West Kowloon Law Courts Building

Have you ever wondered what a “mega court” looks like? Here stands the West Kowloon Law Courts Building, a structure so large it’s earned that nickname. The West Kowloon Law Courts Building opened its doors in September 2016. It cost a staggering HK$2.7 billion. The building is located at the junction of Tung Chau Street and Tonkin Street West, right next to the West Kowloon Corridor. This impressive building was designed to bring several courts under one roof. The Tsuen Wan Magistrates’ Courts, Small Claims Tribunal, Coroner’s Court, and Obscene Articles Tribunal all found a new home within these walls. The West Kowloon Law Courts Building addressed a growing need for more courtrooms in Hong Kong. The project was proposed in 2009 and the construction contract awarded to Shui On Construction in 2012. The Small Claims Tribunal was the first to move in on September 19, 2016. The others followed shortly after, with the Tsuen Wan Magistrates’ Courts (renamed West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts) moving on December 28, 2016. The Coroner’s Court and Obscene Articles Tribunal completed the move on January 16, 2017. This courthouse boasts a net operational floor area of approximately 16,500 square meters. This doesn’t even include areas like corridors, parking, and lobbies! The total floor area is closer to a whopping 60,000 square meters. Inside the West Kowloon Law Courts Building, you’ll find 32 courtrooms, various waiting rooms, consultation rooms, and registries. There’s even a press room, chambers for judicial officers, a library, and offices for support staff. It’s designed to handle even the most high-profile cases with large numbers of attendees. The West Kowloon Law Courts Building also features larger courtrooms for those high-profile cases with numerous legal teams, journalists, and members of the public. If you’re looking to visit, the West Kowloon Law Courts Building is about a ten-minute walk from both Nam Cheong and Cheung Sha Wan MTR stations. The West Kowloon Law Courts Building isn’t just a building; it’s a symbol of Hong Kong’s independent and transparent judicial system.