Hong Kong Cenotaph

Public Art: Hong Kong Cenotaph

Also Known: 和平紀念碑

Designed by: Sir Edwin Lutyens

Description: The Hong Kong Cenotaph is a war memorial honouring the war dead. It is a replica of the British Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The stone Cenotaph measures 15ft 6″ wide and 35ft high. It was built on a large granite platform which includes six steps leading to the base. The Cenotaph was said to have been placed on “the colony’s finest site.”

Date Unveiled: The Hong Kong Cenotaph was unveiled on May 24, 1923 (Empire Day) by the then Governor Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs.

Location: The Cenotaph was originally erected near the waterfront but was later moved to its present position, between Statue Square and the City Hall facing the then Hong Kong Club Building in Central Hong Kong. 

Inscription:

“May their martyred souls be immortal, and their noble spirits endure”

Things You May Not Know:

If you visited Hong Kong prior to the hand over to China in 1997, you would have noticed flags were flown on it every day. Today flags are only flown during ceremonies.