High Court and Queensway Government Offices now stand.

Historic Buildings

Wavell House in Hong Kong Park

Montgomery Block at Kennedy Road

Some of the buildings within the barracks were preserved and graded as Historic Buildings:

• The Former Explosives Magazine complex of the Barracks was graded as a Grade I Historic Building.^[7] It contains two former explosives magazines and a laboratory building separated by earth mounds known as traverses which were built as buffers in case of explosions.^[8]

The following buildings are graded as Grade II historic buildings:^[7]

• Cassels Block (early 20th century), the former barracks for married British officers. Originally named as "Block C".^[8] Since 1992 this has housed the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre.
• Rawlinson House (1910),^[3] the former residence of the British Deputy General (also known as the "Deputy Commander, British Forces"),^[2] converted in the 1980s into a marriage registry. Two Warrant Officers' Married Quarters were integrated with it into a single building in the 1960s.^[2]
• Wavell House (early 20th century), the former quarters for married British officers, converted in 1991 into the aviary support centre (Education Centre). Named after Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, British Army Field Marshal and Viceroy of India.
• Montgomery Block is currently home to Mother's Choice Limited. It was returned from the British Forces to the Hong Kong Government in 1967.^[2] It was likely named for Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, British Army Field Marshal
• Roberts Block has been occupied since 1986 by the Jockey Club New Life Hostel of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. It was returned from the British Forces to the Hong Kong Government in 1967.^[2] Likely named for Frederick Sleigh Roberts, Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar and British Army commander during the British war with Afghanistan.

Queen's line

Ching Yi To Barracks, formerly known as "Queen's Line", was part of the Barracks. The current Ching Yi To Barracks is used by the People's Liberation Army.^[9]

Dragon House and Paget House were two of the buildings of the former Victoria Barracks within the area occupied by the current barracks.^[10]

Destroyed Buildings

The following building was destroyed when the barracks were redeveloped into the Park:

• Blocks A,B,C, D and E: They were built around 1868 for the Indian troops of the garrison. Block A and B were later used to accommodate the Headquarters in the 1920s; A bamboo bridge was used to connect the two blocks during this period. Block D was used as the Headquarters of the Brigade of Gurkhas in the 1970s.^[2] The Victoria Barracks Planning Committee recommended that Block E should be preserved for community use in a report to the Governor and the then Executive Council.^[3]
• Alexander Block: Erected in the early 1900s.^[2]
• Birdwood Block was the identical twin of Cassels Block. Like the Cassels Block, it also had a stepped roof.^[2] The Block was named after Lt.General Sir William “Birdie” Birdwood" ^[8]It was used as a married officers' quarters.^[2]
• Colvin Block was used by the Women's Royal Army Corps,^[11]
• Freyberg Block was built in 1931 and was used to house the Head of the Intelligence Services.^[2]
• Gort Block
• Hamilton Block was returned from the British Forces to the Hong Kong Government in 1967.^[2]
• Kitchener Block was used as accommodation for school teachers.^[2] Named for Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, British Secretary of State of War
• The Squash Courts building in the Barracks was the first such building built in Hong Kong.^[12]

Gallery

• 

  Rawlinson House, now used as the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry

• 

  Cassels Block

• 

  Wavell Block

• 

  The historic stone which was once erected in the Barracks area, now on the lawn outside the Flagstaff House

• 

  The Statue of a Canadian British Army soldier in Hong Kong Park: a reminder of the historic background of the park

• 

  Pacific Place and the Queensway Government Offices (the yellow building on the right) stand on the site where once the Victoria Barracks was located

See also

• List of Grade I historic buildings in Hong Kong

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Geographical Information System on Hong Kong Heritage
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} D H Oxley. (1979)Victoria Barracks, 1842-1979. Published by Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Victoria Barracks Planning Committee (1977). Report to the Governor-in-Council on the Future Development of Victoria Barracks
4. ^ ICAC quick off the mark, SCMP,published on 2nd June 1979
5. ^ 3,500 illegals a day line up for ID cards, SCMP,published on 05-Oct-1979
6. ^ GOVT RELENTS ON BARRACKS by Michael Chugani, Hong Kong Standard, published on 11-Jul-1978
7. ^ ^{a b} List of Graded Historic Building in Hong Kong (As at 6 Jan 2007)
8. ^ ^{a b c} RASHKB/AMO VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION Newsletter(March 2006)
9. ^ http://www.info.gov.hk/hk2030/hk2030content/wpapers/wpaper_17/e
10. ^ Dragon House looking from West, Gate, Cotton Tree Drive, 1977, record key of Hong Kong Public Records Office
11. ^ Japanese Torii and Colvin House in rear (W.R.A.C. [Women's Royal Army Corps]),1977, Hong Kong Public Records Office
12. ^ Hong Kong Squash: History

External links

• [1] A selection of photos of “Victoria Barracks” from the 1970s and earlier.