The Japanese Destroyed then Rebuilt (Parts of) Flagstaff House

Strolling through Hong Kong Park, you may want to visit the Museum of Tea Ware. Not only is it the first museum in the world dedicated to tea ware, but it is also located within the oldest surviving Western building in Hong Kong.

Completed in 1846, Flagstaff House was originally known as Headquarters House. For a century, it served as the official residence and office of the Commander of the British Forces.

However, during the 18-day Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941, Flagstaff House came under heavy fire. Its east and west wings were shelled by the Japanese invasion forces and badly damaged by bombs.

While damaged structures within the Victoria Barracks complex were usually torn down, the Japanese quickly realised the tactical advantage of preserving Flagstaff House. In the 1940s, the mansion commanded an unobstructed view over Victoria Harbour and the barracks directly below.

Moreover, seizing the home of the top British military commander projected total imperial dominance over the defeated colony. The Japanese consequently undertook the restoration of the damaged building, which served as the personal residence for Japanese admirals for the remainder of the occupation.

When the British regained control of Hong Kong, engineers slowly undid the wartime additions made by the Japanese forces. Eventually, in the decade following the building's handover to the civilian government of Hong Kong in 1978, Flagstaff House was fully restored to its original 19th-century Greek Revival appearance.