The Central Police Station (CPS) compound comprises the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. They were declared as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap. 53) in 1995.
In April 2007, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) submitted a conceptual proposal of revitalising the CPS Compound to Government. The HKJC also proposed a donation to support the capital cost for renovation and development of the CPS Compound, as well as meeting the management and maintenance cost and the operational deficits.
Government's acceptance in principle of the HKJC's proposal for revitalising the CPS Compound was announced in the 2007-08 Policy Address on 10 October 2007. Subsequently, the HKJC conducted a six-month public engagement exercise from October 2007 to April 2008 to engage stakeholders through various channels and activities. During the public engagement exercise, the proposed new structure to house various performance and arts venues as well as its height and design attracted considerable discussion and quite diverse views. While some welcomed the conceptual design, others considered it too overwhelming and not in harmony with the surrounding environment.
In July 2008, Government entered into a partnership with the HKJC to take forward the project with the objective of achieving both conservation and revitalisation of this highly important heritage site and taking the opportunity to showcase in Hong Kong how new and sustainable uses can be integrated creatively into a historic site whilst preserving its overall historic and architectural significance.
In October 2010, the HKJC announced the revised design of the project. This revised design includes preservation of 16 historic buildings in the CPS Compound, and addition of two new buildings, namely JC Cube and JC Contemporary, used as an auditorium and an art gallery respectively. Construction works commenced in November 2011. The revitalised CPS Compound operates as Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts, and is open to the public in phases starting from May 2018.
For more details concerning the CPS Compound and the project, please refer to the following websites -
Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts
https://www.taikwun.hk/en/
Development Bureau
https://www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/conserving_central/the_central_police_station_compound/index.html
Antiquities and Monuments Office
Former Central Police Station - https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/hong-kong-island/monuments_53/index.html
Former Central Magistracy - https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/hong-kong-island/monuments_54/index.html
Former Victoria Prison - https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/historic-buildings/monuments/hong-kong-island/monuments_55/index.html
Legislative Council Brief on Conservation and Revitalisation of the Central Police Station Compound, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Revised Design, October 2010, the Development Bureau
http://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/article/en/upload/6202/LegCoBriefforCPS2010_10_11II.pdf
PowerPoint Presentation material on "Conserving Central" (Chinese version only)