Hi there,

I was totally unaware of the bat cave when I went down the steps from Jardine's Lookout.  Maybe it was in the shades, or it was already getting dark.  I walked pass the saddle between Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butlet at around 1730 hrs.

Best Regards,

T

Hi there,

The book mentioned might have been the one talking about WWII Military sites - New Territory chapter.   It's ISBN number is 978-988-210-639-0  The book was written by Mr Joe Yip, who seems to be working in the ambulance service for more than 14 years.

There is a Preface in English, and another short piece talking the Sai Wan Cemetary and Memorial and the Defence of Hong Kong.

The editorial team could be reached through    volunteer411225@yahoo.com.hk or edit@rightman.net 

Here is a link with a photo of the cover of the book.   It's the one in the lower left of the photo.

Best Regards,

T 

Dear Mr B,

I have that book.  It's title emphasis on WWII wartime relics.  The book was primarily printed in Chinese, with an extra English Preface, and the two pieces I mentioned above.

It basically covers the whole Gin Drinker's Line from west to east,  the Shing Mun Redoubt et al together with the various long and short popular hiking routes in Northern Kowloon and the New Territories.  The editorial team has quite a lot of advisors and Tim Ko was amon them.  The book has a war time map showin the defence lines and location, with information of various batteries around the harbour.  Despite the abundant of photos, the disadvange of the maps and photos is that they are always too small for a pleasant reading.

They have also covered British and Japanese uniform, with information of small arms & guns.  I have only browsed through it a few times.  Not exactly reading thoroughly, I'm afraid.

My 2 cents,

T

Hi there,

I was wondering if you were talking about the one along Aberdeen Reservoir Road........  If so, it would be this:

Photo 1:  see the big rock in the middle

Photo 2: Closing in

Photo 3:  A little bit closer

Photo 4:  Almost on top of it. 

I don't actually know what it is when I first discovered it.  I suspect it might have something to do with the apartment tower above...... but I guess the Government files in Homantin might have information about this one.

T

Craig - I always enjoy reading your posts, as I have to admit I also enjoy ferretting about in the country parks looking for holes! (Another Nutter!)

Thought you might be interested in an unusual tunnel I found today.

I was checking out a Pill Box on Sir Cecil's Ride near Braemar Hill. There's a picture of it on Google Earth. I don't know how old that pic is: you can clearly see Mount Parker in the background. Today the pill box is surrounded by trees... anyway...

About one third of the concrete floor is missing inside the box. (The box itself has major structural damage.) Here's the unusual bit. The earth has been dug out where the concrete floor is gone. When I climbed into the hole I could see a very small tunnel leading off to the South. It's just enough room to crawl on your elbows... and it looks like it goes about 4 or 5 metre and possibly turns left... or maybe just stops. I certainly wasn't going to crawl in there to find out!

I'll try to attach some pictures I took with my phone. This is my first post to Batgung... so I may not get the technology right!

Thanks MrB. There is something very beguiling about HK's history.

I too would like join one of Martin Heyes's walks. Please do give details.

I just attended one of Jason Wordie's battlefield tours, which was fascinating. As well as an overview of the battle, Jason gives particular emphasis to personal stories which he has gathered from eye witnesses.

HW

Craig

 Thanks for the lead on Martin Heyes. Will follow him up in the new year.

The only metal dector I've seen in HK was a wonderful Chinese PLA mine-detecting contraption on sale years ago in Shamshuipo - at a gweilo asking price of $3000. Bargain! (More of a collector's item than a useful tool.) I'd try online.

 Happy hunting. Merry Christmas.

HillWalker

Here are a couple of photo’s of the Japanese Tunnels I stumbled across up at Luk Keng. It is blocked off, but I didn’t have time to investigate further. It looks like it could have been a big one, so I’m guessing that there must be other entrances close by.

Tngan, The photo's you took along Aberdeen Reservoir are about 10m away, just around the corner, from the tunnel I found.

All this talk of Japanese tunnels has me thinking that there must be many more that haven't quite made it into the public domain yet. Aside from the ones at Luk Keng, I wonder how many more have been dug into the hillsides of the New Territories.

The reason I mention this is because I was in Palau a while ago. This place was a Japanese base during the war - and subsequently got bombed to smithereens by the US in Operation Desecrate 1. The place is literally littered with WW2 relics (armoury, AA guns, machine guns, cannons, sunken planes and ships etc) that were just left in situ, and have remained so for the past 60 years.

Most interesting was the proliferation of tunnels dug into the hillsides. Some in quite obvious places. Not all of them as well engineered as some of the HK examples but the sheer number of them is amazing.

So I wonder why Palau has so many and yet Hong Kong seems to have very few? Is it because rampant development has erased a lot of them, as the original post mentions, or just that they are in places where people rarely go. Perhaps HK was never seen, by the Japanese, as a place where tunnels like the ones in Palau would be needed?

