Recall that Tai Po Lookout was once a torture chamber. This historical residential building stands at No. 11 Lookout Link. It is in Tai Po Kau in the New Territories of Hong Kong. This place is known as Tai Po Lookout.
Tai Po Lookout’s story starts in the early twentieth century. Lawrence Gibbs, a British engineer, built it as his residence. Gibbs worked at the Public Works Department. He also worked for Denison, Ram and Gibbs in 1900.
Gibbs designed Tai Po Lookout and chose its remote location for the beautiful views. Even today, it remains a difficult place to reach. As an engineer, Gibbs ensured a water supply from the hillside. The tower at Tai Po Lookout also served as a water tower.
Over the years, Tai Po Lookout had many owners. Herbert Austin Rogers bought it in 1929. In 1933, Michael Howard Turner became the leaseholder. Soon after, John Alexander Fraser, a judge, acquired it as his living quarter.
During World War II, Fraser was interned at Stanley Internment Camp. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, he died. The Japanese then occupied Tai Po Lookout. They used it as a torture chamber.
After the war in 1947, the government took over the land. It became living quarters for government officials. Officers from the Tai Po District and the Police Secret Service resided here.
In 1996, the government leased Tai Po Lookout to the Society for AIDS Care. It became a residential center for AIDS patients. This project ran until 2000. Then Tai Po Lookout returned to being a private residence.
The Society for AIDS Care launched the Lookout Project. Sister Maureen McGinley established the society in 1994. It aimed to provide hospice care for AIDS patients. The project served 73 patients until it closed in 2000. Funding dried up.
Health officials initially opposed the Lookout Project. They argued that new treatments would reduce the need for hospice care. They also worried about isolating patients. Still, Tai Po Lookout became Asia’s first 24-hour residential medical care center.
The Lookout offered day-care and in-patient services. It provided physiotherapy and counselling. Trained doctors, nurses, and social workers offered palliative care. The Lookout also trained medical personnel in AIDS care.
Many patients had been rejected by their families. The Lookout provided a sanctuary. As AIDS treatment advanced, the need for hospice care declined. The Lookout then focused on nursing care and counselling. It helped patients rebuild their lives.
The Lookout Project ended due to lack of funds. Still, it pioneered hospice service in Hong Kong. Today, Tai Po Lookout stands as a colonial-style building. It features a watch tower. This watch tower is also a water tower. The walls are painted white.
Servants’ quarters are in a separate block. A lawn offers views of Tolo Harbour and Pat Sin Leng. The house design is symmetrical. Some walls have been removed over the years. The Lookout retains its original appearance.
Originally, a stream supplied water to the house and swimming pool. Later, water mains were developed. Tai Po Lookout overlooks Island House, a declared monument.
Tai Po Lookout is near mansions and the Tai Po Kau Natural Reserve. This area is known for fireflies. It is also near the Ghostly Bridge. A tragic incident in the 1950s gave the bridge its name. Students were washed away in a storm.
The Antiquities Advisory Board has recognized Tai Po Lookout. It was initially a Grade II Historic Building. There is now a proposal to raise it to Grade I. This acknowledges its outstanding merit.
Reaching Tai Po Lookout is still challenging. Bus and minibus services require a walk. Despite its remoteness, Tai Po Lookout remains a unique piece of Hong Kong’s heritage.
Tai Po Lookout is now a private residence. It stands as a reminder of its varied past. From a private home to a torture chamber to a hospice, its walls hold many stories.