'Cinematic Journey' exhibition at Old Yau Ma Tei police station opens

Visitors can now step inside the Old Yau Ma Tei police station and, for the first time, capture photos in its detention cell as the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” exhibition opens to the public on Friday (Jan 2).

At the opening ceremony on Thursday (Jan 1), Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk Wing-hing highlighted the station’s long history as a popular filming location for crime movies and television dramas.

He said the exhibition aims to merge Hong Kong’s cinematic culture with visitor experiences to boost the city’s tourism economy.

Cheuk noted that the exhibition offers immersive opportunities to relive iconic scenes from Hong Kong crime films and wander through realistic re-creations of 1970s and 1980s police offices.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming and chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board Peter Lam Kin-ngok and actor Simon Yam Tat-wah are among the officiating guests.

Tickets are available only through an online booking system at HK$30, with no on-site sales.

The exhibition covers the ground floor of the station, beginning with a theater-style entrance and leading visitors through a cinematic tunnel into familiar film settings such as the lineup room, armory, surveillance office, and detention cell.

Multimedia displays, lighting designs, interactive installations, and an AI photo booth allow guests to step into the role of movie characters while capturing photos at several checkpoints.