Not far from the Gothic Club Germania there was a mysterious noble clubhouse, now widely known because of the novel Da Vinci Code. It was Zetland Hall, the meeting centre of the Hong Kong Freemasonry.
Freemasonry originated from a medieval organisation of masons, which was developed over the years into a mysterious, and somehow mystical, international secret society. Some say that it wielded control over world affairs behind the scene, while some believe it to be nothing more than an elite association.
The contemporary Freemasonry was established in 1717 in Britain, with its headquarters situated at Covert Garden in the heart of London. Membership was exclusive to male elites, all of them propertied, reputable, and devoted to the pursuit of virtue. With 5,000,000 members at present, it is the largest secret organisation in the world.