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Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong Antonio A. Morales praised the restoration skills of Hong Kong at the conclusion of a guided tour of the territory’s newly opened Central Police Station complex, organized by the Hong Kong Government for the resident consular corps on 26 September 2018.

The new Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, located on 10 Hollywood Road Central, not far from Hong Kong’s famous Mid-Levels escalator, partially reopened to the public in May, with 16 heritage buildings in Victorian and Edwardian style restored and adapted using more modern materials, with the addition of two contemporary blocks clad in aluminium bricks.

“I am impressed by Hong Kong’s ability to not only preserve its old colonial buildings but also to repurpose them for modern times so that they will continue to be used by the public in a manner suited and more relevant to contemporary needs,” said Consul General Morales at the end of the hour-long tour.

Some 10 consuls general and consular representatives joined the Hong Kong Government’s walk and luncheon, which described how the Hong Kong Jockey Club transformed Tai Kwun (“Big Station” in Cantonese) into a 300,000-square foot (27,870sqm) public heritage and cultural center after eight years and funds of HK$3.8 billion (US$485 million).

The 16 historic buildings in the compound, constructed between 1864 and 1925, are grouped under the police station, the former Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison. Bounded by Hollywood Road, Arbuthnot Road, Chancery Lane and Old Bailey Street, the complex is regarded as the biggest adaptive reuse of historic structures in the city.

Other smaller examples of restored heritage buildings are: PMQ, formerly the Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road; the Asia Society Hong Kong office, formerly the Explosives Magazine of the old Victoria Barracks in Admiralty, and the 1881 Heritage, formerly the Marine Police Headquarters Compound General in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

Tai Kwun aims to serve as one of the biggest creative hubs in Hong Kong. With more than 1,500-sqm of exhibition space, Tai Kwun Contemporary is set to host six to eight curated exhibitions every year, as well as offer interactive tours exploring the site’s history from 11am to 11pm every day.

In addition to the 16 historic buildings, the complex consists of two open spaces and two “black cube” buildings designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, all of which will house art galleries, a 200-seat auditorium and various bars and restaurants. The space will also host many immersive program, including performances and workshops.

 

Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales joins the Hong Kong consular corps, including his counterparts from Russia, Mexico, European Union, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, and Laos, in the guided tour of the territory’s newly opened Central Police Station complex, called the new Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, organized by the Hong Kong Government, led by Protocol Head Joyce Lee (front, 2nd from left), with members of the restoration team on 26 September 2018.
Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales joins the Hong Kong consular corps, including his counterparts from Russia, Mexico, European Union, Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, and Laos, in the guided tour of the territory’s newly opened Central Police Station complex, called the new Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, organized by the Hong Kong Government, led by Protocol Head Joyce Lee (front, 2nd from left), with members of the restoration team on 26 September 2018.