Then and Now in Hong Kong - Queen Victoria Statue HK
Complete history of the Queen Victoria Statue in Hong Kong
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years - I know the place.
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Then and Now in Hong Kong - Queen Victoria Statue Hong Kong
The Complete history of the Queen Victoria Statue in Hong Kong
click on the image to enlarge
The iconic Queen Victoria Statue, Statue Square Hong Kong - image taken probably in the 1920’s but before 1941
As you may know I have very recently started to use AI as a research tool, I am a typical writer and I get writers block when confronted with a blank screen, AI is proving very helpful in getting me the information I need and it saves me an awful lot of time which means I can pump out more blog posts!
The image above, well what can I say, I basically walk over this location most days and all that does is make me wish I was a time traveller, I would love to spend a while in Hong Kong in the 1920’s!
The statue of Queen Victoria in Hong Kong is a significant historical artifact, reflecting the city’s colonial past and its evolving identity. Below is a comprehensive history of the statue, from its creation to 2025, including its fate during the Second World War (1941–1945), its return, relocation, and clarification on whether multiple statues of Queen Victoria existed in Hong Kong.
Creation of the Statue
Commission and Purpose:
The statue was commissioned in 1887 by the Hong Kong colonial government to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of her reign (1837–1887). The project was part of a broader effort to celebrate British imperial achievements and was conceived by Sir Catchick Paul Chater, a prominent Armenian entrepreneur in Hong Kong.
Design and Sculptor:
The bronze statue was designed and sculpted by Italian artist Mario Raggi, based in London. It depicts an elderly Queen Victoria seated on a throne, wearing a crown and coronation regalia, holding a scepter in her right hand and an orb in her left. The statue was cast by H. Young & Co. in Pimlico, London, a foundry renowned for large bronze works.Material Controversy: Initially, the statue was intended to be made of marble, but due to a misunderstanding, Raggi created it in bronze.
This error was discovered in 1890 when the statue was nearly complete, and it was decided to proceed with bronze to avoid additional costs. A small marble replica of the statue may have been created by Raggi, possibly for private display in a wealthy resident’s home, but there is no evidence it was publicly exhibited.Exhibition and Unveiling: Completed in 1890, the statue was exhibited at Horse Guards in London in 1891, where it received praise for Raggi’s craftsmanship. It was shipped to Hong Kong and unveiled on May 28, 1896, at Statue Square in the Central District, coinciding with Queen Victoria’s 77th birthday. The unveiling was performed by then-Governor William Robinson on newly reclaimed land from the Praya Reclamation Scheme.
Early History in Statue Square (1896–1941)
Original Location:
The statue was placed at the center of Statue Square, a public space developed in the late 19th century on reclaimed land in Central, Hong Kong. Statue Square was designed to showcase British royal statues, symbolizing colonial authority, and was surrounded by significant buildings like the HSBC headquarters and the Legislative Council Building. The Queen Victoria statue, under an ornate stone canopy, was a focal point.
Cultural Significance:
The statue represented British colonial legitimacy and was a prominent landmark in the city of Victoria (now Central). It stood alongside other statues, including those of Prince Albert, the Duke of Connaught, Edward VII, and Sir Thomas Jackson, reinforcing the imperial narrative.
Second World War (1941–1945)
Japanese Occupation:
During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (December 1941–August 1945), the Imperial Japanese Army launched a “copper collection campaign” to gather metal for wartime needs. In 1942, eleven bronze statues from Statue Square, including Queen Victoria’s, were removed and shipped to Japan to be melted down for weapons production. The Queen Victoria statue was taken to a foundry in Osaka, along with the two HSBC lions and the statue of Sir Thomas Jackson.
Survival:
Miraculously, the Queen Victoria statue escaped being melted down. It was discovered in September 1946 among the Osaka Army’s arsenal in Kobe by the Allied occupation authorities. The statue was damaged, missing its crown and right arm, and had other minor damage. The Japanese authorities handed it over to the Allied Headquarters’ Civil Property Custodians after demands from Hong Kong authorities.
Return and Restoration (1945–1952)
Return to Hong Kong:
After Japan’s surrender in August 1945, the British colonial government was notified by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) that four statues—Queen Victoria, Sir Thomas Jackson, and the two HSBC lions—had been recovered. These were returned to Hong Kong by 1947, though other statues from Statue Square, such as those of George V, Edward VII, and Queen Alexandra, were lost and never recovered.
Restoration Efforts:
The Queen Victoria statue was restored in Hong Kong by Italian sculptor Raoul Bigazzi, who had a studio in Central. The restoration was challenging because the original blueprints were unavailable, likely destroyed during the Blitz in London or lost by H. Young & Co. Bigazzi worked from pre-war photographs provided by the UK Public Works Department and used his artistic judgment to recreate missing parts, including the crown and right arm. Restoration was completed in 1952.
Delay in Relocation:
The colonial government did not immediately reinstall the statue due to post-war urban planning and reclamation projects in Central. A temporary Public Monuments Committee, in conjunction with the Public Works Department, oversaw the restoration and relocation process.
