Hok Tsui Watchtower [????- ]

That is the Hok Tsui Village Watchtower. One can read more about Cape D'Aguilar here

Copied from https://www.aab.gov.hk/historicbuilding/en/495_Appraisal_En.pdf

Historic Building Appraisal
Watchtower
Hok Tsui Village, Hok Tsui Peninsula, Hong Kong Island

Historical Interest

The watchtower in Hok Tsui (鶴咀) village of Hok Tsui Peninsula (鶴咀半 島) was built in the 19th century by Chu Koey-yuen (朱居元), a Hakka (客家人) from Changle (長樂) of Guangdong (廣東) province who moved to Hong Kong with his wife and eight children in 1762. He erected his village in 1771 after gaining his fortune in granite business in Shek Tong Tsui (石塘咀) for export to neighbouring cities in the mainland. Pirates, wild animals and other dangers were active at the time which he decided to build a watchtower to safe-guard his 
family and valuables. When Hong Kong became a colony after 1841, the village began to gain its security. The watchtower has lost its protective function.

Architectural Merit

The watchtower is some 9 metres tall with a square base of around 5 metres constructed of granite blocks. It is a pillbox-type structure located amidst the village houses to the north for lookout, defence and storage. It has 30 rows of ashlar masonry of granite with no particular pattern of bonding. Internally it has three storeys. It is in symmetrical design having its four sides almost identical. The west and east facades have gable-shaped parapets whilst its south and north facades have flat-topped ones. A horizontal beam is constructed surrounding the facades for rainwater drainage. Gun holes for firing to the enemies are made at the walls of the tower. The flights of staircases were made with stone and cement. Its floorings were made of steel rod and cement and its internal walls are plastered white. Gun holes are on each elevation of the parapet wall of the roof terrace. Its lower storey was for the shelter of family members and their valuables. A narrow door was opened on its western elevation with thick granite door frame.

Rarity

A rare granite watchtower to witness the past of Hok Tsui village.

Built Heritage Value

It is a special watchtower of high built heritage value.

Authenticity

It is of good shape though its interior is not kept tidy.

Adaptive re-use

The tower is being used as a workshop and a residence.

Social Value, & Local Interest

The watchtower had once served as a classroom for a nearby primary school. When Cape D’aguilar Road was constructed to the tip of the peninsula, land was acquired from the Chus by the government in 1933. Factories were set up in the 1960s in the village. The number of population dropped after the industrial boom. Most of the Hakka houses of the village have been demolished leaving around 70 houses in the village.