POLICE MUSEUM
Photographs of the Old Water Police Station with the Old Rudder
Featured Exhibits

Description

Today Tsim Sha Tsui is home to 1881 Heritage, a fashionable, luxury shopping mall with a heritage theme. It was originally the former Marine Police Headquarters, which became a declared monument in 1994. It is located on a hilltop, not far from the waterfront. In retrospect, it seems to have experienced a sea change.

The Hong Kong Police Force was formally established in 1844. However, the Water Police had already emerged in 1842 to take over the water patrol duties of the Royal Navy in the early days of Hong Kong, including anti-smuggling and anti-piracy duties. At that time, the Water Police had only 14 officers and a few wooden sailing boats, mainly used on night patrols. The Water Police was officially incorporated into the Hong Kong Police Force in 1845.

The first Water Police Headquarters was established in 1868 on board the hulk of an old British barque John Adams, which had originally been laid down for use in the China opium trade. However, after serving as the Water Police Headquarters, the vessel caught fire and burnt down to the waterline in 1884.

In the same year, the old Water Police Headquarters, a two-storey main building, was completed, with its third storey extension being added in the 1920s. On 1 May 1948, the Water Police was renamed as Marine Police, and the Chinese name remained unchanged. The Marine Police Headquarters was moved to its new location in Sai Wan Ho in 1996.


The old Water Police Headquarters has preserved historical structures, such as the dovecote on the outer wall of the main building. At the time of the Water Police’s establishment, communication technology was not cutting-edge, and the Water Police Headquarters had to rely on delivery by carrier pigeon to transmit information to and from Water Police vessels and, hence, pigeon lofts were installed at the Water Police Headquarters.

More items

First Head of the Police Force William Caine’s Collection and Government Gazette of the Establishment of the Police Force in 1844

During the First Opium War, the British forces landed at Possession Point, Sheung Wan on 26 January 1841

The Force's Fire-Fighting Hand Cart in the 19th Century

There was no fire service in the early days of Hong Kong. Fire-fighting was

The First Plague Medal

In 1894, Hong Kong’s health and security were put to the test when bubonic plague broke

Special Constable Armband in World War II

The Special Constable system was introduced in 1886, when the Peace Preservation Ordinance was passed to allow

「The Tiger of Sheung Shui」

In the early days of Hong Kong, tigers were often found in the New Territories. Tiger hunting was one of the police duties.

Group Photograph of Hong Kong Police Detectives in 1916 and Detective Badges

Since its formal establishment the Hong Kong Police Force has always had

Reserve Police Armband

World War I broke out in 1914. Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August of the same year.

The MacIntosh Collection

Duncan William MacIntosh became Commissioner of Police in 1946, shouldering the important responsibility

The MacIntosh Observation Posts (Forts) Model

After World War II, the political instability in the Mainland caused an influx of large numbers of Mainland residents into Hong Kong

Former Female Searcher’s Badge, Passing-Out Photographs of the First Intake of Female Police Officers and Female Police Officers’ Equipment

The special wedding allowance for female police officers, also known as the “dowry token”, sounds really unbelievable today.

Dog Handler’s Arm Badge

As you can see, the police officer wearing this armband is a dog handler – also known as a

Old-Fashioned Telephone Switchboard for Use in 999 Emergency Communication Systems

Before World War II, there was no radio communication system between the Police Headquarters

Crime Scene Evidence Collection Kit in the Last Century

As early as the Zhou Dynasty in China in the 11th century B.C., fingerprints were already regarded as

Old Style Riot Helmets and Shields

In the 1950s and 1960s, Hong Kong experienced large-scale unrest and riots on several occasions such as the

Old Style Traffic Police Helmet and Motorcycle with a Sidecar

In the early days of Hong Kong, like in many parts of China, the roads were mainly used

Bomb Disposal Vehicle and Bomb Suit in the 1970s

Bombs detonated during the many riots in Hong Kong before the 1970s caused deaths and injuries

Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School's “Best All Round Cadet” Plaque

In the 1960s and 1970s, due to family difficulties, many young people in Hong Kong were

Communication Equipment in Different Eras

To provide a prompt and effective service to 999 emergency callers,

Vietnamese Boat People’s Weapons and Coracle

Beginning in the mid-1970s, an influx of Vietnamese boat people disturbed

Photographs and Collection of Mr. Li Kwan-ha

After the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984

Bravery under a Hail of Bullets

In the 1980s and 1990s, the number of cases involving firearms in Hong Kong

Police Badges of Past Generations

The Hong Kong Police Force underwent a number of transformations from a

Stockholm Challenge Award

Protective Gear for the Police Tactical Unit in 2005

The Force's 175th Anniversary Special Stamps and Open Day Tickets

In the first half of 2019, the Hong Kong Police Force organised a series of activities to celebrate its 175th anniversary

Operation TIDERIDER Medal

The Operation TIDERIDER Medal is the first medal in the history of the Hong Kong Police Force to