thumb|[[Ancient Greek architecture|Classical architecture was used in the design of the building.]]
The Court of Final Appeal Building, also known as the Old Supreme Court Building, is the home of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. It housed the former Supreme Court from 1912 to 1983 and the Legislative Council from 1985 to 2011. It is located at 8 Jackson Road, in Central, This statue was inspired by the one erected at London's Old Bailey.
As the Supreme Court (1912–1941, 1945–1978, 1982–1984)
From 1912 to 1941, the building was used as the Supreme Court and as the offices of the Attorney General and Crown Solicitor. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (December 1941 to August 1945), the building was used as the headquarters of the Kempeitai (Military Police). Following the Japanese surrender and restoration of British rule in 1945, the Supreme Court resumed use of the building, which was shared at various times with the Tenancy Tribunal, the Victoria District Court, and the Legal Department.
In 1978, this building was severely affected by the construction of the MTR, requiring restoration work. which was then used by the Victoria District Court. The Supreme Court briefly reoccupied the building from 1982 to 1984 before moving to its current location in Admiralty in July 1984.
As the Legislative Council (1985–2011)
In 1983, the Executive Council authorised the conversion of the former Supreme Court Building into the Legislative Council Building, a move that was described by the then-Chief Secretary Sir Philip Haddon Cave as giving the Legislative Council "a new and clearer identity, emphasising its separation from the Executive Council and the Administration". The Architectural Services Department began the conversion works in 1984, the same year the exterior of the building was declared a monument.
The renovations involved the conversion of the court's library into the Council Chamber, the construction of a mezzanine floor to accommodate public galleries, and the conversion of courtrooms and ancillary rooms into conference rooms and a dining hall, with judges' chambers repurposed to become the offices of legislators. the building reverted to its former judicial function. It now houses the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. The opening ceremony was held on 25 September 2015 by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Geoffrey Ma Tao-li.
Architectural features
The building was erected on reclaimed land. Its foundation was formed by driving hundreds of Chinese fir tree trunks into the mixture of reclamation materials and silt on the site. As a consequence, the building is in effect "floating" on a timber raft. Such a foundation system requires the groundwater level to be maintained at a constant level, and a groundwater replenishment system is installed to replace groundwater as required.