Waglan Lighthouse was originally constructed by a Paris company for the Chinese Customs Light Department of the Imperial Maritime Customs in 1893, it started to operate on the 9th May in the same year. It was run by the Chinese Maritime Customs from Shanghai. Following the lease of the New Territories by Britain, in 1898 it was transferred to the administration and control of Hong Kong Government on the 1st January 1901.
The cast iron tower was recorded as being "52 feet high in the shape of a cone. It was painted white with a red upper portion. During the Second World Bar Waglan Lighthouse was badly damaged by bombing. Repairs took place after 1945".
In a 2002 a lecture by Fr. Louis Ha to the members of the HK Royal Asiatic Society, Fr.Louis Ha also noted that "in 1929 the steamship SS Hsin Wah ran aground on the Northern rocks during stormy weather, it was eventually freed but about an hour later the SS Hsin Wah sank in deep waters, taking 340 lives down with her. Just one lifeboat was launched in time, but it capsized in the heavy seas".
There were rumors of ghosts of the SS Hsin Wah reputed to haunt Waglan Island however there was another deadly incident which was belonged to two Japanese soldiers stationed on the island during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong whom were killed by American bombing during the liberation of Hong Kong. One was reportedly buried under the floor of of the recreation room which was built later A Marine Department official was quoted as saying "Its no wonder keepers saw ghosts on Waglan, cut off from their families as they were. It was a psychological thing".
Fr.Louis Ha also noted "Waglan originally had no wells or springs. Keepers depended on rainfall for their water supply. Catchment areas consisted of roofs of a clutch of small, mostly single storey buildings and quarters, as well as paved areas which drained into channels and gullies, these led into storage tanks. During dry period water would be brought by tankers".
The last lighthouse keeper in Hong Kong left Waglan Island behind on a cold November day in 1989. Since then, all of the territories lights have been automated. The old weather recording station and small store where equipment was housed were still there when members of HKBRAS visited the island back in 1999, although no longer used.