Devil's Peak, Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Devil's Peak is the peak
besides Lei Yue Mun
on New Kowloon
, Hong Kong
. The area around the peak was garrisoned by the British Army
or local pirates to control the passage of Lei Yue Mun, which is an important nautical passage in South China
. The remains of a redoubt and batteries are still visible on the peak.
lies to its west. The hill extends its ridge south to water in Lei Yue Mun
and north to Chiu Keng Wan Shan.
A list of troops whom were stationed here (mainly during World War II):
begins near Devil's Peak. It is possible to access the fort on foot from the Wilson Trail.
Pyramidal peak
A pyramidal peak, or sometimes in its most extreme form called a glacial horn, is a mountaintop that has been modified by the action of ice during glaciation and frost weathering...
besides Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun is a short channel in Hong Kong, between Junk Bay and Victoria Harbour, separating Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The channel is an important passage in the South China Sea. It is the east gate of Victoria Harbour.The lands around the channel are also called Lei Yue Mun...
on New Kowloon
New Kowloon
New Kowloon is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, bounded in the south by Boundary Street, and in the north by the ranges of the Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Tate's Cairn and Kowloon Peak...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The area around the peak was garrisoned by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
or local pirates to control the passage of Lei Yue Mun, which is an important nautical passage in South China
Northern and southern China
Northern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
. The remains of a redoubt and batteries are still visible on the peak.
Geography
Devil's Peak stands at 222 metres in height. To the east of the peak lies Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery and Yau TongYau Tong
Yau Tong is an area in the eastern Kowloon, Hong Kong, located between Lei Yue Mun and Lam Tin, at the east shore of Victoria Harbour. Administratively, it is under Kwun Tong District....
lies to its west. The hill extends its ridge south to water in Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun
Lei Yue Mun is a short channel in Hong Kong, between Junk Bay and Victoria Harbour, separating Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The channel is an important passage in the South China Sea. It is the east gate of Victoria Harbour.The lands around the channel are also called Lei Yue Mun...
and north to Chiu Keng Wan Shan.
Military history
The major parts of the military sites on Devil's Peak were built between 1900 and 1914. The four main clusters of military structures that remain are:- Devil's Peak Redoubt, which stands on the summit at a level of 222m. It was built in 1914.
- A small site at 196m
- Gough Battery - upper battery at 160m, was built in 1898 with 2 6-inch guns; one later replaced by 9.2-inch guns; guns removed in 1936 to Stanley FortStanley FortStanley Fort is a military position on the south side of Hong Kong Island.The fort, which occupied a site of 128 hectares, at one time served as a garrison for the British Armed Forces in Hong Kong. After the British Army ceased to use it, the area became the Kai Chi Children's Centre and the...
- Pottinger Battery - lower battery at 81m, with 9.2-inch guns; guns removed in 1936 to Bokhara Battery, Cape D'AguilarCape D'AguilarCape D'Aguilar, or Hok Tsui, is a cape in the south of Shek O and D'Aguilar Peak on southeastern Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The peninsula, where the cape is on its southeastern side, is also known as Cape D'Aguilar...
A list of troops whom were stationed here (mainly during World War II):
- 5/7 Rajput RegimentRajput RegimentThe Rajput Regiment is a regiment in the Indian Army that is composed primarily of the Rajput clans from India. The British designated the Rajputs as a martial race and subsequently employed large numbers of these warriors in the British Indian Army....
- 1st Mountain Battery of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery
Access
Section 3 of The Wilson TrailWilson Trail
The Wilson Trail is a 78 km long-distance footpath in Hong Kong, only 15 km run through non-park countryside or other areas. It was named after David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, who was Governor of Hong Kong from 1987 to 1992. The Wilson Trail was developed by Friends of the...
begins near Devil's Peak. It is possible to access the fort on foot from the Wilson Trail.
External links
- Batteries on Devil's Peak
- Lai, L.W.C., Ho, D.C.W., Leung, H.F. (2003), "Survey of the Devil's Peak Redoubt and Gough Battery", Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 42, 2002, pp.101-37.
- Facilities Management and Planning for Heritage Sites: Lessons Learnt From a Pilot Study on Disused Military Sites
- Fun in Kwun Tong - Devil's Peak Batteries