Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse [1912- ]

Submitted by Klaus on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 16:54
Current condition
In use
Date completed
(Day & Month are approximate.)

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.

Photos that show this Place

1963
1970s
1980

Comments

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. 

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?

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).