When the Hong Kong Government surveyors arrived at Fan Lau in 1904 after the New Territories were ceded to Britain, they found the fort still abandoned. In the Block Crown Lease Survey, it is described as "old fort, ruins, waste".16 It had probably not been re-occupied since the early part of the 19th century. It can now be argued that the Kai Yik Kok fort is a Ming dynasty fort built sometime before 1573, possibly abandoned, but rebuilt again in 1730, captured by pirates and re-taken by government forces sometime between 1810 and 1815, and then refurbished, refortified, and garrisoned until some time before 1841-42, by which time it was already again abandoned.
Source Fan Lau and its fort: An Historical Perspective. Armando M Da Silva RASHK Vol 8 (1968) p. 82
"According to the Macau Gazetteer, the fort can be dated reliably to the 7th year of Yong Zheng (1729), when it was recorded that two military forts were constructed on Lantau. [...] Fan Lau Fort was under the command of the Right Wing of the Da Peng Battalion, which was responsible for garrisoning much of southern Guangdong. It was believed to have been built with twenty guardhouses and was originally armed with eight cannon. During the reign of Jia Qing (1796-1821), the fort was guarded by forty-eight soldiers under one lieutenant. However, the number of soldiers was eventually reduced to thirty. [...] Rectangular in shape, the fort measures 21 by 46 metres. Its walls are built of semi-dressed stone (local porphyritic granite) and green bricks." [more details follow regarding the possible occupation of the fort by pirates, and soldiers' donations to the nearby Tin Hau temple for renovations]
The fort was declared a monument in 1981 and underwent minor restoration works in early 1985, followed by major restoration works in 1990.
Source: Antiquities and Monuments Office, "The Heritage of Hong Kong" (1992) at p41.
Fan Lau Fort 分流炮台 is located on a 70-meter high ground on the Fan Lau Peninsula at the southwest end of Lantau Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong, covering an area of approximately 966 square meters.
Some scholars believe that the fort was first built in the Ming Dynasty to defend against pirates, while others believe that it was built in 1729 the 雍正 Qing Dynasty to combat opium smuggling merchants.
In any case, this fort has been confirmed to be the earliest fort built in Hong Kong. The battery was once occupied by pirates and was operational again after the pirates surrendered.
It is generally estimated that the fort began to fall into disuse after the New Territories were leased to the British in 1898. The Hong Kong government declared the Fort a declared monument in 1981 and launched a total of two phases of restoration work.
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Article on Fort history:
Article on Fort history:
When the Hong Kong Government surveyors arrived at Fan Lau in 1904 after the New Territories were ceded to Britain, they found the fort still abandoned. In the Block Crown Lease Survey, it is described as "old fort, ruins, waste".16 It had probably not been re-occupied since the early part of the 19th century. It can now be argued that the Kai Yik Kok fort is a Ming dynasty fort built sometime before 1573, possibly abandoned, but rebuilt again in 1730, captured by pirates and re-taken by government forces sometime between 1810 and 1815, and then refurbished, refortified, and garrisoned until some time before 1841-42, by which time it was already again abandoned.
Source Fan Lau and its fort: An Historical Perspective. Armando M Da Silva RASHK Vol 8 (1968) p. 82
"According to the Macau…
"According to the Macau Gazetteer, the fort can be dated reliably to the 7th year of Yong Zheng (1729), when it was recorded that two military forts were constructed on Lantau. [...] Fan Lau Fort was under the command of the Right Wing of the Da Peng Battalion, which was responsible for garrisoning much of southern Guangdong. It was believed to have been built with twenty guardhouses and was originally armed with eight cannon. During the reign of Jia Qing (1796-1821), the fort was guarded by forty-eight soldiers under one lieutenant. However, the number of soldiers was eventually reduced to thirty. [...] Rectangular in shape, the fort measures 21 by 46 metres. Its walls are built of semi-dressed stone (local porphyritic granite) and green bricks." [more details follow regarding the possible occupation of the fort by pirates, and soldiers' donations to the nearby Tin Hau temple for renovations]
The fort was declared a monument in 1981 and underwent minor restoration works in early 1985, followed by major restoration works in 1990.
Source: Antiquities and Monuments Office, "The Heritage of Hong Kong" (1992) at p41.
Fan Lau Fort 分流炮台 1729
Fan Lau Fort 分流炮台 is located on a 70-meter high ground on the Fan Lau Peninsula at the southwest end of Lantau Island in the New Territories of Hong Kong, covering an area of approximately 966 square meters.
Some scholars believe that the fort was first built in the Ming Dynasty to defend against pirates, while others believe that it was built in 1729 the 雍正 Qing Dynasty to combat opium smuggling merchants.
In any case, this fort has been confirmed to be the earliest fort built in Hong Kong. The battery was once occupied by pirates and was operational again after the pirates surrendered.
It is generally estimated that the fort began to fall into disuse after the New Territories were leased to the British in 1898. The Hong Kong government declared the Fort a declared monument in 1981 and launched a total of two phases of restoration work.