The Government's Land Authority has initiated a bidding process for the leasing of the Old Tsolo Police Station, a historic site dating back 167 years and the oldest protected monument in Hong Kong. The lease term will last approximately four years, with strict non-transferability and prohibition on subleasing conditions. The bid closing date is set for December 3rd. Bidders must submit a heritage conservation proposal to be approved by the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) for consideration of their rental bids.
The project involves a land area of about 479 square meters, with a total floor area of 710.4 square meters. Only retail stores and services, restaurants, exhibitions, conference halls, leisure, and cultural purposes are permitted. The premises cannot be used for banks, betting shops, car showrooms, temples, funeral parlors, warehouses, hotels, cinemas, residential, or any other business deemed objectionable by the law.
The Old Tsolo Police Station, located at 88 Tsolo Road, began operations in 1859 and has served as a strategic outpost for the Hong Kong police force. After its use as an arcade terminal by the Japanese during World War II, it was repurposed as a supermarket by Tai Po Company, later renamed Wellcome, in 2002. Although these changes have caused controversy regarding the preservation of historical architectural values, the latest bid aims to secure a buyer who respects and conserved this significant piece of Hong Kong's history.