Hong Kong Observatory Signal Tower - Kowloon Hospital [????- ]

Submitted by Herman Chan on Fri, 02/26/2021 - 20:01
Current condition
Ruin

There is a tower-like structure with a pole near north-west corner of Kowloon Hospital in one of the old aerial photos. While browsing the 2021 Geoinfo Map, the location is named "Hong Kong Observatory Signal Tower". 

Looking into a few old aerial photos dated in ~1947, 1949 and 1969, there was a similar structure at the same location.

In an old "Storm and Strong Monsoon Signal Station" leaflet, there appeared one station located at Kowloon Hospital as well.

Is there any similar signal station still in the territory? preWWII or postWWII?

Geoinfo Map of Hong Kong Observatory Signal Tower

Hong Kong Observatory Signal Tower ( https://www.map.gov.hk/gm/s/B/1108230773 )

File2302.jpg, by Jim Watkins (https://gwulo.com/atom/20993)

File2302.jpg

The building circled in red is the Block M of Kowloon Hospital. The Signal station is located at the NW of this building, a white structure (zoom view), at the upper edge of the aerial photo. Source : Heritage Impact Assessment on Block M at the Kowloon Hospital (Survey and Mapping Office,1949)

Kowloon Hospital aerial photo 1949

The signal station is a small structure near the northwest corner of Kowloon Hospital. The Red circle is the new west wing under construction. ( Source: Heritage Impact Assessment on Block M at the Kowloon Hospital )

Kowloon aerial photo 1969 (Survey and Mapping Office)

HK Observatory Signal Station - Kowloon Hospital, by Herman (2021)

HK Observatory Signal Station - Kowloon Hospital

 

HK Observatory Signal Station (2)
HK Observatory Signal Station, by Herman (2021)

 

HK Observatory Signal Station (pole)
HK Observatory Signal Station (pole), by Herman (2021)

 

Storm Warning Signal Card b.
Storm Warning Signal Card b., by Andrew Suddaby

Comments

Saw through the high fence and noticed there's something like an Inland Lot stone at the bottom left of the photo ... The GeoInfo Map shows that this site is GLA-K 118.

 

IMG_20210302_SignalTwr_Stone.jpg
IMG_20210302_SignalTwr_Stone.jpg, by H.Lo

A closer look of the vertical pipes, the tower and ?collapsed ceiling of the underground section. To my surprise, there is a small 'K.I.L.2516' lot stone a few meters over the NW corner of the tower.

Vertical pipes
Vertical pipes, by Herman Chan

 

Observatory Tower (west side)
Observatory Tower (west side), by Herman Chan

 

Ceiling of tower base from the SW corner
Ceiling of tower base from the SW corner, by Herman Chan

 

Lot Stone near NW corner of the Tower
K.I.L.2516 Lot Stone near NW corner of the Tower, by Herman Chan

This is likely a concrete base, could be the base of an old fence or stand of the observatory signal tower. Rusted angle metal bar remnant can be seen on the top and there are metal rings on the side of the base. Similar structure can be seen on the other side of the tower.

Concrete base (top view)
Concrete base (top view), by Herman Chan

 

Concrete base (west view)
Concrete base (west view), by Herman Chan

 

Concrete base (North view)
Concrete base (North view), by Herman Chan

 

Concrete base (East view)
Concrete base (East view), by Herman Chan

 

Concrete base (South view)
 Concrete base (South view), by Herman  
Concret base with a yellow leave on top as marker
Concret base with a yellow leave on top as marker, by Herman

 

Signal Tower view from outside the fence
Signal Tower view from outside the fence, by Herman

There was a typhoon signal post there until around 1980 or so. I lived at the Kowloon Hospital lodge (my father was a senior medical officer there) from 1970 to 1980.. I could see the signal lights of that pole whenever there a typhoon signals or strong wind signal. They have the physical signal also. I roam Kowloon Hospital as it is my backyard. That place has changed a lot since my father retired from govt and started his own practice around 1980. 

The lodge we lived isn't there yet in the 1969 picture. It is just to the east of that building at the top of the hill. I can see the tennis court and the nursing quarters which is just north of the lodge.