Whatever happened to all the Statues in Statue Square?

One of Hong Kong’s greatest mysteries, just how many statues stood in Statue Square prior to 1941 - was it 9, 10 or 11?

As I have stated previously I have a thing about statues in Hong Kong, we do not have many left and I have always been fascinated with the history of them and the biggest mystery was at it’s peak just how many Statues stood in Statue Square Hong Kong

The 1941 dateline is very specific, this was when the Allied forces in Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese over Christmas 1941 and all the statues where looted by Japanese Forces and sent to Japan and only 2 where returned to Hong Kong courtesy of the US Armed Forces.

I have studied the image above at length and there are 2 anomalies which stand out, statue 10 which is Sir Arthur Kennedy and statue 11 which is King George VI, neither of these statues was located in Statue Square but in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, in fact King George VI was not put into place until the 1950’s!

So that reduces the number from 11 to 9 but I always wondered if that number was correct, based on prior research I always figured it was 10 and many articles seemed to suggest it was 10 - I assumed that the HSBC War memorial statue “Fame: was not listed in this image above but it is, so essentially there is one statue not shown in the above image… when I have time, I will spend time to check all the statues and see which one is missing from the image., there are not many images available going back almost 100 years, perhaps the missing statue is Prince Albert! he changed his name to King George VI and there is a statue of him in the Botanical Gardens in Hong Kong and he was placed there in 1950’s and I cannot find any record of him as Prince Albert and having a statue in Statue Square!

,,,, anyway, I have located historical images courtesy of Gwulo who are the greatest source for historical Hong Kong images - truly amazing

History of Statues in Statue Square, Hong Kong (Pre-1941)

Statue Square, initially called Royal Square, was developed in the late 19th century on reclaimed land in Central, Hong Kong, to honor British royalty and significant colonial figures. The square, divided into northern and southern sections by Chater Road, was a prominent civic space reflecting British colonial authority. Below is a comprehensive account of the statues present in Statue Square before the Japanese occupation in 1941, including their names, descriptions, historical context, and fates.

Queen Victoria Statue

1. Statue of Queen Victoria

Description: A bronze sculpture by Mario Raggi, cast in Pimlico, London, depicting an elderly Queen Victoria seated on a throne in crown and coronation regalia, under a domed canopy. The statue was a grand, neoclassical representation of the monarch, symbolizing her reign and the British Empire’s dominance.

History: Unveiled on May 28, 1896, by Governor William Robinson to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (1887), marking 50 years of her reign. Positioned at the center of Statue Square facing the waterfront, it was the square’s focal point and a powerful emblem of British imperial glory. The statue was a key element in Sir Catchick Paul Chater’s vision for a civic space celebrating the monarchy.

Fate: During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–1945), the statue was removed and sent to Japan, intended to be melted down for munitions. Miraculously, it survived and was recovered after the war. In 1952, it was restored and relocated to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, where it remains today. In 1996, artist Pun Sing-lui vandalized it, tipping red paint over it and damaging its nose, reflecting tensions around Hong Kong’s handover to China.

Duke of Connaught Statue

3. Statue of the Duke of Connaught

Description: A bronze statue of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria. The statue likely portrayed him in military or formal attire, reflecting his role as a British Army officer and royal representative.

History: Donated by Sir Catchick Paul Chater and erected in 1902, it was unveiled to honor the Duke’s contributions to the British Empire. In 1907, it was relocated to the waterfront at Connaught Road Central and Pedder Street, near Blake Pier, to adjust the square’s layout while maintaining its prominence.

Fate: Removed during the Japanese occupation (1941–1945) and sent to Japan for melting down. The statue was not recovered post-war and was lost.

Sir Thomas Jackson Statue

4. Statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet 

Old Statue on the left, the Statue in 2025 on the right

Description: A bronze statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, the influential Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) from 1876 to 1902 (with intervals). The statue, created by an unknown sculptor, depicted Jackson in formal attire, standing as a tribute to his role in financing colonial Hong Kong’s development.

History: Unveiled on February 24, 1906, by Governor Sir Matthew Nathan, the statue was donated to honor Jackson’s significant contributions to HSBC and Hong Kong’s economic growth. It was placed prominently in Statue Square, facing the HSBC headquarters.

Fate: Removed by Japanese forces during the 1941–1945 occupation and sent to Japan for melting. Unlike most other statues, it was recovered post-war and reinstated in Statue Square, where it remains today, though reoriented to face the Court of Final Appeal Building. It is the only statue from the pre-1941 era still in the square.

Queen Mary Statue

8. Statue of Queen Mary

Description: A bronze statue of Queen Mary, consort of King George V, likely depicting her in formal royal attire, symbolizing her role as queen consort.

History: Added in the 1930s, it complemented the statue of George V and other royal figures, reinforcing the imperial theme of Statue Square during the interwar period.

Fate: Removed during the Japanese occupation (1941–1945) and sent to Japan to be melted down. The statue was not recovered and was permanently lost.

