Home>Central Magistracy>How did the Magistracy evolved over the years?

How did the Magistracy evolved over the years?

The 2nd generation Central Magistracy was completed in 1914. Two Magistrates were responsible for trying cases of the Hong Kong Island. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese turned the Magistracy into a civil court. In the early post-war years, the British tried war criminals here and many Japanese military officers were convicted.

Beginning from 1964, the Central Magistracy only tried cases involving the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Force, including homicides, commercial crime, and crimes related to drugs and triads. In 1974, after the founding of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC), all ICAC cases were tried by the Central Magistracy.

The Central Magistracy was decommissioned on 30 January 1979. The location was used successively by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the International Police Association Hong Kong, the Junior Police Officers Association, and the Hong Kong Police Philatelic Club. In the coming years, this longest-standing Magistrate building in Hong Kong shall be given new purpose and a new lease of life.

< Back to Previous Page