Shing Mun Redoubt
Shing Mun Redoubt
Shing Mun Country Park, New Territories
The battle for Hong Kong, of 18 days duration from 8 to 25 December 1941, was not of course confined to Hong Kong island. In fact, the first static line of defence constructed by the British military authorities was the Gin Drinkers Line; a 13 mile Maginot-type line of pillboxes, look-out positions and artillery observation posts which snaked through very difficult countryside north of Kowloon.
The lynch-pin of this position was the Shing Mun Redoubt, which comprised a number of pillboxes linked by an intricate tunnel network, together with the Command Post and the principal artillery observation post for the whole position. Woefully undermanned by far too few defenders for which it was established, the Redoubt fell to the invading Japanese army on the night of 9/10 December 1941, following which the defending British and Indian forces evacuated the mainland of Kowloon and the New Territories and retreated to Hong Kong island.
Although heavily overgrown, many of the military features of the Shing Mun Redoubt, overlooking the reservoir of the same name and located in what is now the scenic Shing Mun Country Park, can still be visited. Our expert military guide will take you on a tour of the area and describe in detail the events leading to the battle which occurred at that location, as well as the actual fighting which occurred on the night of 9 December 1941.
Summary
Cost: HKD500 per person, includes transport
Time: Total tour time 4 hours, walking time approx. 2 hours
Tour starts: 9.00am
Meeting point: Outside the General Post Office (beside the green stamp-vending machines), 2 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong Island
Walk grade: Easy
Terrain: Flat path and scrambling through tunnels
Facilities: Toilets along route
Note: Please note that our tours run on demand. You have to make a booking in order to participate.
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