Pillboxes in Hong Kong

Submitted by David on Thu, 05/14/2009 - 08:09

As the map below shows, pillboxes were built in many places around Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories. (The map below is 'live': you can drag it around with your mouse, click the +/- buttons to zoom in and out, and click the Map/ Satellite/ Hybrid buttons to change the appearance of the map.)

For more information about a pillbox, either click its marker on the map, or click its name in the list below. Your are welcome to add another place - just remember to give it the tag pillbox so that it shows up on the list and map below.

Place name Sort descending Author
Japanese (?) Pillbox in HK Park [????- ] Rusty
Japanese Pillbox at Diamond Hill [????- ] David
Japanese Pillbox at Pak Fu Shan [????- ] David
Japanese Pillboxes at Luk Keng [????- ] Rusty
Kennedy Town PB 1, Kennedy Town [1940- ] Anonymous
Kennedy Town PB 2, Kennedy Town [1940- ] Rob
Kennedy Town PB 3, Kennedy Town [1940- ] Rob
Lei Mun Gap PB, Sai Wan [1940-????] Rob
Line-of-Gaps / Kennedy Town PB 4 / LPB 19, Kennedy Town [c.1941-????] Rob
Mystery fort and mini tunnel [????- ] H Lo
Pillbox 001, Sha Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 002, Pok Fu Lam [1939-????] Admin
Pillbox 003, Kong Sin Wan / Telegraph Bay [1939-????] Admin
Pillbox 004, Kong Sin Wan / Telegraph Bay / Cyberport [1939-????] Admin
Pillbox 005, Kong Sin Wan / Telegraph Bay [1939-????] David
Pillbox 006, Pok Po Wan / Waterfall Bay [1939- ] David
Pillbox 007, Kai Lung Wan / Kellett Bay [1939-????] David
Pillbox 008, Aberdeen Praya [1939-????] David
Pillbox 009, Aberdeen Praya [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 010, Ap Lei Chau [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 011, Ap Lei Chau [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 012, Po Chong Wan [1939-????] Anonymous
Pillbox 013, Tai Shue Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 014, Brick Hill / Deep Water bay [1939- ] David
Pillbox 015, Deep Water Bay [1939-????] Admin
Pillbox 016, opposite Middle Island [1939-????] Rusty
Pillbox 017, Repulse Bay [1939- ] Rusty
Pillbox 017a, Repulse Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 018, Repulse Bay [1939-????] David
Pillbox 019, Middle Bay [1939-????] Anonymous
Pillbox 020, South Bay Beach [1939- ] David
Pillbox 021, West Bay / Chung Hom Kok Beach [1939- ] Admin
Pillbox 022, Stanley Bay [1939- ] David
Pillbox 023, Stanley Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 023a, Stanley [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 024, St Stephen's Beach [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 025, Wong Ma Kok [1939- ] Rob
Pillbox 026, Tweed Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 027, Tung Tau Wan [1939- ] Rob
Pillbox 028, Stanley Main Beach [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 029, Tai Tam Bay near American Club [1939- ] Craig
Pillbox 030, Turtle Cove [1939- ] David
Pillbox 031, Tung Ah Tsuen [1939- ] Craig
Pillbox 032, Tung Ah Pui Tsuen [1939- ] Rob
Pillbox 033, To Tei Wan [1939- ] Rob
Pillbox 033a, Cape D'Aguilar [1939- ] Lawrence L
Pillbox 034, Shek O Beach [1939- ] Rob
Pillbox 035, Rocky Bay Beach [1939- ] Craig
Pillbox 036, Big Wave Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 037, Siu Sai Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 038, Chai Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 038a, Chai Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 039, Pak Sha Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 040, Shau Ki Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 041, Shau Ki Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 042,Sai Wan Ho [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 043, Sai Wan Ho [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 044, Quarry Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 045 [1939-????] David
Pillbox 046, Quarry Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 047, North point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 048, North Point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 049, North Point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 050, North Point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 051, North Point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 051a, North Point [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 052, Causeway Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 053, Causeway Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 054, Causeway Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 055, Causeway Bay [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 056, Wan Chai [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 057, Wanchai (Hennessy Rd / Johnston Rd / Stewart Rd) [1939-????] David
Pillbox 057a, Wan Chai [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 058, Wan Chai [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 058a, Junction of Queen's Rd E., Hennessy Rd., Queensway [1941-????] David
Pillbox 059, Central [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 060, Central (VRC Steps) [1939-????] David
Pillbox 061, Central (near No 8 Des Voeux Road) [1939-????] David
Pillbox 062, Central (Connaught Road near GPO) [1939-????] David
Pillbox 063, Central (Old Vehicular Ferry Pier) [1939-????] David
Pillbox 064, Sheung Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 065, Sheung Wan [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 066, Sai Ying Pun [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 067, Sai Ying Pun [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 068, Shek Tong Tsui [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 069, Kennedy Town [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 070, Kennedy Town [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 071, Kennedy Town [1939-????] Rob
Pillbox 072 [1939-????] David
