Central Police Station, Declared monument in Central, Hong Kong
Central Police Station is a declared monument in Central, Hong Kong, originally serving as police headquarters, magistracy and prison during colonial rule. The compound includes more than a dozen buildings from different construction phases, arranged around several paved courtyards.
The main building was constructed in the 1860s as the first permanent police headquarters of the British Crown Colony. Additional structures, including the prison and magistracy, followed over subsequent decades, until operations ceased in 2005.
The complex now serves as a public venue for contemporary art, theater and community events, bridging Hong Kong's colonial past with the present. The Cantonese name Tai Kwun means "big station," referring to its former role as the central command for the entire territory.
The entrance is located on Hollywood Road in Central and can be reached on foot from Sheung Wan or Central metro stations. The grounds are partially accessible, though some paths cross steps and uneven cobblestones.
Two of the cell blocks are open for viewing and show the original bars and narrow rooms where inmates were held until closure. The restoration architects added modern glass pavilions that serve as exhibition spaces, contrasting with the old walls.
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