Police station pillboxes

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 13:03

Reader T sent in this photo, pointing out that the modern versions of the old wartime pillboxes are on the local police stations:

Pillbox on Police Station

I am uncertain about when these Police Stations/Quarters were built, but they all have the trade marks of tall walls or fences and looked very much like a fort from a distance.  I think other than the 1967 riots nobody tried to storm Police Stations.

 

 

Does anyone know if Hong Kong's police stations have always been built with defense from attack in mind? Or was it just those that were built around the time of the riots that received these pillbox structures? (Wikipedia lists major riots in 1956, 66, and 67).

MrB

Submitted by
T (not verified)
on
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 13:56

Hi there,

I remember they have these as well in the Police HQ/Quarters in Arsenal Street before the rebuilt.

The Aberdeen Police Station has a different version which looks like a Cube. They look more like guard towers of a castle to me. The one in Aberdeen Police Station has an opening at the bottom of it. If the cover is lifted the occupant above could look down through the opening, or even pour whatever they like to those standing under it. Just like those pour holes atop entrances and guard towers of medieval castles. :-)

I'll take some pictures later.

Best Regards,
T

Submitted by
T (not verified)
on
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 14:20

Hi there,

In the early/mid 1980's, there was minor riots and looting in different areas of the city. I could not recall why there was such incidents back then. All I remember was the Police had to use tear gas in a few locations in Kowloon. I happened to be in a Vinyl record store in Temple then and had to turn tail and go towards the Jordan Ferry piers. I hopped onto a ferry to Central to get away from the area.

I also remember the Yaumati Police was under siege for a very short period of time. They have to lock themselves up together with some reporters.

Could any recall these incidents? I tried Google but was unable to turn up anything use yet. There are just too many keywords to try....

Best Regards,
T

Hi there,

Thanks for the tip. After reading through the links I believe the one I experienced was the 1984 riot, caused by the proposal of some Taxi tax/levi.

Best Regards,
T

Submitted by
greg fripp (not verified)
on
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 22:03

In reply to by T (not verified)

I remember the earlier riots in kowloon.
We went past one in '56. I was excited, but all we got was some wafts of tear gas through the car window.
It was tense on the streets then.
No other action, but I also remember being tense when we got back to Hong Kong later that day.
But there was no extra 'action' on the island.
Greg

Submitted by
OldTimer (not verified)
on
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 23:56

In reply to by greg fripp (not verified)

There was very strict curfew shortly following the 1956 riots. Grandma and I walked crossing Tai Po Road near Shek Kip Mei Street. In BROAD DAYLIGHT, there were absolutely no other people on the street to either direction. A group of policemen marched by with shields and rifles. We could have been a goner had they had shoot-on-sight order.
The store, located on Cheung Sha Wan Road next to the football stadium, was completely looted of its Chinese grocery goods, well, about 98 percent.
I came across tear gas two times. The first minute didn't hurt. Then the tears started to flow.
On Apliu Street (who would think the police would come into our quiet street?), my cocky neighbour on second floor stood on the balcony looking down at the police who were walking by. When he ignored the captain's order to get back inside, the captain pulled out his pistol and aim at the neighbour. That got everyone's attention, and they obeyed instantly.