"The official residence of the Hon. Colonial Secretary in the Colony of Hong Kong was originally a large and commodious house of the old "Colonial" type named "Tanderagee", and in the years preceding the war was transferred to a similar dwelling called "Lysholt". Both these houses were situated on the higher levels of the Peak in the neighbourhood of Mount Gough. During the war both were reduced to ruins, and subsequently demolished."
"Several sites, including the two mentioned above, were examined as to their suitability for a new official residence, and it was decided that an area of rather less than an acre on Barker Road, previously occupied by the old Victoria Hospital, was probably the most desirable for the purpose."
"The new building has been designed by the Architectural Office of the P.W.D., their terms of reference being conditioned by Government's desire for a house with a traditional feeling. Lady Grantham has shown great interest in collaborating with the architects in the detailing of the scheme."
From Hong Kong and Far East builder, Vol. 9, No. 3, October, November, December 1951