Granite columns，red brick arches, Roman architectural style…this is not a Roman castle. This is the old Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir in Hong Kong. This state-of-the art, over 100-year-old classical architectural is open for Hong Kong citizens for free from August!

The interior of the ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir features a complete concrete ceiling supported by 108 granite columns arranged in an orderly manner. The granite columns and red brick arches combine European craftsmanship and Roman features, making it one of the few public buildings in Hong Kong built with reference to Roman architectural style. Remarkably, its original wall has no steel bars and relies on the weight of the concrete to withstand water pressure in a gravity form.

The ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir is the first circular underground service reservoir in Hong Kong built in 1904. It provided drinking water to residents in nearby housing estates, like Kowloon Tong, Sham Shui Po, and Tai Hang Tung. Later, with the operation of the Shek Kip Mei Fresh Water Service Reservoir, which had a capacity of more than ten times, the ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir was officially decommissioned in 1970.

In June 2021, the ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir was recognized as a Grade 1 historic building status by the Antiquities Advisory Board. After restoration, the interior was equipped with yellow lighting effects to highlight its classical beauty. When visiting the distribution reservoir, the public can appreciate the architectural aesthetics composed of different building materials, lines, and shapes. The design of stone columns and arches, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the beauty of European classical architecture.

To further facilitate public visits to this Grade 1 historic building, the Water Supplies Department of Hong Kong announced on July 15, 2024, that Hong Kong citizens can visit the site without a reservation starting from August 1, 2024. The opening hours are from Monday to Sunday (closed on the first Tuesday of each month) from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm. The daily admission closing times are 11:30 am and 4:30 pm.