Designed by British architects Ron Phillips and Alan Fitch in 1956, the new City Hall complex was built in the late 1950s occupying an area of 11,000 square metres on the newly reclaimed seafront formed by two buildings and a memorial garden. Sir Robert Black, the Governor of Hong Kong at the time, declared the opening of this HK$20 million building on March 2, 1962.

City Hall has become an important feature in the Symphony of Lights Spectacular on Hong Kongs Victoria Harbour. The building was identified as a likely candidate for inclusion in the Symphony of Lights show due to its unique architecture, historical significance, location on the river front, and the lack of illumination during night hours.

The Laservision Lighting design was heavily focused on exploiting the natural architectural features using dynamic fixtures and techniques whilst maintaining the natural grandeur of the building.