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Why is the Central Police Station also known as “Tai Kuen”?

Central Police Station (CPS), known as “Tai Kuen” (“the great station”) among many Hong Kong locals, has now been decommissioned. The CPS is not the first police station in Central. In the early years of Hong Kong, Chief Magistrate William Caine had a grass shed office set up at Old Bailey Street. In about 1845, the first police station was set up at Tai Ping Shan Street, where most Chinese were living. The precise location was at the corner of Po Yee Street (formerly “Station Lane”) and Upper Station Street.

From 1850 to 1864, the Taiping Rebellion broke out in China, and thousands upon thousands of Mainland dwellers (include triad members) flooded into Hong Kong, causing the local population to double in size and imposing significant pressure on public order. On the other hand, upon taking possession of the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860, the British needed to bolster its police force. Many police stations were built during this period, including the sizable police headquarters in Hollywood Road in Central to oversee district operations. It was called “Tai Kuen” by the locals.

The first CPS building to be completed is the Barrack Block in 1864. At the time it was named the “Main Block”, and stood side-by-side with the Central Magistracy and the Victoria Gaol (Later Victoria Prison).

In the early years, the police force was responsible not only for public security but also for fire-fighting. In 1868, a fire services team was set up and was dressed in a different uniform, though still under the command of the police superintendent. The fire services team was stationed at CPS and conducted drills at the Parade Ground. They became independent of the police force only after the WWII.

Next Page－How was the Police Force in the Post-War Years?

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