Lighthouses in Hong Kong pre-1941- revised

Stephen Davies: These are the eleven lighthouses (excluding beacons and buoys) that the records show were operated by the Harbour Master before 1941.

Note: The locations of Ma Wan (Kap Shui Mun) and Tungkwu/Lung Kwu Chau lighthouses are not yet shown on the map. Gap Rock lighthouse was in Chinese waters but under the aegis of, and paid for by, Hong Kong.

I have updated the numbers and dating from those provided in the original article which I have discovered were awry:

Information provided Number, Name, Date operational, Pre-war image accessible – Yes/No
1 Cape D’Aguilar 1875 N (only an original set of architect’s drawings)
2 Green Island 1875 N (pre 1922)
3 Cape Collinson 1876 Y (maybe – some doubt)
4 Gap Rock 1892 Y
5 Waglan Island 1893 (1901) Y
6 Ma Wan (Kap Shui Mun) 1904 N
7 Blackhead Pt/Tsim Sha Tsui 1909 Y (extinguished 1933, relit 1948 destroyed
1971)
8 Kap Sing/Tang Lung Chau 1912 N
9 Tungkwu/Lung Kwu Chau 1921 N
10 Lamtong (Tathong) 1921 N (removed 1962 and new Tathong Pt built
above on Japanese gun emplacement)
11 Fan Lau 1936 N (received Blackhead Pt lantern c.1971)

Of these only numbers 1-5, 7 & 8 were watched (manned) the others were unwatched using automatic AGA lights.
Before WW2 there were also significant navigational beacons – the two either side of Lei Yue Mun (1902), Channel Rock (under the cruise terminal) (1921) and Adamastor Rock (first beacon 1899, first lit 1920 but repaired or replaced after typhoons in 1923 and 1937). Other minor beacons were at the typhoon shelter entrances at Yaumatei and on the ends of umpteen pier and wharf, and there were 4 lit fairway buoys in the western harbour.

So, pre-war pictures of only 3, 4, 5, and 7 and a c.1950s image of 6. So far no image of 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11 has emerged.

Of these only numbers 1-5, 7 & 8 were watched (manned) the others were unwatched using automatic AGA lights.

Before WW2 there were also significant navigational beacons – the two either side of Lei Yue Mun (1902), Channel Rock (under the cruise terminal) (1921) and Adamastor Rock (first beacon 1899, first lit 1920 but repaired or replaced after typhoons in 1923 and 1937).

Other minor beacons were at the typhoon shelter entrances at Yaumatei and on the ends of umpteen piers and wharves. There were also four lit fairway buoys in the western harbour.

HF: Can anyone provide images of those lighthouses which according to Stephen do not appear to be accessible?

This article was first posted on 11th June 2015.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Chinese lighthouse keepers’ wives – 1930s Japanese preference
2. Fan Lau lighthouse, Lantau Island
3. Fresnel Lenses – Barbier, Benard & Turenne – AGA and Waglan lighthouse…
4. Frosty Moller – tug involved in evacuation of Waglan Island lighthouse staff, December 1941
5. Hong Kong’s Lighthouses and the men who manned them – HKBRAS article
6. Hong Kong lighthouse construction, costs, delivery, dates, light visibility…
7. Tathong Lighthouse – during and post-WW2
8. Tathong Lighthouse – pre-WW2
9. Waglan Island lighthouse – a brief history
10. Waglan Island lighthouse – inaugurated on 9th May, 1893