| Hong Kong China Temple | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
 | ||||
| Number | 48 | |||
| Dedication | 26 May 1996, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
| Site | 0.31 acres (0.13 ha) | |||
| Floor area | 51,921 sq ft (4,823.6 m2) | |||
| Height | 135 ft (41 m) | |||
| Official website • News & images | ||||
| Church chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Additional information | ||||
| Announced | 3 October 1992, by Ezra Taft Benson | |||
| Groundbreaking | 22 January 1994, by John K. Carmack | |||
| Open house | 7–21 May 1996 | |||
| Rededicated | 19 June 2022, by Gerrit W. Gong | |||
| Current president | YueSang Simon Chan[1] | |||
| Designed by | Liang Peddle Thorpe Architects | |||
| Location | Kowloon City, Hong Kong, China | |||
| Geographic coordinates | 22°20′25″N 114°10′38″E / 22.34028°N 114.17722°E | |||
| Exterior finish | Polished granite | |||
| Temple design | Hong Kong colonial, single-spire design | |||
| Baptistries | 1 | |||
| Ordinance rooms | 2 (stationary) | |||
| Sealing rooms | 2 | |||
| Clothing rental | Yes | |||
| () | ||||
The Hong Kong China Temple (Chinese: 中國香港聖殿), formerly the Hong Kong Temple (Chinese: 香港聖殿), is the 48th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The LDS Church first sent missionaries to Hong Kong in 1853. Almost 140 years later, in 1992, then-First Counselor in the First Presidency, Gordon B. Hinckley, announced plans to build a temple in the territory. Finding a site on which to build, however, proved difficult, especially given the high cost of real estate in the area. Finally, it was decided that the temple would be built on the site of the existing mission home and chapel.
Because of the land shortage in the territory, the temple had to be 'built up' instead of 'spreading out' to build. This scarcity of space contributed to the unique design of the Hong Kong Temple. The six-story building is designed to house not only the temple, but also a chapel, mission offices, and living quarters for the temple president and several missionaries.[2]
The dedication of the Hong Kong China Temple took place on May 26, 1996. The temple serves church members from parts of India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Mongolia, Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Indonesia. It has a total of 21,744 square feet (2,020.1 m2), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.[citation needed]
On January 29, 2019, the LDS Church announced the temple's July 8, 2019 closing for renovations.[3] Following completion of the renovations, the temple was rededicated by Gerrit W. Gong on June 19, 2022.[4]
- ^ "New Temple Leaders Called to Serve in 2022", Newsroom, LDS Church, 24 October 2022 [26 May 2022], retrieved 24 October 2022
- ^ Hawkins, Chad. "The First 100 Temples," 2001, 132-133[full citation needed]
- ^ "Asia Temple Will Close for Renovation: Extensive renovation planned for the Hong Kong China Temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, January 29, 2019
- ^ "Hong Kong Temple to Reopen: A sacred place of hope, faith, and family", Newsroom, LDS Church, June 19, 2022