Tung Chung Battery: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 22°17′14″N 113°56′08″E / 22.287314°N 113.935478°E / 22.287314; 113.935478
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| caption = Tung Chung Battery
| caption = Tung Chung Battery
| location = [[Lantau Island]], [[Hong Kong]]
| location = [[Lantau Island]], [[Hong Kong]]
| built = 1817
| built = {{Start date and age|1817}}
| demolished =
| demolished =
| architect =
| architect =
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| designation1 = HK Declared Monument
| designation1 = HK Declared Monument
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date = 11 November 1983
| designation1_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1983|11|11}}
| designation1_number = 22
| designation1_number = 22
}}
}}
{{Chinese
'''Tung Chung Battery''' ({{zh|t=東涌小炮台}}) is a former [[artillery battery]] located on [[Lantau Island]] in [[Hong Kong]]. Named after [[Tung Chung|the eponymous district]] it is situated in, it was built in 1817, twenty-four years before the [[British Empire|British]] took possession of [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]. It was rediscovered in 1980 and is a [[Declared monuments of Hong Kong|declared monument of Hong Kong]].
|t=東涌小炮台
|s=东涌小炮台
|y=Dūng chūng síu paau tòih
|j=Dung1 cung1 siu2 paau3 toi4
|p=Dōngchōng Xiǎo Pàotái
}}

'''Tung Chung Battery''' is a former [[artillery battery]] located on [[Lantau Island]] in [[Hong Kong]]. Named after [[Tung Chung|the eponymous district]] it is situated in, it was built in 1817, twenty-four years before the [[British Empire|British]] took possession of [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]. It was rediscovered in 1980 and is a [[Declared monuments of Hong Kong|declared monument of Hong Kong]].


==History==
==History==
Construction of the Tung Chung Battery was completed in 1817.<ref name=AMO>{{cite web |title=Tung Chung Battery, Lantau Island – Declared Monuments |url=http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_22.php |accessdate=10 March 2013 |work=Antiquities and Monuments Office |publisher=Government of Hong Kong}}</ref> Located a kilometre north of the [[Tung Chung Fort]],<ref name=LP>{{cite book |last1=Stone |first1=Andrew |date=February 1, 2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iBEcsjbPPFMC&pg=PA139&dq=tung+chung+battery&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OgsGUZzrCqbO0QXpvIDYBQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=tung%20chung%20battery%201817&f=false |title=Hong Kong & Macau 14 |publisher=Lonely Planet |last2=Chen |first2=Piera |last3=Chow |first3=Chung Wah |pages=145 |accessdate=March 17, 2013}}</ref> its purpose was to protect [[Tung Chung Bay]]<ref name=SCMP>{{cite news |last=Currie |first=Mike |date=December 7, 1997 |title=Lantau's memories for the keeping |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMP1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=133B62FA7A60ABF0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=105B9A93AF33E3E3 |accessdate=March 17, 2013 |page=3 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}} '''{{subscription required}}</ref> from pirates that threatened the coasts and seas of southern China. At the time, [[Qing dynasty|China]] did not have a large navy, and thus, relied on the development of forts as an alternative way to defend its coast.<ref name=landscapes>{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Bernie |year=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4sO5vlJ7ETcC&pg=PA164&dq=tung+chung+battery&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wJREUczgK-jJ0AXCpIDoBQ&ved=0CGEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=tung%20chung%20battery&f=false |title=Hong Kong Landscapes: Shaping the Barren Rock |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |last2=Shaw |first2=Raynor |pages=164 |accessdate=March 17, 2013}}</ref>
Construction of the Tung Chung Battery was completed in 1817.<ref name=AMO>{{cite web |title=Tung Chung Battery, Lantau Island – Declared Monuments |url=http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_22.php |accessdate=10 March 2013 |work=Antiquities and Monuments Office |publisher=Government of Hong Kong}}</ref> Located a kilometre north of the [[Tung Chung Fort]],<ref name=LP>{{cite book |last1=Stone |first1=Andrew |date=1 February 2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iBEcsjbPPFMC&q=tung+chung+battery+1817&pg=PA139 |title=Hong Kong & Macau 14 |publisher=Lonely Planet |last2=Chen |first2=Piera |last3=Chow |first3=Chung Wah |pages=145 |isbn=9781741792256 |accessdate=17 March 2013}}</ref> its purpose was to protect [[Tung Chung Bay]]<ref name=SCMP>{{cite news |last=Currie |first=Mike |date=7 December 1997 |title=Lantau's memories for the keeping |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMP1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=133B62FA7A60ABF0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=105B9A93AF33E3E3 |accessdate=17 March 2013 |page=3 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> from pirates that threatened the coasts and seas of southern China. At the time, [[Qing dynasty|China]] did not have a large navy, and thus, relied on the development of forts as an alternative way to defend its coast.<ref name=landscapes>{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Bernie |year=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4sO5vlJ7ETcC&q=tung+chung+battery&pg=PA164 |title=Hong Kong Landscapes: Shaping the Barren Rock |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |last2=Shaw |first2=Raynor |pages=164 |isbn=9789622098473 |accessdate=17 March 2013}}</ref>


