Essays on Hong Kong's military structures from the colonial era, by Davies, Lai, Tan, and Weir

Submitted by lawrencelai on Sun, 04/16/2023 - 16:19

This week's newsletter is a team-effort guest post. It introduces a bumper crop of essays about wartime Hong Kong and the military structures whose ruins can still be seen around the Hong Kong countryside.

  1. The Battle of Hong Kong: a Note on the Literature and Effectiveness of the Defence
    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]
    • Lai, L.W.C. (1999{2001})
    • Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 39, pp.115-136. [Publisher: Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; ISSN: 0085-5774]
       
  2. Survey of the Devil’s Peak Redoubt and Gough Battery
    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]
    • Lai, L.W.C., Ho. D.C.W., and Leung, H.F. (2003)
    • Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 42, pp. 101-137. [Publisher: Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; ISSN: 0085-5774] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  3. Survey of the Pottinger Battery

    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]

    • Lai, L.W.C., Ho, D.C.W. and Yung, P. (2007)
    • Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 47, pp. 91-114. [Publisher: Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; ISSN: 1991-7295]
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com:
  4. To Action on the Gin Drinker’s Line
    [Download PDF]
    • Lai, L.W.C., Tan, Y.K. and Davies, S.N.G. (2008)
    • British Archaeology, July/August, pp. 32-35.
       
  5. Recollections of the Battle of Hong Kong and Life of a POW by Mr. Arthur Ernesto Gomes, 5th Company (Machine Gun), HKDVC
    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]
    • Lai, L.W.C. (2008)
    • Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 48, pp.25-50. [Publisher: Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; ISSN: 1991-7295]
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  6. Small World War II Coastal Gun Casemates, Pillboxes, and Open Machine Gun Positions on Hong Kong Island in Photos
    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]
  7. The Gin Drinker’s Line: Reconstruction of a British Colonial Defence Line in Hong Kong Using Aerial Photo Information
    [View online via Emerald Insight]
    • Lai, L.W.C., Tan, Y.K., Davies, S.N.G., and Yung, P. (2009)
    • Property Management, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp.16-41.
       
  8. Upland World War II Headquarters, Pillboxes, and Observation Posts on Hong Kong Island in Photos
    [View online via JSTOR or in print at the HK Public Library]
  9. Decoding the Enigma of the Fall of the Shing Mun Redoubt Using Line of Sight Analysis
    [Download PDF]
    • Lai, L.W.C. Davies, S. N.G., Ching, K. S.T., Wong, C. T.C., (2011)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol.21, No.2, pp. 21-42. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554]
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com:
  10. Pillbox 3 Did Not Open Fire! Mapping the Arcs of Fire of Pillboxes at Jardine's Lookout and Wong Nai Chung Gap
    [Download PDF]
  11. Location of Pillboxes and Other Structures of the Gin Drinker’s Line Based on Aerial Photo Evidence
    [Download PDF]
  12. Pillbox above Shing Mun Road
    [Download PDF]
  13. Survey Findings on Japanese World War II Military Installations in Hong Kong
    [Download PDF]
  14. A Note on British Blockhouses in Hong Kong
    [Download PDF]
  15. Pillbox 315 on the Gin Drinker’s Line
    [Download PDF]
    • Lai. L.W.C., Tan. Y.K., Leung, G. and Ho. D. C.W. (2015)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol.23, No.1, pp. 56-74. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  16. Where is the Strand Palace Hotel
    [Download PDF]
    • Tan, Y.K. (2015)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 109-122. 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  17. Saiwan Redoubt Part I: A Unique, Intriguing but Neglected and Abused Example of Hong Kong’s Military Heritage
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Ching, S.T, and Lai, L.W.C. (2016)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 9-46. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  18. Saiwan Redoubt Part II: Hong Kong’s Oldest Property Boundary Marker Stone and Triangulation Station
    [Download PDF]
  19. Hong Kong Border Security Facilities 1950 - 1997
    [Download PDF]
  20. Company Headquarters along the Gin Drinker’s Line and Other Places in the New Territories
    [Download PDF]
    • Tan, Y.K. (2020)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 89-108.
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com:
  21. Battle for Mapping and Conserving Hong Kong’s World War II Military Built Heritage
    [Download PDF]
    • Lai, L.W.C. (2021)
    • Editorial, Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp.5-6. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
       