Relocation to Victoria Park (1952–1955)
New Location:
See image below
In 1952, the restored statue was relocated to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai District, near the Causeway Road entrance. Some sources suggest the statue was not fully installed until 1955, possibly due to ongoing restoration or site preparation. The ornate stone canopy that originally sheltered the statue in Statue Square was not reinstalled, having been removed or damaged during the war.
Reason for Relocation:
The decision to move the statue to Victoria Park was influenced by changes in Central’s landscape and the desire to preserve the statue in a less commercial, more public space. Statue Square was reconfigured post-war, with only the statue of Sir Thomas Jackson reinstalled there, facing the Court of Final Appeal Building.
Post-War History and Vandalism (1952–2025)
Post-Colonial Context:
After Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997, the statue remained in Victoria Park, symbolizing the city’s colonial heritage. While some colonial symbols were removed or renamed, the Queen Victoria statue was retained, reflecting its historical value to many Hongkongers.
1996 Vandalism Incident:
In 1996, nine months before the handover, mainland Chinese artist Pun Sing-lui (also referred to as Pan Xinglei in some sources) vandalized the statue. He climbed onto it, damaged the nose with a hammer, and poured red paint over it, claiming the act was an “art performance” to protest Hong Kong’s “dull, colonial culture” and advocate for “cultural reunification” with China. The act was widely condemned in Hong Kong as vandalism, and the statue was restored by the Urban Services Department’s Conservation Section at a cost of approximately £12,000, using a hydraulic jack and acrylic resin. The restored statue retained a slightly crooked nose.
2017 Controversy:
In June 2017, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit and the 20th anniversary of the handover, the statue was temporarily obscured by boards and an inflatable banner set up by the Hong Kong Celebrations Association for a science expo in Victoria Park. District councillor Clarisse Yeung criticized the setup as “petty,” and the structures were removed following a request from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The association clarified that obscuring the statue was unintentional.
Status as of 2025:
As of February 2025, the statue remains in Victoria Park, near the Causeway Road entrance. It is viewed as a complex symbol in post-colonial Hong Kong, representing both British colonial history and local heritage. Despite occasional debates about removing colonial symbols, the statue has been preserved, with no special legal designation under Hong Kong’s Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, unlike the British-built Cenotaph.
Clarification on Multiple Statues
Single Public Statue:
There is no definitive evidence of more than one full-sized Queen Victoria statue being publicly displayed in Hong Kong. The primary statue, sculpted by Mario Raggi, was the one installed in Statue Square in 1896, removed during the war, and relocated to Victoria Park in 1952. All reliable sources refer to this singular statue in public contexts.
Marble Replica:
A small marble replica of the Queen Victoria statue, possibly created by Raggi, is mentioned in some sources. It was likely intended for private display in a wealthy resident’s home and not for public exhibition. Only one photograph of this marble statue is known to exist, and its current location is unknown. This replica does not constitute a second public statue.
Other Statues in Statue Square:
Statue Square historically housed multiple statues, but these depicted other figures, such as Prince Albert, the Duke of Connaught, Edward VII, George V, Queen Alexandra, Sir Thomas Jackson, and Sir Henry May. None of these were additional Queen Victoria statues.
Conclusion
The Queen Victoria statue in Hong Kong, crafted by Mario Raggi and unveiled in 1896, is a singular public monument that has endured significant historical events. Created to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, it stood in Statue Square until the Japanese occupation (1941–1945), when it was shipped to Japan for melting but survived.
Returned to Hong Kong, it was restored by Raoul Bigazzi and relocated to Victoria Park in 1952, where it remains as of 2025. A 1996 vandalism incident and occasional controversies highlight its complex role as a colonial and cultural symbol. There is no evidence of additional full-sized Queen Victoria statues in Hong Kong, though a small marble replica may exist in private hands. The statue’s history reflects Hong Kong’s colonial legacy and its ongoing negotiation with its past
click on the image to enlarge
The image above, well what can I say about this, one of the oddest sights in Hong Kong, Queen Victoria in Victoria Park surrounded by palm trees! not quite the regal location that the statue was in prior to 1941 and I have to say it is one of the most unusual images that I have taken over the years
The statue has essentially been in this location since 1952
It is a shame that the Statue is in a location which makes it very difficult to fit into a tour, the timing just does not work and there is not a lot else to see in the area that would warrant a significant change to a tour itinerary.
On the other hand we still have the statue and it is an iconic and historically very important statue and we should be grateful for that.
click on the image to enlarge
The spot where the original Queen Victoria Statue was located (see the historic image above)
The image above, well what can I say and as mentioned above, I basically walk over this location most days and all that does is make me wish I was a time traveller, I would love to spend a while in Hong Kong in the 1920’s!
Pretty much the crossing on the road (yellow stripes) is the exact location of the Queen Victoria statue prior to 1941 I doubt anyone in the image has any idea of the history of that chunk of road (Chater Road) or indeed the history of Statue Square.
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Private Tour of Hong Kong and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
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