The [[Coastal defence and fortification|coastal fortification]] consisted of two [[coastal artillery]] cannon emplacements that guarded the Bay, along with seven guard houses. The site of the battery was chosen because it was located on a cliff that overlooked the water. This provided excellent views of the sea and a clear vantage point in case of a potential naval attack.<ref name=landscapes/>
The [[Coastal defence and fortification|coastal fortification]] consisted of two [[coastal artillery]] cannon emplacements that guarded the Bay, along with seven guard houses. The site of the battery was chosen because it was located on a cliff that overlooked the water. This provided excellent views of the sea and a clear vantage point in case of a potential naval attack.<ref name=landscapes/>
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==Rediscovery==
==Rediscovery==
[[File:Tung Chung Battery, 2013-09-08.jpg|thumb|Tung Chung Battery in 2013]]
[[File:Tung Chung Battery, 2013-09-08.jpg|thumb|Tung Chung Battery in 2013]]
After having been buried underneath thick foliage for approximately a century, the battery was rediscovered in 1980.<ref name=LP/> All that remained was an L-shaped wall that contained a corner platform; according to the [[Antiquities and Monuments Office]] (AMO), this was most likely utilized as a gun emplacement. After the discovery, the government undertook restoration work on the historic site.<ref name=AMO/> The battery was [[Declared monuments of Hong Kong|declared a monument]] on November{{nbsp}}11, 1983.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 1, 1999 |title=Annex I Listing of Declared Monuments |url=http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/textonly/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html |accessdate=March 10, 2013 |work=Environmental Protection Department |publisher=Government of Hong Kong |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028021126/http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html |archivedate=October 28, 2009}}</ref> In November 1997, the site was included in the AMO's celebration tour of historic sites in [[North Lantau New Town|North Lantau]] as part of the Year of Heritage. The festivities culminated in a traditional [[Cantonese opera]] performed at the [[Tung Chung Fort]].<ref>{{cite news |date=November 29, 1997 |title=Free fort opera 'sells out' |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMP1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=133B62B423A47360&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=105B9A93AF33E3E3 |accessdate=March 17, 2013 |page=4 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}} '''{{subscription required}}</ref> Due to the [[Airport Core Programme|amount of development]] that has taken place, the battery now faces towards [[Hong Kong International Airport]], instead of [[Chek Lap Kok]] island and an open [[Tung Chung Bay]] as it used to.<ref name=SCMP/>
After having been buried underneath thick foliage for approximately a century, the battery was rediscovered in 1980.<ref name=LP/> All that remained was an L-shaped wall that contained a corner platform; according to the [[Antiquities and Monuments Office]] (AMO), this was most likely utilized as a gun emplacement. After the discovery, the government undertook restoration work on the historic site.<ref name=AMO/> The battery was [[Declared monuments of Hong Kong|declared a monument]] on 11 November 1983.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 January 1999 |title=Annex I Listing of Declared Monuments |url=http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/textonly/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html |accessdate=10 March 2013 |work=Environmental Protection Department |publisher=Government of Hong Kong |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028021126/http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/eia_planning/sea/annex_i.html |archivedate=28 October 2009}}</ref> In November 1997, the site was included in the AMO's celebration tour of historic sites in [[North Lantau New Town|North Lantau]] as part of the Year of Heritage. The festivities culminated in a traditional [[Cantonese opera]] performed at the [[Tung Chung Fort]].<ref>{{cite news |date=29 November 1997 |title=Free fort opera 'sells out' |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:CMP1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=133B62B423A47360&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=105B9A93AF33E3E3 |accessdate=17 March 2013 |page=4 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}} '''{{subscription required}}'''</ref> Due to the [[Airport Core Programme|amount of development]] that has taken place, the battery now faces towards [[Hong Kong International Airport]], instead of [[Chek Lap Kok]] island and an open [[Tung Chung Bay]] as it used to.<ref name=SCMP/>