Pillbox 100, Hang Hau [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 101, Silverstrand Beach [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 102, A Kung Wan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 103, Razor Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 104 a/b, Razor Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 105 a/b, Razor Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 106, Chuk Kok [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 107, Pak Shui Wun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 108, Campers Beach [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 109, Cheung Kung Shan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 110 a/b, Ta Ku Ling San Tsuen [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 111, Hebe Knoll [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 112, Hebe Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 113, Hebe Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 114, Hebe Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 115, Pik Uk Au [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 116, Sam Long [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 117, Sam Long [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 118, Lung Wo Tsuen [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 119, Customs Pass [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 120, Pak Fa Lam [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 121, Lower Hebe Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 122, Kau Tsin Uk [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 123, Tung Yeung Shan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 124, Tung Yeung Shan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 125, Tung Yeung Shan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 126, Tung Yeung Shan [1937- ] David
Pillbox 200 a/b, Mau Tso Ngam [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 201 a/b, Tung Yeung Shan [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 202, Grasscutter Pass [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 203 a/b, Dome Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 204 a/b, Tso Tui Ha [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 205, To Shek [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 206, Shui Chuen O [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 207, Shui Chuen O [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 208, Fui Yiu Ha [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 209, To Shek [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 210, Wong Uk. [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 211, Wong Uk. [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 212, Shatin [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 213, Shatin [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 214, Shui Chuen O [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 215, Shap Yi Wat [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 216, Shatin Pass [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 217, Shatin Catchwater [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 218, Shatin Catchwater [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 219, Unicorn Ridge [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 220, Unicorn Ridge [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 221, Railway Pass [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 222, Beacon Hill [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 300, Che Kung Miu [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 301, Che Kung Temple MTR [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 302, Mong Fu Shek [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 303, Tai Wai [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 304, Tai Wai [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 305, Tai Wai [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 306, Shatin Heights [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 307, Tai Wai San Tsuen [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 308, Lower Shing Mun Reservoir [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 309, Lower Shing Mun Reservoir [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 310, Shatin Heights [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 311, Lower Shing Mun Reservoir [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 312, Lower Shing Mun Reservoir [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 313, Golden Hill Road [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 314 Entrance Tunnel [c.1937- ] HighlandPaddyHK
Pillbox 314, Golden Hill Road [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 315, Kowloon Byewash Reservoir [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 400, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 401a/b, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 402, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 403, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 404, Chung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 405, Chung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 406, Chung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 407, Chung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 408, Chung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 411a/b, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 412, Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 413, Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 415, Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 416, Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 417, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 418a/b, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 419, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 420, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 421, Sheung Kwai Chung [1937-????] Rob
Pillbox 425, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox 426, Shing Mun [1937- ] Rob
Pillbox at the Peak [????-????] David
Pillbox besides main dam of Upper Aberdeen Reservoir [1940- ] tngan
Pillbox in the Aberdeen Reservoir area [1940- ] tngan
Pillbox near Wanchai Gap [1940- ] David
Pok Fu Lam PB, Pok Fu Lam Reservoir [1940- ] Rob
Shan Tsui Battery [1945- ] Tymon Mellor
Stone Hill PB 1, Stone Hill [1940- ] Rob
Stone Hill PB 2, Stone Hill [1940- ] Rob
Tai Tam Gap PB 1, Tai Tam Gap [1940- ] Rob
Tai Tam Gap PB 2, Tai Tam Gap [1940- ] Rob
the ridge repulse bay road pill box [1938-1974] gary john liddell
Windy Gap PB 1, Cape D'Aguilar [1940-1997] Rob
Windy Gap PB 2, Cape D'Aguilar [1940-????] Rob
Wong Nai Chong Gap PB 3, Wong Nai Chong Gap [1940- ] David
Wong Nei Chong Gap PB 1, Wong Nei Chong Gap [1940- ] Rob
Wong Nei Chong Gap PB 2, Wong Nei Chong Gap [1940- ] Rob

