Published : 2026-03-05
Beside Lau Fau Shan's fishing village, a former police station has been transformed. After 20 years, the modernist building—once a post for monitoring Deep Bay (後海灣) smuggling and assisting locals—has reopened as the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy, now serving the visually impaired.
Hong Kong's first guide dog breeding and training centre
Many people enjoy visiting Hong Kong's "Sky Mirror" in Ha Pak Nai (下白泥) to watch the sunset, followed by a seafood feast at the Lau Fau Shan fishing village.
However, next to the fishing village, there is a lesser-known attraction—the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy, revitalised from the former Lau Fau Shan Police Station, which is equally worth a special visit.
This is the first guide dog breeding and training centre established in Hong Kong, which officially opened in May last year (2025).
The former Lau Fau Shan Police Station is a Grade III historic building, completed in 1963. While some may consider it unremarkable, its architectural style reflects modern functionalism, characterised by simplicity and practicality, with layout and space designed for functionality.
Upon closer inspection, you will find that the floor plan of the 3-storey police station is U-shaped, and its most distinctive feature is the two circular rooftop watchtowers (also known as "gun turrets"), which are unique and characterful in design.
Other sights not to be missed include the detention room, known as "stinky Cells" (the name "stinky cells" comes from the foul-smelling squat toilets in the cells), the loading and unloading bays with white characters on a black background, as well as facilities such as a report room, police quarters and a canteen.
The former Lau Fau Shan Police Station was used to monitor Chinese Mainland military activities
Walking up to the rooftop of the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy, the vast and open view of Deep Bay is refreshing and delightful.
The bustling Shenzhen Bay, with its towering skyscrapers, provides a stark and interesting contrast to the simple and languid Lau Fau Shan fishing village.
Those familiar with Hong Kong's history or of a certain age would know that Deep Bay was once a popular landing point for illegal immigrants.
In the mid-20th century, many people overcame all difficulties to swim across these waters, hoping to seek a better life in the then more prosperous Hong Kong.
The purpose of establishing Lau Fau Shan Police Station was precisely to monitor illegal immigrants, intercept smuggling activities, and assist Lau Fau Shan residents to resolve disputes and difficulties.
In fact, for the colonial government, Lau Fau Shan Police Station had an even more important function: to monitor the Chinese Mainland.
Ho Ming-sun, a consultant for the Hong Kong Police Museum, pointed out in an interview that many British troops were stationed in Lau Fau Shan back then, and the establishment of the police station allowed the British military and Western spies to spy on the Chinese Mainland's military activities from this important channel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
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Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung once served at the Lau Fau Shan Police Station.
In the 1980s, the Chinese Mainland implemented the Reform and Opening-up, and Shenzhen on the opposite shore developed by leaps and bounds.
At the same time, the Tin Shui Wai New Town project began, with towering buildings rising from the ground, while only Lau Fau Shan fishing village remained as it was in the past.
Lau Fau Shan Police Station continued to operate until the new millennium, and by 2000, only reporting services remained.
The police officers originally stationed there were all assigned to the Tin Shui Wai Division; in 2002, Lau Fau Shan Police Station concluded its historic mission and ceased operations.
Those who have served at Lau Fau Shan Police Station hold a special affection for this historic building, and the Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, who was formerly the Commissioner of Police, is no exception.
Tang once held a command position at Lau Fau Shan Police Station, and when he revisited the old site last year, he even became a tour guide, introducing how the revitalised Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy has preserved and made good use of the old police station's facilities.
After revitalisation and renovation, the former police station's detention cell has been transformed into a veterinary room, while retaining the iron-barred windows.
The former police station canteen now serves as an activity room for therapy dogs. As for the old police quarters, they have become a training room for visually impaired people to bond with guide dogs.
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Hong Kong Guide Dog Academy addresses the severe shortage of guide dogs
How great is the demand for guide dogs among visually impaired people in Hong Kong?
According to data from the Census and Statistics Department in 2021, there are approximately 200,000 visually impaired people in Hong Kong.
International standards recommend one guide dog for every 100 visually impaired people, meaning around 2,000 guide dogs are needed.
However, there are currently only just over 50 guide dogs in service in Hong Kong, a severe shortage. With the inauguration of the Hong Kong Guide Dog Academy, it is expected to breed about 42 "Hong Kong-produced" guide dogs annually, which will help shorten the waiting time for visually impaired people.
In addition to training guide dogs, the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy also trains "therapy dogs" to provide outreach services for people with special educational needs, such as children with autism or people with communication difficulties.
Members of the public who are interested in visiting here can register in advance at the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy official website to make a reservation, and the admission is free.
Visitors can not only deepen their understanding of service dogs such as guide dogs and therapy dogs, but they can also admire this modern functionalist building which was completed more than half a century ago, while experiencing what it feels like to be stationed high above Deep Bay under the glow of the sunset in Lau Fau Shan.
It is both unforgettable and educational, making it definitely a good place for family outings.
Hong Kong Guide Dogs Academy (formerly Lau Fau Shan Police Station)
Location: 1 Shan Tung Street, Yuen Long
Opening hours: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 14:00-17:00 (booking required)
Fee: Free admission
Booking website: https://www.hkgda.org.hk/
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