Former Central Police Station Compound

Coordinates: 22°16′53″N 114°09′14″E / 22.2813°N 114.1540°E / 22.2813; 114.1540

Tai Kwun Police Headquarters Block
Parade Ground
Prison Yard

The Former Central Police Station Compound (also known as "CPS Compound") includes three declared monuments in Central, Hong Kong: the former Central Police Station, the Former Central Magistracy and the Victoria Prison. Surrounded by Hollywood Road, Arbuthnot Road, Chancery Lane and Old Bailey Street, the compound underwent a heritage revitalisation and reopened to public on 29 May 2018 [1]as Tai Kwun, a centre for heritage and arts.

History

The Former Central Police Station Compound, built between 1864 and 1925, comprises 16 historic building grouped under the former Central Police Station, the Former Central Magistracy and the Victoria Prison.[2] Most of the city's historic colonial architecture had been bulldozed for development before the British government handed it back to China in 1997. [3] The first building in the Former Central Police Station Compound is a Magistrate's House with jail blocks, which were built in 1941. The site underwent numerous expansions and reconstruction over the next century. When Victoria Prison was decommissioned in 2006, the compound accomplished its mission as a law enforcement organization for Hong Kong.

In 2008, the Hong Kong SAR Government partnered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to conserve the and revitalise the complex.[4]

The revitalisation project is one of the most significant and most expensive revitalisation projects in Hong Kong. It has been led by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in partnership with the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. [5] The HK$1.8 billion project was conceptualised in 2007 and conservation work started in 2011. [4] The Hong Kong Jockey Club's charities trust has spent over HK$3.7 billion so far since 2011 as of May 2018. [3][6]

The conversion was completed in phases. Work faced a setback when a wall and roof collapsed in 2016.[7][8] The Buildings Department prosecuted a sub-contractor it deemed responsible for the accident, which was reportedly triggered by the failure of a brick pier that had been structurally undermined.[9] Tai Kwun partially reopened to the public in May 2018.[4]

Tai Kwun

JC Contemporary stairs become iconic spot for the visitors
B Hall

The Former Central Police Station (CPS) Revitalisation Project is important to conserve and revitalise the heritage site for adaptive reuse. The project was operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and took eight-year and HK$3.8 billion.[2]

Tai Kwun (大館), named after the historical colloquial name of the compound, is a unique mix of heritage and contemporary architecture. With a respect for authenticity, 16 heritage buildings have been restored for adaptive reuse. An additional two new buildings have been constructed, featuring designs inspired by the site's historic brickwork.

The revitalised compound was opened to the public in three phases, beginning with the inaugural exhibition "100 Faces of Tai Kwun" on 29 May 2018.

As early as the 1880s, the name Tai Kwun has been recorded in news articles in reference to the Former Central Police Station.[3][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Hong Kong's largest heritage conservation project opens to public". ARUP News. 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  2. 1 2 Kao, Ernest (29 May 2018). "Central Police Station is now the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, where fond Hong Kong tales live on". South China Morning Post.
  3. 1 2 3 "Central Police Station complex reopening after 8-year restoration". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  4. 1 2 3 "Central Police Station heritage site to partially reopen in May". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  5. 1 2 "'Tai Kwun' offers platform for art". The Standard. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  6. ↑ "Budget for Central Police Station conversion double HK$1.8b estimate". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  7. ↑ Au-yeung, Allen; Cheung, Elizabeth (29 May 2016). "Wall and roof collapse at historic former Central Police Station raises safety and heritage preservation fears". South China Morning Post.
  8. ↑ Cheng, Kris (30 May 2016). "Redevelopment work halted after wall collapses at former Central Police Station". Hong Kong Free Press.
  9. ↑ Tong, Elson (1 June 2017). "Buildings Dept. prosecutes subcontractor after Central Police Station wall collapse". Hong Kong Free Press.
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