Explore the Devil's Peak

Lei Yue Mun is the eastern gate of Victoria Harbour. British fortifications once sat on the Devil's Peak near Yau Tong, guarding Lei Yue Mun from the Kowloon side. This previous military site is now one of Hong Kong’s most significant heritage sites.

We toured the Devil's Peak by the courtesy of the History Club under the lead of an experienced tour guide.

Starting from Lei Yue Mun Estate, we hiked up the hill along the Wilson Trail, passing through a temple gate between construction sites. We also walked past a graffitied concrete framework, which used to be an electricity generator building that has been left in disrepair.

There are three major sites on the peak, namely the Devil’s Peak Redoubt, the Gough Battery, and the Pottinger Battery. We visited only the former two, and neither of them were in good shape.

Such fortifications were scrapped and defaced after their abandonment in the late 1940s, with the tops of concrete fortifications removed for post-war rebuilding efforts.

Despite some visible damages, the sheer scale and ingenuity of the military complexes were still impressive, especially the massive 9.2 inch gun rotating base at the Gough Battery, stretching about ten metres in diameter, with a dedicated munitions storage room below.

This trip raised questions in our mind as we walked around these concrete remains from the past. Ultimately, should we attempt at restoring the fortifications to their previous glory, or should we leave them as they are, serving as a reminder of the fleeting past?

After all, history is all about studying changes. The Devil’s Peak should be left as a reminder for both the defense of Hong Kong and a warning against improper heritage management.

Overall, we believe everyone in this trip had a great time exploring the past of Hong Kong.