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robin hu | all galleries >> Hong Kong >> Christmas Lights in Central Statute Square, Hong Kong > Statue Square
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20-DEC-2012

Statue Square

Statue Square ("Empress' Statue Square") is a public pedestrian square in Central, Hong Kong. Built entirely on reclaimed land at the end of the 19th century, Statue Square consists of two parts separated by Chater Road into a northern and a southern sections. It is bordered by Connaught Road Central in the north and by Des Voeux Road Central in the south.

The idea of a square of statues dedicated to royalty was conceived by Sir Catchick Paul Chater. Initially named "Royal Square", it gradually became known as "Statue Square", a name derived from the fact that it originally contained the statue of Queen Victoria, as the square's name in Chinese testifies. This statue was ordered in order to commemorate the 1887 Golden Jubilee of the monarch. It should not have been made in bronze, but in marble, an error that wasn't picked up until the bronze statue was almost completed. It was officially unveiled at the centre of the square on May 28, 1896, the day officially appointed for the celebration of the 77th birthday of the Queen.

The statues stood on the square until the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during WWII. Today, the only statue on the square is the one of Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet, an early HSBC banker.

Canon EOS 7D
3s f/16.0 at 17.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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