Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong

Housed in the Former French Mission Building, the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong is the highest appellate court in the city, holding ultimate authority over all local laws. It was established on July 1, 1997, the day Hong Kong’s sovereignty transferred from the United Kingdom to China, replacing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final court of appeal. In 2015, the court moved from the Former French Mission Building to the restored Old Supreme Court Building on Jackson Road.

The court’s former home, the Former French Mission Building, was originally a mansion known as Johnston House. The present structure was completed by the French Mission, designed with inspiration from “Beaconsfield,” a neighboring residence once standing nearby. Its red-brick facade, granite detailing, and Edwardian neo-classical style give it a distinctive presence on the hillside, while the podium beneath accommodates the steep contours of Government Hill.

Over the years, the building has served multiple purposes—including housing the French Mission, government offices, cultural institutions, and, from 1997 to 2015, the Court of Final Appeal. Today it forms part of Hong Kong’s wider legal center and is generally used by legal-related organizations rather than as a public museum space. While the interior is not normally open for casual visits, the exterior and its surroundings remain accessible.