A historic building set to be demolished in Hong Kong was used to carry out underground intelligence work against the Japanese by the sons of the original owner during the second world war, according to a group of advocates calling for its preservation.

The team, formed by experts in tourism, urban studies, architecture and history, said in a research report released on Sunday that the grade 3 structure in Tsim Sha Tsui, built before 1937, was the city’s only building directly related to intelligence work carried out during World War II, and among a few private buildings requisitioned by Japanese forces during the occupation between 1941 and 1945.

Located on the southeast corner of Austin Road and Nathan Road, the four-storey verandah-type shophouse is also the only pre-war European-style building of its type in Tsim Sha Tsui and one of only about 20 remaining pre-war European-style structures and tenement buildings on a street corner on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, according to the report.