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal bar|Hong Kong|Architecture}}
{{Commons category|Tung Chung Battery}}
{{Commons category|Tung Chung Battery}}
* [http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_1742009/pdf/Section%2011%20Cultural%20Heritage/Fig/Figure%2011.11.pdf March 2009 picture of Tung Chung Battery] ''[[Environmental Protection Department]]'' (scroll down)
* [http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_1742009/pdf/Section%2011%20Cultural%20Heritage/Fig/Figure%2011.11.pdf March 2009 picture of Tung Chung Battery] ''[[Environmental Protection Department]]'' (scroll down)
{{Lantau Island}}
{{Islands District}}


{{Coord|22.287314|113.935478 |display=title}}
{{Portal bar|Hong Kong|Architecture|War}}

{{Coord|22|17|13|N|113|56|7|E|display=title}}


[[Category:Archaeological sites in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Hong Kong]]
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[[Category:Tung Chung]]
[[Category:Tung Chung]]
[[Category:Forts in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Forts in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Batteries]]
[[Category:Artillery batteries]]

Latest revision as of 08:08, 14 February 2024

Tung Chung Battery
Native name
Chinese: 東涌小炮台
Tung Chung Battery
LocationLantau Island, Hong Kong
Built1817; 207 years ago (1817)
Designated11 November 1983; 40 years ago (1983-11-11)
Reference no.22
Tung Chung Battery
Traditional Chinese東涌小炮台
Simplified Chinese东涌小炮台

Tung Chung Battery is a former artillery battery located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Named after the eponymous district it is situated in, it was built in 1817, twenty-four years before the British took possession of Hong Kong. It was rediscovered in 1980 and is a declared monument of Hong Kong.

History[edit]

Construction of the Tung Chung Battery was completed in 1817.[1] Located a kilometre north of the Tung Chung Fort,[2] its purpose was to protect Tung Chung Bay[3] from pirates that threatened the coasts and seas of southern China. At the time, China did not have a large navy, and thus, relied on the development of forts as an alternative way to defend its coast.[4]

The coastal fortification consisted of two coastal artillery cannon emplacements that guarded the Bay, along with seven guard houses. The site of the battery was chosen because it was located on a cliff that overlooked the water. This provided excellent views of the sea and a clear vantage point in case of a potential naval attack.[4]

The construction of the battery was recorded in the Guangdong Annals, which recounted how two forts were built at the base of the "Rocky Lion Hill"[1]—the literal translation of Shek She (石師).

Rediscovery[edit]

Tung Chung Battery in 2013

After having been buried underneath thick foliage for approximately a century, the battery was rediscovered in 1980.[2] All that remained was an L-shaped wall that contained a corner platform; according to the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO), this was most likely utilized as a gun emplacement. After the discovery, the government undertook restoration work on the historic site.[1] The battery was declared a monument on 11 November 1983.[5] In November 1997, the site was included in the AMO's celebration tour of historic sites in North Lantau as part of the Year of Heritage. The festivities culminated in a traditional Cantonese opera performed at the Tung Chung Fort.[6] Due to the amount of development that has taken place, the battery now faces towards Hong Kong International Airport, instead of Chek Lap Kok island and an open Tung Chung Bay as it used to.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Tung Chung Battery, Lantau Island – Declared Monuments". Antiquities and Monuments Office. Government of Hong Kong. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b Stone, Andrew; Chen, Piera; Chow, Chung Wah (1 February 2010). Hong Kong & Macau 14. Lonely Planet. p. 145. ISBN 9781741792256. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. ^ a b Currie, Mike (7 December 1997). "Lantau's memories for the keeping". South China Morning Post. p. 3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b Owen, Bernie; Shaw, Raynor (2007). Hong Kong Landscapes: Shaping the Barren Rock. Hong Kong University Press. p. 164. ISBN 9789622098473. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Annex I Listing of Declared Monuments". Environmental Protection Department. Government of Hong Kong. 1 January 1999. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Free fort opera 'sells out'". South China Morning Post. 29 November 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 17 March 2013. (subscription required)

External links[edit]

22°17′14″N 113°56′08″E / 22.287314°N 113.935478°E / 22.287314; 113.935478