Police Headquarters/Victoria Prison

Nice From the Outside

Central District Police Headquarters. An imposing building that served for most of its life as the headquarters of the Hong Kong police force. Four levels of whitewashed pillars with wide verandas make this an impressive structure, and its classical brick construction has made it one of the few old buildings to be spared the wrecker’s ball. Built in 1864, with a number of extensions, it continued in use until 2004. Currently a battle is raging between conservationists and the business community on the site’s future. 10 Hollywood Road, Central. Not open to the public Victoria Prison Just behind the Police Station is one of the first western structures to be constructed in Hong Kong was a prison, and the first prison was built on this site in 1841. Soldiers who had enjoyed too much rum and throat-slashing pirates were just some of the guests of the prison when it first opened. The colony seemed to attract a host of bandits and brigands, and the prison in its current form was built twenty years later. The building served as a prison and detention centre right up until 2005, and was one of the few large prisons in the world to be located in a major metropolitan area - you could see the prisoners being marched around on the overhead walkways while you were guiltily sipping a beer in one of the bars on the road below. Old Bailey Street, Central. Not open to the public