St. John’s Cathedral Is the Only Freehold Property in Hong Kong

Located on Garden Road, between Cheung Kong Center and the Consulate General of the United States, St. John’s Cathedral is probably the most famous church in Hong Kong. With the laying of the foundation stone on March 11, 1847, and its first service held in 1849, it is the oldest Anglican church in the Far East.

But St. John’s Cathedral also has a unique status, regardless of religion. In Hong Kong, 100% of the land belongs to the government, which leases plots of land, known as “lots” in Hong Kong, for a given period of time to companies or individuals. This form of property ownership is known as a leasehold. In Hong Kong, the three main types of land lease are 75, 99, and 999 years.

St. John’s Cathedral, however, is the only freehold in Hong Kong, which means that the Church owns the land it was built on in perpetuity, provided the land is used as a church.

Although St. John’s Cathedral was granted this freehold in 1847, when construction began, it was officialised in 1930 when the government of Hong Kong passed the Church of England Trust Ordinance.