Murray Building
| Company type | Government building (former) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Government administration (former) |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Fate | Converted to hotel |
| Successor | The Murray (hotel) |
| Headquarters | Central, Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
The Murray Hong Kong was a government office tower consisting of 27 floors, located at 22 Cotton Tree Drive, in the Central district of Hong Kong. It accommodated several key administrative departments of the Hong Kong government.
Following the relocation of these government offices to the Central Government Complex, Tamar, the building was put up for auction by the Lands Department in December 2011, with the intention of redevelopment into a hotel.
This site was subsequently transformed into the hotel known as The Murray (), which commenced operations in 2018.
History
Completed in 1969 and designed by the Public Works Department, the Murray Building occupied a strategic site and stood as the tallest government structure at that time, rising to 27 storeys.
Architectural interest
The design of the Murray Building featured window placements aimed at reducing direct solar exposure, an approach that earned it a Certificate of Merit in the 1994 Energy Efficient Building Award. Additionally, its vehicle access was cleverly incorporated into the steep gradient of Cotton Tree Drive, despite being surrounded by busy arterial roads.
Future use
After government offices moved to the Tamar complex by late 2011, the Murray Building’s prime location—close to both the Peak Tram Garden Road terminus and Hong Kong Park—made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a luxury hotel. With appropriate redevelopment and enhanced amenities, this site is poised to become a highly desirable destination. The adaptive reuse also aligns with environmental sustainability goals.
Sale controversy
Originally, Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang indicated that ownership of the 27-storey structure would remain with the government following its conversion into a hotel featuring approximately 300 rooms. However, in March 2010, authorities revealed plans to offer the building and its title rights under a 50-year lease to private bidders. This change provoked criticism from Chan Tak-chor, chairman of the Central and Western District Council, who highlighted concerns over insufficient public consultation.
Deputy Secretary for Development Gracie Foo Siu-wai described the deal as a "land sale," involving transfer of ownership and site rights for half a century without requiring approval of a master layout plan from the Town Planning Board. There were no provisions established for ongoing maintenance oversight or restrictions on property resale.
Despite these disputes, a 2011 survey conducted by SCMP/TNS involving 1,001 influential opinion leaders—including business executives and strategists with household incomes exceeding HK$40,000—showed that 61% favored leasing the Murray Building to private entities, while only 15% opposed it.