Yuduoli prison

Victoria Prison (China: Victoria Prison) or Victoria Prison is the first prison in Hong Kong. Witness to the evolution of Hong Kong's correctional services, it has been the centre of the local prison system until it ceased operation in December 2005.

The compound was built in 1841 and completed in the prison itself on August 9, 1841. Originally known as Victoria Prison, it is said to be the first durable material built in Hong Kong in the West. The prison still retains the facade of Victorian architecture, most of which are made of granite bricks. It is also an important part of the first prison in Hong Kong and its history.

During World War II, the prison was occupied by the Japanese and most of the buildings were destroyed. The prison was reopened in 1946. When it was later announced that Hong Kong was the first port for Vietnamese refugees, Victoria Prison became a transit and repatriation center. It later developed into a modern management facility to accommodate discharged male and female prisoners before repatriation or deportation.

On September 8, 1995, the prison was declared a legal monument. Together with the adjacent former central police station and the former central magistracy, the prison forms an impressive historical building complex.

Stanley Prison was founded in 1937 before Yuduoli prison in the early days as the center of justice and law enforcement colony.

On March 12, 2006, it was officially retired. Using this historic milestone, the Hong Kong government has not announced a complete plan.

Yuduoli prison

Victoria Prison, on the hillside of o'brie Street ramp, is one of the buildings of the old central police station and one of the statutory monuments in Hong Kong. Before the end of its service in 2006, Victoria Prison had always been the central hub of Hong Kong's prison system. Because she witnessed the opening of Hong Kong, the Second World War, the historical development of Hong Kong as the first port of reception for Vietnamese boat people and Hong Kong's correctional system, some people in Hong Kong regarded it as a historical building worthy of preservation.

Historical experience

Victoria Prison is the first western style permanent building and the first prison in Hong Kong. It was built on August 9, 1841. Although the Treaty of Nanjing had not been signed and Hong Kong had not officially become a British colony at that time, the British army had already landed at shuikengkou of Hong Kong Island and occupied Hong Kong Island, and the British had also begun to build Victoria City in Hong Kong. The prison was built for the actual needs at that time She has played an important role in the history of Hong Kong.

Li Zhaoan, who was once stationed in Victoria Prison, said that in the early days of the prison, pirates and bandits were imprisoned, but the underground cells were rarely used. It is said that the British government took in some anti Qing revolutionaries here, and then arranged to transfer them to other countries. It is said that Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the father of the country, was also among them.

Most of the buildings were damaged during the Hong Kong defense war in 1941. After the fall of Hong Kong, they were used to imprison the leading officials and generals of the allies. Hong Kong Chongguang in 1945, after the authorities restored in 1946, the prison reopened and became a moderately fortified institution. After Hong Kong was declared the first port of asylum, Victoria Prison was also used as a center for transferring and repatriating Vietnamese boat people. Later, Victoria Prison developed into a refugee screening center with modern management system, and took in male and female boat people waiting for screening in different warehouses.

Before the completion of Stanley Prison in 1937, Victoria Prison was the center of the early judicial system of Hong Kong colony.

On September 8, 1995, Yuduoli prison was declared a statutory monument. Together with the adjacent old central police station and the former central magistracy, Yuduoli prison is a historic central police station complex.

On March 12, 2006, Victoria Prison officially closed. However, the Hong Kong government has yet to set up a complete plan for this historic landmark.

Types of buildings

Victoria style architecture is still preserved in Yuduoli prison. The main building materials are granite and red brick.

The prison consists of three three storey buildings, three two storey buildings and three single storey buildings, including single and compound cells, special unit, hospital (Victoria Hospital), kitchen, dining hall, laundry room, exercise yard and administration building.

The prison has undergone many expansions, especially the d-bin, which was built in 1895 in Neo Georgian style. In 1914, warehouse B, warehouse C and warehouse E were also expanded to meet the needs at that time.