Additional Notes

Context of Statue Square: The square was designed to project British imperial power, with statues primarily honoring royalty and key colonial figures. The removal of most statues during the Japanese occupation (1941–1945) was a deliberate act to erase British symbols, as the Japanese sought to assert control over Hong Kong. Most statues were sent to Japan to be melted for munitions, reflecting the wartime demand for metal.

Post-War Legacy: After the war, only the statues of Queen Victoria and Sir Thomas Jackson were recovered and reinstated, with Queen Victoria moved to Victoria Park and Jackson returned to Statue Square. The two HSBC lions, Stephen and Stitt, though not in Statue Square itself, were also returned to the HSBC headquarters. The Cenotaph, unveiled in 1923 to commemorate World War I, remains near the square and was not removed during the occupation.

What was the greatest number of statues located in Statue Square in Hong Kong prior to 1941, was it 9, 10 or 11? please list the names of the statues

To determine the greatest number of statues in Statue Square, Hong Kong, before 1941, and to list their names, I’ve carefully reviewed the provided sources, focusing on the historical context of Statue Square and the statues erected there prior to the Japanese occupation during World War II (1941–1945). Statue Square, originally named Royal Square, was established in the late 19th century as a public space to honor British royalty and colonial figures, with statues added over time until the Japanese removed them in 1941. Below, I summarize the findings based on the available information.

Analysis of Statues in Statue Square Before 1941

The sources provide detailed accounts of the statues that stood in Statue Square before their removal during the Japanese occupation. Here is a comprehensive list of the statues explicitly mentioned as being located in Statue Square (not elsewhere, such as the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens or Victoria Park) prior to 1941:

Queen Victoria: Unveiled on May 28, 1896, to commemorate her Golden Jubilee. This statue, crafted by Mario Raggi, was originally placed at the center of Statue Square and later moved to Victoria Park after the war.

Prince Albert: Added before 1902, as noted in the sources. This statue was part of the royal collection in Statue Square.

Duke of Connaught: Donated by Catchick Paul Chater and erected in 1902, later moved to the waterfront at Connaught Road Central and Pedder Street in 1907, but still considered part of Statue Square’s history before 1941.

Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet: Unveiled on February 24, 1906, by Governor Sir Matthew Nathan. This statue, honoring the chief manager of HSBC, was returned to Statue Square after the war and remains today.

Edward VII: A bronze statue created by George Edward Wade, donated by Catchick Paul Chater, and unveiled on February 6, 1907, by the Duke of Connaught.Prince of Wales (later King George V): Donated by John Bell-Irving and unveiled on February 6, 1907, by the Duke of Connaught. This statue was lost during the Japanese occupation and not replaced.Queen Alexandra: Erected in the 1930s (specific date unclear, but noted as present in the 1930s). Crafted by George Edward Wade, it was part of the royal collection in Statue Square.

Queen Mary: Added over time, as noted in multiple sources, though the exact date of installation is not specified. It was part of the royal statues in Statue Square before 1941.

Sir Henry May: Erected circa 1930, as mentioned in the sources, honoring a colonial governor.

HSBC World War I Memorial Statue, "Fame"

Total Number of Statues

The sources consistently list the following ten statues as having been in Statue Square before 1941:

Queen Victoria

Prince Albert

Duke of Connaught

Sir Thomas Jackson

Edward VII

Prince of Wales (George V)

Queen Alexandra

Queen Mary

Sir Henry May

HSBC World War I Memorial Statue, "Fame"

Some sources, mention that Statue Square was “filled with many British royalty statues” over time, but no additional specific statues beyond these nine are named for Statue Square itself. The possibility of a tenth or eleventh statue is not supported by explicit evidence in the sources, as no other named statues are confirmed to have been in the square before 1941. The sources’ focus on these nine statues, combined with the historical context of the Japanese occupation removing most of them, suggests that nine is the most accurate count based on available data.

Given the evidence, the greatest number of statues in Statue Square before 1941 is most likely 10.

Based on available historical records, Statue Square in Hong Kong has hosted a total of 10 statues historically, not 9 or 11 or 12. The confusion may arise from varying accounts of which statues were located in the square itself versus nearby areas, or from misinterpretations of images that include statues from adjacent locations

There are 2 that stand out.

Statue of Themis: 

A 2.7-meter statue of Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice, stands on the pediment of the Court of Final Appeal Building (formerly the Supreme Court), facing Statue Square. While not a freestanding statue in the square it remain today 

Cenotaph: 

The Cenotaph, unveiled on May 24, 1923, is a war memorial in the northeastern section of Statue Square. It is not a statue but a monument, and some sources exclude it from statue counts.

 Conclusion: Correct Number

The correct number of statues historically located in Statue Square is 10, as listed above. There is no definitive evidence from reliable sources to support a total of 11 or 12 statues in Statue Square itself. The perception of 11 or 12 statues likely arises from including nearby statues (e.g., HSBC lions or Themis) or misidentifying statues in historical images.

From The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong