Tonga's new government office block, St George Palace at Pangai Si’i, is emerging from its scaffolding wraps in the Nuku’alofa Central Business District, as constuction nears completion.

The building is scheduled to be completed within 20 months from when construction started at the end of August 2015.

The $25 million Pa’anga three storey building, a gift from the People’s Republic of China was an initiative of King George Tupou V who died on 18 March 2012.

The building has a red turret, similar to the 19^th Century colonial architecture of the Royal Palace.  

The construction of the three storey building has been carried out by the Shanghai construction Group Company Ltd of China. A majority of the workers are Chinese with a few Tongans labourers.

On completion, the St George Palace will accommodate the Prime Minister’s Office the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.