Professor Lin Yunfeng, from the Institute of architects, said that from the inspection, the central police station complex witnessed the evolution of Hong Kong's prisons.

dispute

The government's view on retaining warehouse f

Dr. ng Chi Wah, executive secretary of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the leisure and Cultural Services Department, said that the government had listed the entire complex as a statutory monument in 1995. However, the heritage plan did not indicate the cultural value and conservation methods of individual buildings, nor did it specifically indicate whether warehouse f was a historical building. He clarified that the committee did not require that warehouse f must be demolished, but if there is a design need, it can be considered to be demolished.

The AMO pointed out in subsequent meetings that the cultural and historical value of warehouse f was slightly lower than other buildings in the complex, so warehouse F should be classified as a non historical building. At the same time, the AMO believed that this decision would not affect the overall historical value of the complex, which could also make future development more flexible.

Views of central and western district boards on the views of the government

At the meeting of the District Council, Mr. Li Guangde, representative of the monuments concern group of the central police station, pointed out that the government has rarely released any information on the monuments of the central police station, and has not disclosed any cultural and historical information at all. However, he believes that such information is very important for Hong Kong people to understand buildings. He stressed that it would be irresponsible for the tourism department to rashly treat the project as a tourism project before the public knew the relevant information.

Mr. Ruan Pinqiang thinks that position F should be retained. He said that warehouse f is the entrance of the whole building. If there is no entrance, the building will not be a building. Moreover, there is still a lot of open space for development inside the complex, so there is no need to demolish warehouse F.

Mr. Yang Haoran pointed out that warehouse f is an integral part of the historic complex, so it should definitely be retained. Moreover, it has its own unique characteristics, because it is difficult to find a police station or magistrate's office with a warehouse in Hong Kong. He believes that most developers will only consider how to make profits, not how to protect historic sites. If they are allowed to make their own decisions, warehouse f will be demolished.

Ms. Cheng believes that warehouse f is educational and a typical prison. It is totally different from warehouse B and warehouse E. if it is left to the disposal of future developers, I am afraid that the prison history of Hong Kong will be lost. Ms. Cheng suggested that the Antiquities and monuments office and relevant people should conduct on-site inspection again to clearly understand the value of warehouse F.

Mr. gannaiwei hoped that the government would re-examine the issue of warehouse F and questioned why the Antiquities Advisory Committee had held a hasty meeting to make a decision on warehouse F. He pointed out that the government invited the Institute of architects to inspect warehouse f only after the committee had made a decision. He said that when members went to the Legislative Council to express their views a few days ago, Professor Lin Yunfeng of the Institute of architects did not think that the building should be demolished. He only thought that part of the building could be rebuilt. He stressed that from the inspection, we can see that the historic sites are evidence of the evolution of Hong Kong's prisons. If the developer can choose to demolish the building, he will certainly demolish and rebuild it. He hoped that members would support the motion later and that the government would listen to the views of Parliament. Mr. Gan believes that the government should carefully consider the views put forward by members in the past, and then discuss with the district boards before starting the bidding process. If the government bids in a hurry, he is afraid that after the developer wins the bid, the government will refuse to continue the discussion with the District Council on the pretext of delaying the project, hindering the way of commercial operation and even affecting the economy of Hong Kong. Therefore, Mr. Gan suggested that the District Council write to ask the government to shelve the bidding work.

On November 25, 2004, the central and Western District Council unanimously passed the motion proposed by Mr. Ruan Pinqiang, Mr. Guo Jiaqi, Ms. Zheng Liqiong and Mr. He Junqi

·The central and Western District Council strongly urged that warehouse F of Victoria Prison should be retained and that it should not be decided by future developers whether to demolish it. It also asked the Antiquities Advisory Committee to reconsider the opinions of the public and the central and Western District Council.

Public opening hours

2006

Open days: March 11, 2006 and from March 18 to March 19, 2006. Closing ceremony: March 12, 2006.

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 to the charity.

Correctional Services department st

Chinese PinYin : Yu Duo Li Jian Yu