The entrance hall and grand staircase in the centre supported on fluted columns with capitals in the Corinthian order has a very noble effect...[3] In 1897, the club moved to more spacious accommodation next to the war memorial, on a sea-front plot of land created by the Central Praya reclamation.

[8] The club committee became increasingly alarmist with arguments to redevelop, including the assertion in 1978 that the building was a fire safety hazard; that, in November 1979, it made inflated claims that it would cost HK$25 million to renovate, and eventually won the day.

[9] To update the club facilities, the members had opted to have the building renovated at a cost of HK$20 million.

In 1977, it was reportedly offered HK$200 million for the site by Wardley,[6] part of the Hong Kong Bank.

"If even the Government appears to value nothing but money, Hong Kong's youth cannot be expected to have higher standards," said Dr. L. K. Ding, HKCA chairman.

An EGM was convened to vote on the proposals on 20 October 1980, and the chairman was forced to concede the Heads of Agreement would be subject to members' ratification.

[8] Hongkong Land agreed to shoulder all demolition and rebuilding costs in exchange for the rental income of the upper storeys for 25 years.

[8] From 2009, the Club took full ownership of the building and to collect all rental revenues,[8] estimated to be HK$100 million a year.

More recently, the retail space in the south-east corner of the building were taken back and were converted into a Members’ cafe which opened in mid-2021.