Historic Hong Kong Police Station Reopens as Film-Themed Exhibition Venue

Hong Kong’s century old Yau Ma Tei police station is set to take on a new cultural role as it opens its doors to a film themed exhibition aimed at celebrating the city’s rich cinema heritage and boosting tourism.

The exhibition, titled “Yau Ma Tei Police Station A Cinematic Journey,” will open to the public on January 2, with tickets going on sale from Saturday. The former police station has become a popular photo destination in recent years, particularly among visitors from mainland China, drawn by its preserved architecture and nostalgic atmosphere.

Officials said the show marks the first time a film related exhibition has been staged inside an actual police station in Hong Kong. The initiative is designed to connect local film culture with tourism by allowing visitors to step directly into spaces that reflect scenes from classic police and crime movies.

A spokesperson for the Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau said the exhibition offers a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the interior layout and ambience of a real police station while immersing themselves in the iconic imagery of Hong Kong cinema. The goal, the spokesperson added, is to showcase the creativity behind police and crime films that helped define the city’s global film reputation.

The exhibition has been designed by local filmmakers and features a detailed recreation of a criminal investigation department office from the 1970s and 1980s, an era often regarded as a golden age for Hong Kong police films. Visitors will be able to explore the recreated set, view original style props and gain insight into how such films were produced.

In addition to the recreated office, parts of the original building have been opened to the public. Visitors can glimpse former holding cells and walk through areas typically off limits, creating a more immersive and realistic film set experience. Classic police movies will also be screened inside the station’s control room, further enhancing the sense of stepping into a cinematic world.

The Yau Ma Tei police station is more than 100 years old and was built in a British Edwardian architectural style. It served as an active police facility for decades before being decommissioned. Its revitalisation has been closely watched as part of wider efforts to preserve historic buildings while giving them new public functions.

The reopening of the former station was one of nine projects proposed in May by the government’s Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots. The group aims to identify underused locations that can be transformed into attractions appealing to both local residents and overseas visitors.

With its blend of history architecture and film culture, the exhibition is expected to attract cinema fans tourists and photography enthusiasts alike. Officials hope the project will breathe new life into the landmark while reinforcing Hong Kong’s reputation as a city where storytelling and urban heritage intersect.