Central Magistracy, Hong Kong

The Central Magistracy was completed in 1914, standing on the original site of the first Hong Kong Magistracy built by the British. That earlier structure, dating to around 1847, was one of the first government buildings erected after the British arrival in Hong Kong and was later demolished to make way for the new magistracy and its additional blocks.

The present building features a Greek Revival design, distinguished by its imposing façade and prominent pillars, giving it an overall majestic appearance. Its walls are constructed of granite blocks, and the inclusion of a basement in the new design—unusual for the time—caused considerable delays during construction. One lesser-known detail is that the building’s heavy classical style was chosen deliberately to convey the authority and stability of the colonial legal system.

The Central Magistracy, together with Victoria Prison and the Central Police Station, forms the historic Central Police Station Compound. The magistracy ceased judicial operations in 1978 and was subsequently used by the police for various administrative purposes. In the 2000s, the building was incorporated into the large-scale revitalization project that transformed the entire compound into Tai Kwun – Center for Heritage and Arts, which opened to the public in 2018.

Today, parts of the Central Magistracy’s interior are accessible as heritage exhibition spaces within Tai Kwun, allowing visitors to explore the building’s restored corridors and interpretive displays, while its exterior remains one of the finest examples of Greek Revival civic architecture in Central.