Victoria Prison
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victoria Prison (域多利監獄) or Victoria Gaol was Hong Kong's first prison. It had all along been the centre of the local prison system in the old days and it was also a testimony to the evolution of Hong Kong's correctional services until December 2005 when it ceased operation. It is located on Old Bailey Street in Central on Hong Kong Island.
As part of the Central Police Station Compound, which also includes Central Police Station, Victoria Prison is a declared monument of Hong Kong.
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[edit] History
The Compound was built in 1841. It is said to be the first western building constructed of durable material in Hong Kong.
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. Declared monuments in 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.
In March 2006, it was officially decommissioned. After decommissioning, Victoria Prison will be re-developed into a tourist attraction.
[edit] Buildings
The prison complex consists of 3 three-storey buildings, 3 two-storey buildings and 3 single-storey buildings. Inside these buildings there are cellular and dormitory accommodations, a special unit, a hospital, a kitchen, dining halls/ dayrooms, a laundry, an exercise yard and an administration block.
The prison had undergone several stages of expansion since its original founding with the major one in 1895 when D Hall complex with its Neo-Georgian architectural style was built. A further stage of major expansion took place in 1914 with the addition of B Hall, C Hall and E Hall to cope with the needs of the time.
[edit] 2006 Public Opening
Upon its decommision, 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.