Comments

The captioned article can be viewed online from the Public Library. It tells of the failure of the German pillbox system on the battlefields in WWI from a British perspective.

On the subject of pillboxes. I have lost the reference but I did read from the newpapers from the 1920s  that the earliest pillboxes in Hong Kong were built in the NT, one on the Lo Wu side of the border, another on the Fanling to Sha Tau Kok Rd and last one in Sha Tau Kok Village.

1928 PWD Report confirms the newspaper article

At the request of the Military Authorities, the following pillboxes were erected:

a) a large pillbox near the Shum Chun River at Lo Wu halt;

b) two small pillboxes at Sha Tau Kok Police Station and

c) a large pillbox at the terminus of the road at Sha Tau Kok

The structures were completed in August 1928 and handed over to the Military Authorities.

Thanks Moddsey. I wonder if there are any photos of them remaining? I guess even if there are, there's a good chance whoever owns them won't realise what they are!

Regards, David

HK Sunday Herald 23 February 1947

Another reminder of the war years will shortly disappear, the many pill-boxes which stand in various parts of the town. Yesterday's Government Gazette contained a notice for tenders for the demolition of 28 pill-boxes and similar structures at various sites on the island.

Much of the information on the map of pillboxes shown above comes from Rob Weir.

Rob has an article in the latest issue of The HKIS journal: Surveying & Built Environment, Volume 30, describing how he learned about Hong Kong's pillboxes. He takes us back to his first discoveries, when he knew little to nothing about Hong Kong's military defences, and how he pieced together his discoveries over time. A lot of the research was done on the ground, sometimes literally!

On one occasion the ground slipped away underneath me, and I started an uncontrolled slide into a valley. Fortunately, I ended up entangled in a bush which stopped my progress. It gave me a fright, and I was yelling at myself for being so careless when I noticed Tito, the Labrador, sitting watching me. I am certain to this day that he was slowly shaking his head.

You can download a copy of the journal from www.hkis.org.hk/archive/materials/category/HKIS_SBE_Vol30_website.pdf, and you'll find Rob's article from page 107 onwards.

For reference, the following information is extracted from the 1937 Annual Report of the Public Works Department:

Item 221 - Construction of Pillboxes and Tunnels at Sites No. 53, 54 and 65 was completed on 20 September.

 

 

I'm currently working on a project for school (FIS) which revolves around the military/colonial heritage in Hong Kong; I saw some photos on the forum of how pillboxes are treated in Singapore, and I wondered is there is a chance of doing something similar in Hong Kong?

For now I have only been around pillboxes that still exist and taken some photos, to see which ones are in good condition...

I don't think our pillboxes need a Singapore-style paint job, but it would be great to have noticeboards near to the pillboxes that are easily seen by the public, explaining what is their significance.

For reference. An account here by Benjamin Proulx of the blowing-up of a beach pillbox on 22 December 1941. Exact beach location not mentioned. Proulx and his group were making their way from the Repulse Bay Hotel to Fort Stanley in darkness in the early hours of the morning.