Former Marine Police Headquarters, Hong Kong

The Former Marine Police Headquarters is one of Hong Kong’s oldest surviving colonial compounds, dating back to 1884. For more than a century—until 1996—it served as the headquarters of the Marine Police, who patrolled Victoria Harbor and protected Hong Kong’s busy maritime trade routes. After the force relocated, the hilltop compound underwent extensive conservation and adaptive reuse, reopening in 2009 as 1881 Heritage, a cultural, commercial, and hospitality complex.

The compound originally consisted of five major structures arranged on a raised terrace overlooking Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront. The Main Building—now known as Hullett House—was a two-story colonial residence that housed married officers and the superintendent. Following restoration, it became a boutique hotel and later rebranded as the House 1881 hotel before ceasing hotel operations in 2021. Now it accommodates dining venues and event spaces. Other historic structures include the Stable Block, once used for police horses; the Signal Tower, built in 1885 to help ships set their marine chronometers by dropping a time ball daily at precisely 1 pm; the Old Kowloon Fire Station, which dates to 1920; and the adjacent Fire Station Accommodation Block that housed firefighters.

Approaching from Canton Road, you first encounter the Main Building centered at the top of the grand staircase, occupying the highest and most prominent position on the terrace. To your right, on the eastern side, stands the Stable Block, a long, lower structure set slightly behind the main facade. Moving westward across the courtyard from the Main Building, you reach the Old Kowloon Fire Station, distinguishable by its simple utilitarian form, with the Fire Station Accommodation Block positioned directly behind it on the northwestern edge of the compound. The Signal Tower sits on the southwestern corner.

Today, 1881 Heritage blends these restored buildings with landscaped terraces, courtyards, and new additions that respect the original architectural style. Luxury boutiques—such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, and Mikimoto—occupy the arcaded ground floors, while restaurants serve a mix of Cantonese, Japanese, and Western fine dining. Seasonal displays, open-air events, and the atmospheric lighting of the historic facades make the complex a popular evening destination. And in the end, we observe a rare example of successful heritage conservation in Hong Kong.