Central Police Station

thumb|280px|right|Central Police Station, Hong Kong

Central Police Station (), located at the eastern end of Hollywood Road, in Central, Hong Kong, is awaiting development following its decommissioning.

History

The oldest structure within the police station was built in 1864; it is a three-storey barrack block constructed adjacent to Victoria Prison. A storey was later added to the block in 1905. Other blocks were added between 1910 and 1925. In 1919, Headquarters Block facing Hollywood Road was constructed. Subsequently in 1925, the two-storey Stable Block was constructed at the north-west end of the parade ground and later used as an armoury.

Many police stations were built during this period due to the large number of people who moved to Hong Kong from mainland China and the corresponding increase in difficulty with maintaining law and order.

In the past, the police station was used as the headquarters of the police; however, its importance declined when the new police headquarters was built in Wan Chai after World War II. It functioned as a police station, dormitory, and prison, and was used as both the Hong Kong Island Regional Police Headquarters and the Central District Police Headquarters until 2000s.

Buildings

The Central Police Station comprises 7 blocks:

The compound is bordered on the North by Hollywood Road, on the South by Chancery Lane, on the East by Upper Albert Road and on the West by Old Bailey Street.

Conservation status

With its long history and antiquated architectural style, the Central Police Station is one of the last physical reminders of Hong Kong's colonial heritage.

However, the Central Police Station will have to face a reconstruction in the near future since the Government intends to convert the Police Station and the magistracy into modern food plazas, a museum and an art gallery. Victoria prison may also be converted into either a theatre or a museum. By adaptive reuse, the renovated police station compound will then become a tourist destination with historical significance, a rarity amongst Hong Kong attractions.

The buildings of Central Police Station, the Victoria Prison, and the former Central Magistracy, are declared monuments of Hong Kong. These buildings are categorized as "Central Police Station Compound".

See also

• Central and Western Heritage Trail
• Old Stanley Police Station, built in 1859, a declared monument
• Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound, built in 1884, a declared monument
• Old Tai Po Police Station, built in 1899, a Grade II Historic Building
• Old Tai O Police Station, built in 1902, a Grade III Historic Building
• Yau Ma Tei Police Station, built in 1922, a Grade III Historic Building
• Sham Shui Po Police Station, built in 1924, a Grade III Historic Building
• Former Wan Chai Gap Police Station
• Heritage conservation in Hong Kong

External links

• Central Police Station Compound development plan
• Antiquities and Monuments Office - Central Police Station Compound
• Central Police Station Heritage Compound at www.conservancy.org.hk

zh-yue:舊中區警署

zh:舊中區警署

Categories: Buildings | Buildings in Hong Kong | Buildings in Hong Kong, Hong Kong