Services | Community Connection | Community Inclusion Programmes | "NK Future" (The Former North Kowloon Magistracy Revitalisation Project)

Project Introduction

At the end of 2022, SideBySide was selected by the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as the operator for the revitalization project of the Former North Kowloon Magistracy under the "Batch VI of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme." The project, themed "NK Future," aims to establish Hong Kong's first judicial education center, using the historic building as a starting point to connect the community and local heritage, bridging old and new cultural assets, and promoting local culture and creative arts.

The former North Kowloon Magistracy, located at 292 Tai Po Road, Sham Shui Po, was built in the late 1950s to early 1960s in the neoclassical style typical of government and public buildings of that era. The building has five floors, with its hexagonal staircase at the main entrance being particularly iconic. It has been a filming location for many TV dramas and movies. The court was once one of the busiest magistracies in Hong Kong, handling cases related to prostitution, gambling, and drugs in the Sham Shui Po district, as well as some high-profile cases. Following societal changes, the court closed in early 2005 and was graded as a Grade II historic building by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 2009. From 2010 to 2020, it served as the Hong Kong campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Project Contents

This project is mainly divided into four main parts:

Judicial Education: Restoring and preserving important facilities from the court era (e.g., detention cells, judges' private stairs, courtrooms) to allow visitors to experience the trial process from the perspectives of the public, judicial officers, and defendants, thereby enhancing public awareness of the rule of law.
Hong Kong Memories & Culture: Every generation of Hong Kong people has their "collective memories," seeking resonance between "you" and "me."
Leisure & Lifestyle: Providing visitors with a "check-in spot" to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the "concrete jungle" while touring the historically significant building.
Partnership and co-sharing (Shum Shui Po Partners):

Through the Society's network of various community units in the Shum Shui Po district, and by inviting different friendly groups and local organizations to collaborate, we aim to connect a community with local characteristics.

Project Milestones

2022: Selected by the Development Bureau as the operating organization
2024-2025 (expected progress): Selection of qualified engineering consultant teams, commencement of engineering surveys, and overall design and construction drawings
2025 (expected progress): Application for funding and commencement of revitalization works
2026-2027 (expected progress): Completion of works, with the first phase of operation expected to begin in the first and second quarters of 2027

Event Highlights

Coming Soon