Located in Pokfulam, Bethanie was built by the Missions Etrangeres de Paris (French Mission) in 1875 and was used by them as a sanatorium for a century. The building was sold in the 1970s and used by the University of Hong Kong from 1978 to 1997, at which time it was returned to the Government. In 2000, the Architectural Services Department commissioned a feasibility study to investigate the restoration and potential adaptive uses of Bethanie. In March 2003, the Legislative Council approved capital works funds for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to restore Bethanie and two neighbouring Dairy Farm cowsheds as its associated campus.