  22. Bokhara Battery and D’Aguilar Battery: Survey Findings
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Lai, L.W.C., Ho, D.C.W. and Tan, Y.K. (2021)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 86-106. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  23. Researching Hong Kong pillboxes: the hard way
    [Download PDF]
    • Weir, Robin. (2020)
    • Surveying & Built Environment, Vol. 30: pp.107-119 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  24. The Remains of “Not HMS Tamar”: Wrecks, Ruins, the Importance of Survey Data and the Tide of Ideological Correctness
    [Download PDF]
  25. Pillboxes on Luk Keng Knoll: Annotated Script for a Documentary on the Battle of Hong Kong
    [Download PDF]
    • Lai, L.W.C. and Davies, S.N.G. (2021)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Special Issue, pp.37-50. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  26. Artillery Observation Posts (AOPs/OPs) and Battery Observation Posts (BOPs) on the Hong Kong Territory Mainland
    [Download PDF]
  27. Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) Batteries
    [Download PDF]
    • Tan, Y.K. (2021b)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Special Issue, December 2021, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Hong Kong, pp. 78-85. 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com:
  28. Anti-aircraft Searchlights
    [Download PDF]
  29. Headquarters of the Gin Drinker’s Line and Mainland Defence
    [Download PDF]
    • Tan, Y.K. (2021d)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Special Issue, December 2021, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Hong Kong, pp. 111-129. 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  30. Pillboxes on Hong Kong Island in the Era of World War II
    [Download PDF]
  31. Pillboxes along the Gin Drinker’s Line: 80 Years after World War II
    [Download PDF]
    • Tan, Y.K., Davies, S.N.G. & Lai L.W.C. (2022)
    • Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Hong Kong. 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  32. Fixed Observation Posts on Hong Kong Island
    [Download PDF]
  33. Small Witnesses to Big Events: A Padlock Found in the Sing Mun Redoubt
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G. and Lai, L.W.C. (2022)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp.105-119. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  34. A New and Anomalous Observation Post above Shaukeiwan (Shau Ki Wan)
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Lai, L.W.C. and Tan, Y. K. (2022)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp.120-127. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
       
  35. A New, Possibly Japanese Observation Post/ Pillbox and Shelter in Hong Kong Park
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Lai, L.W.C. and Tan, Y. K. (2022)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp.128-137. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  36. Finding Pillbox 45: Destroyed during the Battle of Hong Kong, or Never there? Some Answers
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Ching, K. S. T. and Lai, L.W.C. (2022)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp.22-37. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554]
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  37. Supplement to Pillboxes on Hong Kong Island: Ruins of PB Kennedy Town Gap, PB21 and PB29
    [Download PDF]
  38. Japanese Occupation Period Military Structures near Hong Kong’s Northeastern Border: an Initial Survey
    [Download PDF]
    • Davies, S.N.G., Tan, Y.K. and Lai, L.W.C. (2022)
    • Surveying and Built Environment, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp.64-147. [Publisher: HKIS; ISSN: 1816-9554] 
    • Related pages on Gwulo.com: 
  39. Field Notes and Photos of Pillboxes on Hong Kong Island in the Era of World War II by Robin Weir
    [Download PDF]

Many thanks to the authors for all the work that went into preparing these essays, and for sharing their research with us:

  • Stephen N.S. Davies, Honorary/Adjunct Professor, Department of Real Estate & Construction, University of Hong Kong (Gwulo user id: stephenD)
  • Lawrence W.C. Lai, Professor/Honorary Professor, Department of Real Estate & Construction, University of Hong Kong (Gwulo user id: lawrencelai)
    F.R.I.C.S., F.H.K.I.S.,M.A.P.I.
  • Y.K. Tan, Teaching Assistant, Department of Real Estate & Construction, University of Hong Kong (Gwulo user id: GDL)
  • Robin Weir (Gwulo user id: Rob)