The District Office (North) in Tai Po

The District Office (North) is just a stone’s throw away from the Old Tai Po Police Station as both are located on the former Flagstaff Hill on Wan Tau Kok Lane. Both are also declared monuments. Now the Law Ting Pong Scout Center, the District Office (North) has completed a series of long and faithful service as a government office.

The History of Civil Administration at the District Office (North)

Since its construction completed in 1907, it was the first official venue of civil administration by the British colonial government of Hong Kong in the New Territories. As a government office, the District Office (North) was engaged in a wide range of civilian affairs, including land survey and registration, tax collection, licensing, district-wide infrastructure, judiciary, dispute resolution and the assessment of public sentiments.

Between 1948 and 1979, the District Office (North) was the office for the civil administration of Tai Po. In 1979, it actually became the office for the civil administration of North District, which covered the areas of Fanling, Sheung Shui, Ta Kwu Leng and Sha Tau Kok.

Until 1961, a magistrate’s court was also on site. Between 1998-2000, it served as the branch office of the Environmental Protection Department. Finally, the venue became the regional headquarters of the Boy Scouts in Hong Kong in 2022.

Architectural Features of the District Office (North)

Although having quite a different appearance from the Old Tai Po Police Station, the two neighboring structures do share a number of elements that are distinctly characteristic of that period of colonial buildings.

First of all, a walk around of the whole building will reveal the veranda that does line all the extended area from the structure’s arched doors.

Of course, the red bricks of this building really stands out as a colonial era architecture. Like the Staff Quarters Block of the Old Tai Po Police Station, these red bricks are very likely to have been shipped from Britain for the building’s construction.

Perhaps my favorite features of the District Office (North) are the arched doorways alongside the veranda and the tall arched doors and the arched windows. They are classy and elegant.

Finally, according to the AMO, the colonial era fireplaces remain intact inside the building, but the premises of the Law Ting Pong Scout Center are not open to public visitation.

Sources

The Wikipedia on the District Office (North) (Chin).

The Antique and Monuments Office on District Office (North).