Victoria Prison

Victoria Prison (zh-c|域多利監獄), or Victoria Gaol was Hong Kong's first prison. A testimony to the evolution of Hong Kong's correctional services, it had been the centre of the local prison system until it ceased operation in December 2005.

As part of the Central Police Station Compound, which also includes Central Police Station, Victoria Prison is a declared monument of Hong Kong. It is located on Old Bailey Street in Central on Hong Kong Island.

History

The Compound was built in 1841 and the Prison itself completed on 9 August 1841. It was originally known as the Victoria Gaol and is said to be the first western building constructed of durable material in Hong Kong. The Prison still retains the facade of Victorian architecture, having been built mostly of granite and brick. It is also the first prison in Hong Kong and an important part of Hong Kong's history.

During World War II, the prison was occupied by the Japanese and most of the buildings were damaged by bombing. The prison was re-opened for use in 1946 after restoration. When Hong Kong was later declared a port of first asylum for Vietnamese refugees, Victoria Prison became a transit and repatriation centre. It was subsequently developed into an institution with modern management facilities for accommodating discharged inmates of both sexes prior to repatriation or deportation.

Declared monuments on 8 September 1995, the prison together with the adjacent former Central Police Station and the former Central Magistracy forms an impressive group of historical architecture.

Before the establishment of Stanley Prison in 1937, Victoria Prison was the centre of justice and law enforcement of the colony in the early days.

On 12 March 2006, it was officially decommissioned. The Hong Kong Government has not announced a full plan for the use of this very historical landmark.

Preservation Guidelines

The completion dates of different parts of the old Central Police Station, the former Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison compound are listed below:

And finally, there is also one former Central Magistracy building built in 1914.

The compound is bordered on the North by Hollywood Road, on the South by Chancery Lane, on the East by Upper Albert Road and on the West by Old Bailey Street.

2006 Public Opening

Upon its decommission, the "Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Days" event was organized. The prison was opened to the public on 11th, 17th and 18th March 2006 as a charity event to raise funds for the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Each visitor was asked to donate HK$20 to the charity.

Correctional Services department staff volunteers dressed in old staff uniforms helped to provide a glimpse of the changes in attire over the years, when the former Prisons Department was renamed the Correctional Services Department in 1982.

A piece of the equipment for administering corporal punishment, called the "Cat-of-nine tails" (a whip), was also on display.

2007 Public Opening

The Central and Western District Council organized six Open Days in January 2007 under the title of "Journey to the History of Victoria Prison"

Guided tours were led by docents to historical buildings in the heritage compound. There was a "Prison Art Museum" where local artists were given access to several cells that they could decorate or use as a display gallery.

The Open Days were scheduled on 6,7,13,14,20 and 21 January 2007 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

ee also

* List of places named for Queen Victoria, for a list of places named after Queen Victoria

External links

* [http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_55.php Antiquities and Monuments Office]
* [http://www.csd.gov.hk/english/ins/ins_ind/ins_hk_vp.html Hong Kong Correctional Services]
* [http://www.hkdsc.com Hong Kong Disciplined Services Collectibles]
* [http://hkdsc.com/corrections/prison800.jpgVictoria Prison Memorial Book 2006] (only available from the Prison Museum (approx. US$6.50))