Name (English): The People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building
Name (Chinese): 中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊大廈
Category: Arts, Music & Museum
Address (English): The People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building, Central, Hong Kong
Address (Chinese): 中環中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊大廈
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/R4n2bPSo24KAzHCK8
Address longitude and latitude: 22.28175840828094, 114.16394087728402
Nearest MTR Station: Admiralty Station Exit B
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/Bt3N5mDP2XqoZf898
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.279463533140405, 114.16393269158904
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 14-minute walk from Admiralty MTR Exit B
Opening Hours: Not open for public in usual days
Accessibility Note: Easy access
Top-heavy. Small waist. Having these two features makes the PLA Forces Hong Kong Building (PLA Building) nevertheless noticeable among skyscrapers along Hong Kong Island’s skyline.
Constructed within the former Tamar naval base on Lung Wui Road, Admiralty, 1979, the 113-meter-tall building was named the Prince of Wales Building and opened by Prince Charles. It housed the head office of the British Army stationed in Hong Kong.
Designed by local architect Pun How-wai, the building’s narrow stem with the protruding upper floors was more than a characteristic in brutalist architecture that highlights the masculinity of the structure. It was designed to make it difficult for trespassers to climb and attack. Hence, it is also informally known as “the upside-down gin bottle”.
After the handover in 1997, the building was made the head office of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison and was renamed as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in 2000.
Under British use of the barracks, there was a chapel on the podium on top of the base of the building. After a 20-month renovation when the PLA took over, the chapel was removed. Also, the inscription of the original name of “Prince of Wales Building” inscription in English was replaced with its current name in Chinese.
Soldiers serving at the garrison are considered to be the elite of the PLA. They are not permitted to leave their compounds, even during off-duty times to mingle with the local populace. As a restricted area, the PLA Building is heavily guarded by very alert soldiers with automatic rifles and, of course, many surveillance cameras.
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