The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound, completed in 1884, is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. From 1884 to 1996, the Compound served as the headquarters for the Marine Police, which moved to Sai Wan Ho in 1996
The compound is a declared monument since 1994 as it is one of the four oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong. The Compound and the Old Kowloon Fire Station have been re-developed into a heritage hotel with food and beverage outlets and retail facilities in a project headed by architect Daniel Lin of A+T Design, opened in 2009. The site is now officially known as 1881 Heritage.
History and design
thumb|left|The Marine Police Headquarters in the 1900s. At that time, the building was still a two-storey structure.
The compound was completed in 1884 and served as the headquarters of the Water Police (as they were originally known) until late 1996. This name is used in at least two novels set in Hong Kong: Soldier of Fortune by Ernest K. Gann, published in 1954; and Dragon Flame by the house author Nick Carter, published in 1966.
Redevelopment
thumb|left|Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound under renovation in 2008
In 2002, the Hong Kong Government announced a competitive tender for an adaptive reuse concept for the former Marine Police Headquarters, which had been vacant since 1996; to entice tenders, the conditions included permission to create up to of floor space below the Main Building.
The Government announced on 23 May 2003 that Flying Snow Limited, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong Holdings, had won the 50-year land grant at a tendered price of million, out of six competitive proposals. The approval allowed the developer to preserve and redevelop the historical building into a heritage tourism facility. Flying Snow has transformed the building into a heritage hotel with food and beverage outlets, and retail facilities. The project was the first private sector-led preservation project in Hong Kong; under the terms of the land grant, specific furnishings and features were required to be preserved and restored.
Buildings
The original Marine Police Headquarters comprises the Main Building, Stable Block and Signal Tower. The redevelopment into 1881 Heritage added the nearby Old Kowloon Fire Station and the Fire Station Accommodation Block to the campus.
Main Building
thumb|right|Stables Grill @ Hullett House
The Main Building was originally a two-storey structure; an extra storey was added to the Main Building in the 1920s, and an ancillary building was added to the north.
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!South Bay
| Art Deco ||
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!Deep Water Bay
| Pop Art (China) ||
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!Stanley Bay
| English countryside ||
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!Ma Wan
| Imperial China ||
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!Silvermine
| blanc de Chine (all-white / honeymoon) ||
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!Shek O
| Hong Kong antiques (red and gold) ||
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!Kat O
| Scottish ||
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!Pui O
| 1930s Shanghai||
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!Tai O
| Regal chinoiserie||
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!Tung O
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After the 2003–09 renovation, the Main Building was renamed to Hullett House to honour Richmond William Hullett. FWD Group leased the hotel and renamed it House 1881 in 2019; FWD renovated the ten suites, ranging in size from , and five dining concepts.
Stable Block
The Stable Block is immediately north of the Main Building.
Signal Tower
The Signal Tower (), also known as the Time Ball Tower or Round House, was constructed to provide time signals to ships in the harbour. A ball was hoisted each morning and dropped precisely at 1 PM. Its use diminished in 1907 when the time ball apparatus was removed to Signal Hill, Kowloon.
Old Kowloon Fire Station
The Old Kowloon Fire Station, also known as the Former Tsim Sha Tsui Fire Station, was originally completed in 1920; a charity shop selling handcrafts occupied the space starting in 1986 until the 2003–09 renovations.
Fire Station Accommodation Block
The Fire Station Accommodation Block is immediately north of the Old Kowloon Fire station, and was completed in 1922.