Pinewood Battery

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View of Pinewood Battery

Pinewood Battery (松林炮台) is a historic military site in Hong Kong, located at 307m above sea level,[1] within Lung Fu Shan Country Park, in the northwestern part of Hong Kong Island.

History

Construction of the battery started in 1901 and it was completed in 1905.[1] During the Battle of Hong Kong, the Battery came under repeated air raids. On December 15, 1941, the Japanese 23rd Army Air Group carried out extensive attacks on Hong Kong Island. Pinewood Battery, manned by the 17th AA Battery 5th Anti-Air Regiment Royal Artillery, was severely damaged.[2] The raid caused 1 death and 1 injury. One of the antiaircraft guns and certain other facilities were destroyed. The commander of the defending troops decided to abandon the battery, and all men were ordered to retreat on that day.[3]

Conservation status

All the old battery buildings are in ruinous condition and two of the old magazines were demolished in fairly recent times. The war structures on Pinewood Battery have not yet been graded but they are items recorded by the Antiquities and Monuments Office.[4] A conservation status of Grade II had been proposed on March 18, 2009.[5] The site and the buildings are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, while maintenance is the responsibility of the Architectural Services Department.[4]

The site today

The area has been converted into a picnic site.[1] Interpretive signs are erected to illustrate the historical significance of this Battery.

With the excellent environment, the Battery became a spot for wargaming. To prevent further damage of the Battery, the Country and Marine Parks Authority, AFCD has set up a warning sign on the site, stating that "using or possession of any firearm, airgun, propelling or releasing instrument are prohibited". However, many plastic BB bullets are still found on the site.

  • Towards Pinewood Battery

  • Abandoned buildings

  • Overgrown staircase

  • Sign prohibiting wargaming

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pinewood Battery.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pinewood Battery Heritage Trail
  2. ↑ Antiquities and Monuments Office - Pinewood Battery
  3. ↑ Antiquities and Monuments Office - Lung Fu Shan Country Park
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brief Information on Proposed Grade II Items, see pp. 283-286
  5. ↑ List of the Historic Buildings in Building Assessment (as of 18 March 2009), see item #386

Coordinates: 22°16′40″N 114°08′09″E / 22.277744°N 114.135771°E / 22.277744; 114.135771

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