Published : 17/09/2025
Walking on the streets of Hong Kong, one can see both modern skyscrapers and historical buildings. A number of historical buildings here have been given a new lease of life following revitalisation projects.
A notable example is the former Tai O Police Station, which was built on a hillside and has since been repurposed into the Tai O Heritage Hotel. This transformation has created a captivating blend of old and new, significantly enhancing its appeal.
Former Tai O Police Station showcases colonial architectural features
The former Tai O Police Station, which later became Tai O Heritage Hotel, was completed in 1902. It was built on a hillside near the Tai O pier to combat rampant coastal piracy at the time. It is one of the earliest police stations on Hong Kong's outlying islands and one of the oldest Western-style buildings in the area.
According to the 1903 government gazette, the Tai O Police Station consisted of two buildings, namely a two-storey main building and an annex. The design of the main building included Chinese tile roofs, flying eaves, arched balconies, and French-style double-leaf glass doors, all reflecting colonial architectural style.
On the ground floor of the main building, there was a reporting room and two detention rooms. The upper floor housed the police officers' quarters, three bathrooms, and a storage room. From the main building, a covered bridge extended to the annex which contained a kitchen, drying room, storage room, a bathroom for Indian police, an interpreter's room, and worker dormitories and toilets.
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The primary duties of Tai O Police Station
The officers at Tai O Police Station were under the jurisdiction of the marine police. Initially, only 15 officers were stationed there at the police station. By the early 1950s, the police station had just 14 officers, one interpreter, and one assistant.
Primarily, the police at Tai O Police Station were responsible for patrolling the Tai O community by boat to ensure public security and combat crime. Additionally, they frequently assume the role of mediators, resolving family disputes or mediating conflicts among residents.
Starting from the 1950s, the number of police officers at Tai O Police Station gradually increased, leading to multiple reconstruction and expansion projects. By 1983, there were more than 180 stationed police officers at the police station.
Tai O Police Station: One of the first revitalised historical buildings
In 1988, Tai O Police Station was classified as a Grade 3 historic building. Subsequently, as the crime rate in Tai O continuously declined, the police station was downgraded to a patrol post in 1996, and most stationed officers were reassigned to the Reporting Centre in Lung Tin Estate (龍田邨). In December of the same year, the Tai O Police Post was officially closed.
In 2009, the vacant old Tai O Police Station was reclassified as a Grade 2 historic building and became one of the first revitalised historical buildings under the "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme" (活化歷史建築伙伴計劃) implemented by the HK Government.
In 2012, the Tai O Police Station was renovated and transformed into the Tai O Heritage Hotel. The renovation preserved many original features, including wooden door frames, old fireplaces, wooden floors, and ceilings, maintaining the historical character of the building.
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The suites at the Tai O Heritage Hotel are named after marine police ranks
The hotel features nine uniquely styled sea-view suites, all named after police ranks, Tai O landmarks, or marine police vessels.
For example, the former armoury and interview room have been transformed into the guest room named "Commander's Room" (commander referring to the highest-ranking officer in the police force), while the former police office has been converted into the guest room "Seahorse" (marine police command vessel), etc.
Facing the sea, the hotel suites have long corridors outside their doors with wooden shutters installed on the doors and windows. The rooms maintain traditional British fireplaces, exuding a colonial design.
As for the original reporting room and detention room located on the ground floor, they have been converted into a heritage discovery centre and an exhibition hall. The public can visit and see the remains of the century-old Tai O Police Station. The rooftop of the main building's annex has been refurbished with a glass roof and floor-to-ceiling windows, becoming an elegant restaurant.
In 2013, the Tai O Heritage Hotel was awarded the "UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation Award", which recognised its conservation achievement.
The transformation of the century-old Tai O Police Station into the Tai O Heritage Hotel, which blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, stands as one of the best examples of successful heritage conservation.
At the same time, Tai O Heritage Hotel has become a new landmark in Tai O, attracting both local and international visitors and playing an important role in promoting the development of tourism and cultural preservation in Hong Kong.
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