From Declared Monuments in Hong Kong - Outlying Islands
Situated on Tang Lung Chau (originally known as Kap Sing Island), a small island to the west of Hong Kong and south of Ma Wan in Kap Shui Mun, Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse is one of the few surviving pre-war lighthouses in Hong Kong.
Also commonly known as Kap Sing Lighthouse, Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse came into service in 1912. Standing 11.8 metres tall, it is a skeletal steel tower with a white lantern on top, both of which were obtained from England. The adjoining brick keeper’s house has a bedroom, kitchen, toilet and storeroom. With no fresh water supply on the island, rainwater was collected from the roof and diverted into an underground tank. Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse has served thousands of vessels approaching Hong Kong from the west since the early 20th century. Managed by the Marine Department, the lighthouse is now automated and unmanned.
Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse was declared a monument in 2000.
Comments
Kap Sing Lighthouse Keeper
My grandfather, Tse Sam, stationed at Kap Sing Lighthouse before and after the Second World War. My father and his siblings grew up and lived there until 1960. He visited the lighthouse in 2022.
re: Kap Sing Lighthouse Keeper
I guess it was quite a remote place back then? How often would they be able to travel to Kowloon for supplies and school, say, and what was it like to live on the island?
re: Kap Sing Lighthouse Keeper
TLC/Kap Sing is a tiny island. My grandfather and his family lived there until 1960, life was tough and they frequenly found themselves running out of fresh water and had to get it and other supplies from the neighbouring Island of Ma Wan. The only mean to travel between the two islands was my grandfather's sampan (he couldn't swim, I still don't know how he managed rowing a sampan in Kap Shui Mun).
re: Kap Sing Lighthouse Keeper
Thanks again for these memories of very different times.