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Devil’s Peak Battery

If you ever feel the urge to take a hike in Hong Kong, forget the traditional Peak Trail and Bowen Road hiking trails - try hiking to Devil’s Peak Battery for a change.

 

The Devil’s Peak Battery was constructed in 1906 after the signing of the Convention of Peking took place between the British and the Qing Government in 1989, where British territory in Hong Kong was expanded to Boundary Street in Kowloon. Four batteries and an observation bastion was constructed on the northern shore of Lei Yue Mun, on the eastern extremity of the Kowloon Peninisula, with two 9.2 inch cannons on Gough Hill Battery - which was the higher point, and another two identical cannons on Pottinger Hill Battery. Since the area in general was called Devil’s Peak, the battery as a whole was called Devil’s Peak Battery. The British chose Devil’s Peak as it provided an unconventional view of Hong Kong that would be a perfect observation point for naval ships from afar.

However, the battery was rarely used by the British for military operations, hence it was not equipped with the most basic weapons and firepower for the residing British army. On December 11, 1941, the Japanese invaded Hong Kong and immediately seized the poorly defended Devil’s Peak Battery, and unlike the British, used the battery as a pivotal war post in occupying the rest of Hong Kong and defending itself.

 

Currently, the general structure of the battery is preserved, with ruins of the cannon emplacements, storage depot for explosives and fortification walls still remain on the sight. Since the area played such a important role in Hong Kong’s colonial history, it is invaluable for research into the naval and coastal history of Hong Kong. Sadly, the battery could be demolished in the near future for city planning and development, so take the opportunity while you can and view Hong Kong from an unorthodox point of view.

How To Get There: Yau Tong MTR station exit A1, and take the escalator across Lei Yue Mun Plaza . Then walk along Lei Yue Mun Road towards the Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery. When you reach the gate at the side of the Ko Chiu Road roundabout, walk along the road for about 15-20 minutes. You can see a path to the Devil's Peak Battery on your left.

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