RAF Ping Shan Radar Unit Yuen Long

Mon, 09/22/2014 - 21:49

This image shows a pagoda on the right which is probably the one that exists today. Also the shape of the distant hills should give clues to the exact location. From other pictures, the radar equipment was on wheels which suggests that there may have been some limited mobility as to their exact location. IDJ

Date picture taken
6 Jun 1955
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Hi there,

That pagonda Tsui Sing Lau (聚星樓) is in modern day Tin Shui Wai.  Look's like the previous district marking is sort of different.  That would put the radar station very close to castle peak road.  Would that actually be sort of a mobile unit?

Best Regards,

T

Hi there,

I have been to Tsui Sing Lau yesterday, and a few other monuments along the Ping Shan Heritage Trail. 

The location would have been a lot taken from the local villagers, possibly from the Tang Clan with some compensation of sort.  Back then you couldn't avoid consulting the clans.

There is a 'Ping Pak Lane Park' located right next to the Tong Fong Light Rail Station, which is on Castle Peak road, Yuen Long section.  I would suggest this is a highly likely location of the rada unit.

Unfortunately I did not go to this park yesterday or I might have been able to verify the some of line of site toward Tsui Sing Lau.

BTW, while at Tsui Sing Lau one of my companions pointed me to a plage, which says the pagonda used to have seven levels.  Somehow the upper levels had been destroyed by a typhoon and the Tang Clan did not elect to rebuilt.  That was why the top look a bit strange as usually the tip of pagondas are usually more like an arrow head.  But this one is sort of flat.

You may go into the ground level of the pagonda, which is actually a shrine.  But visitors could no longer go to the upper levels. 

Tsui Sing Lau is right besides the Exit A of the Tin Shui Wai West Rail Station.

Best Regards,

T

 

The radar was a Type 15 mobile radar and was a pre-cursor to the radar we built on Mt. Davis in 1956. I along with others was posted there when I first got to HK and then moved to Mt. Davis for the rest of my 2 year posting. It was there that I was first introduced to the delights of curries! I also remember at the end of a day's work going into the SNCO's mess via the kitchen and asking the duty chinese cook for tea and toast, I think that the expression we used was 'yup poi char' which he understood and the welcome cupp arrived quickly.