Tamar, Hong Kong

Tamar is a 4.2-hectare site which was the former location of the naval basin attached to the headquarters of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. It is now the site of the new Central Government Offices (headquarters) of the Hong Kong Government at the harbourfront of Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.To the east, it connects with cultural and convention facilities including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre; to the south, it connects with financial, commercial and tourism hubs; to the southwest, it connects to Garden Road, which is rich in historical and heritage values.Once the most expensive piece of empty land in Hong Kong, valued at $24.3 billion on the market ($9,000 per square foot), the site attracted projects from different parties, including the government's new headquarters, highly profitable office or retailing space, and a waterfront open green space.HistoryHMS Tamar was the name of a British naval vessel which arrived in Hong Kong in 1897 and remained in the British territory until the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II in 1941. In keeping with British naval regulations, in which only naval personnel allocated to a vessel came under naval discipline, HMS Tamar became the nominal depot ship of the British naval garrison and gave its name to the stone frigate, "HMS Tamar". The British garrison pre-handover was stationed at the Prince of Wales Building within the base, which is part of the site.