Can any one help an ignoramous? I would have thought with all this hiking in HK most would have been found by now. Do the local Chinese books have more information about them?

Hi Philk

That's interesting to hear about the war detritus at Palau.

Re HK, I know there are more tunnels waiting to be discovered. Note how MrB marked four tunnels when he initiated the Japanese Tunnel map in July 2008. Now there are 12 markers.

I suspect after the British marched back into HK in 1945 they spent the next few months uncovering the tunnels and ensuring there were no surprises inside. Afterwhich, I am sure they were blocked up and forgotten. I wonder if the tunnels' locations were ever mapped accurately for future reference.

cheers

HillWalker

I'm sure there were hundreds of them all over the place. 

We have managed to uncover quite a few, mainly on HK island. Half of which seem to be blocked. I'm guessing that the N.T. must be littered with them.

I bought a book called "A travel of HK Mainland Defence Ruins WWII" which seem to be the best local one that I've seen.  It shows nearly all of the ruins from Shing Mun to Devil's peak with loads of other stuff in Sai Kung. It also show a number of Japanese tunnels in the area, None of which I've been to... yet. However it is in Chinese and I need to ask someone at work for a bit of help. It does look like it has some onfo too on these tunnels, I'll get on the case tomorrow and let you know.

Craig, do you have the Chinese characters, or a screen shot of the book? Sounds like it might be the sort of thing I am after.Sai Kung sounds like an ideal place for it - many of the mountains overlooking Port Shelter.

Hillwalker, here is a link to some of the photos I took when I was in Palau: Palau War Relics. I think it must be too expensive to get this stuff cleared and now is just part of the landscape.

 Regards

 Phil

Hi Phil

Fantastic pictures. Thanks for sharing those. Amazing to think those old war relics are just rusting away.

Jason Wordie/ Ko Tim Keung's book is a great road map for finding current day WWII war relics in HK. Unfortunately it's out of print, but you might find it online.

cheers

HillWalker

Ruins of War:
A Guide to Hong Kong's Battlefields and Wartime Sites

by Jason Wordie, Ko Tim Keung

ISBN 9620413725 / 9789620413728 / 962-04-1372-5

Philk: Tngan has kindly placed some information on the book.

"Hi there,

The book mentioned might have been the one talking about WWII Military sites - New Territory chapter.   It's ISBN number is 978-988-210-639-0  The book was written by Mr Joe Yip, who seems to be working in the ambulance service for more than 14 years.

There is a Preface in English, and another short piece talking the Sai Wan Cemetary and Memorial and the Defence of Hong Kong.

The editorial team could be reached through    volunteer411225@yahoo.com.hk or edit@rightman.net "

Thanks Craig

Yes, I remember T mentioning this one before, I think I may have seen it for sale in some of the larger Circle-K stores.

Cheers

Phil

Philk, I purchased my book from Commercial Press Bookshop in Causeway bay. It is located on the junction of Hennessey rd / Sugar St. Near Victoria Park. 1^st Floor, up the stairs first bookshelf on your right.

okay, I bought one this morning from my local Circle-K. A nice surprise is that it is being sold at a 15% discount (has a sticker on it saying 85折).

Looks pretty comprehensive inside, just a shame there isn't a bi-lingual version so I will have to rely on the missus and my trusty Besta translator :-)

Actually this book could be another batgung project. There are so many walks in here that need to be turned into something for English speakers. It could keep everyone busy for a while. There are quite a few out near me as well.

Maybe we could even start a regular Batgung walk and cover one or two a month (once MrB's hip is recovered anyway) :-) 

I must admit I am impressed by the depth of information here (even though it is in Chinese). The first section alone has four routes covering all of Shing Mun and Golden Hill (with maps of course). Each point of interest is marked with a number and corresponds to a photo later in the section. Plus there is a load of historical information about what occurred where/when and what sort of stuff can still be found. He has even included a topographical profile map of each walk so you can see what level of steepness/height you are walking over (must have used an altitude gauge - the information is a lot like the depth/time profile that my trusty suunto dive computer gives me). Maybe T could confirm the exact content but it looks as though each walk deal with a different subject, so there are routes that are specifally looking at Japanese relics, and graphs showing what can still be found (with reference to old war time and pre-war maps).

I will try and work out the best way to approach this, but the wealth of information contained in this little book is quite staggering, it has obviously been well reasearched and  definitely deserves a much wider audience.

Sounds like fun, I'm game.

I want to go check out Devil's Peak again. On page 70 (route 8) of the Mainland Defence Ruins book, there show a large Japanese ARP that looks in good condition. I think it is down near the two gun  batteries closer to the shore. I think there may also be a tunnel along the Wilson trail right as you pass below the fort (Grid Ref# KK 161 679).   

I'm going to try and head out over the CNY. May even do the whole trail 8, its only 10km, I'll keep a photo log. 

 I also took my metel detector for a quick sweep along Wong Nai Chung trail yesterday , just along the path. I found my first relic (and lots of nails), a 8mm bullet head. I'm just cleaning it up and I'll take a snap. It was the very first thing I found when I started about 300m from the petrol station. I still need a bit more practice. I also pocketed $97 from Repulsebay beach in a couple of hrs one afternoon last week. I was the geeza with a bus load of mainlanders following, watching and laughing at me unearthing coke cans 6" down.

 Kung Hei Fat Choi. 

MrB,

Thanks for the leads about Devil's Peak, I'll take a trip out there in the next couple of days The North east face is a killer of a trail from memory, near vertical. Just my cuppa tea. I'll take a look.

Metal Detecting: I did put my found $97 to recycling, I dustested the coins-7-11 - Tsing Tao - Lovely, It's thirsty work. I kept the dug up rubbish too for the 120 year old lady that collects the cans and did my bit.

As for the Mainland Ruins Book, I think the best thing to do would be make a new forum with chapters 1-30 (one for each walk). Then we can add to them as we translate them.

I took another look around Mt Parker today in search for this elusive PB045, unfortunately I couldn’t find trace if it. However I did find a Japanese tunnel and it looks quite a large one. I was on my own and only had a little flash light so wasn’t able to check out the full way. I did have a quick look and it went at least 20m where it turns a corner, but it looks a larger entrance than most. I felt really warm air coming out of it, so perhaps it leads to other entrances? Someone had already broken the thin concrete seal and I didn’t fancy bumping into an II on my own…not tooled up anyway! There are also deep markings on the walls a you first go in, where I’m guessing the door would have fixed in.

As you walk up Mt Parker Rd the only junction you have leads down to the big Agricultural and forestry building. Right at that junction there is also a path called the Hong Pak Country Trail. Follow that for about 300m and it is down on your left.  

Doh! Well done Craig.

How shall I put this... I have it on good authority it wasn't an II who put their size 10 through the rotten boards blocking up the entrance. Hmm... (I like the way the timber has been given a thin coat of render to make it look like concrete.)

Here's an alternate shot of the entrance. And also the long gallery around the corner from the entrance.

Like you, I was on my own and didn't fancy getting lost in a place with no phone coverage!

HillWalker

Hillwalker, Sorry mate did I steal your thunder? I only found it on Sunday late afternoon. I was stuck with the missus shopping all morning but managed to cut loose and hit the hills in the afternoon (looking for sneaky PB45). You must have been there just before!.

Had I know that it is “thought to have only recently been opened by some heavy footed mountain stroller” I would have been more willing to go further. It’s the human element I’m concerned about, and maybe man killing snakes or really big spiders. Anyway I have convinced a mate to come with me tomorrow for a look inside, so naturally I’ll be exhibiting some heroic bravery in the face of the dark unknown. (I’ll pack a set of spare undies just in case).

If no one hears from me in a couple of days send for a rescue party, and I’ll need a couple of beers.

Cheers Craig

I look forward to seeing your pics.

I chanced upon this one before Christmas and was holding off until I was back from holidays and had a clear weekend to explore it with a fellow nutter.

Best of luck, and do see if you can find the source of that warm air that seems to flow from somewhere deep inside. Also, check out the smoke stains on the walls where they used to place candles or oil lamps.

Cheers

HillWalker

I took an extended lunch today and went back to Mt Parker for a proper nose around.

Unfortunately it only goes about 50-60 meters where it looks to have collapsed blocking what could be more tunnels.

If you head to the end of the long passage way shown above it turns a slight corner and goes on again for about 30m. On the left hand side are three little chambers/rooms cut in about a meter from the main tunnel 1.5m x2m inside. Nothing of note on the walls inside the rooms.

I was right to be apprehensive about II’s. In two rooms there were small chairs where it looks as though a couple of people kipped. Funnily there was also an air freshener on one of the walls?

I kept an eye out for anything carved on the walls and ceiling. There was only one small one (photo’s didn’t come out) possibly for a lantern but there was no evidence soot on the walls or ceiling anywhere.  I couldn’t get the camera working properly (being a lame brain) but did get a few snaps on the phone.

Great work Craig

How long do you think those chairs etc have been there? The entrance has only been open since December 08 (ah erm)

I wonder if the caved in part actually leads to the exterior. What do you think?

 I have a pic of the soot stains near the entrance. I'll try to post the picture next week.  With those chairs there, the stains could have been the result of modern day habitation.

 Any thoughts on where the warm breeze was coming from?

 Well done again.

HillWalker