Cape D'Aguilar
Cape D'Aguilar (Chinese: 鶴咀) is a cape on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The cape is on the southeastern end of D'Aguilar Peninsula. To its north are Shek O and D'Aguilar Peak.
| Cape D'Aguilar | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cape D'Aguilar | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鶴咀 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Crane Beak | ||||||
| |||||||
Name
It is named after Major-General George Charles d'Aguilar.
Geography
Cape D'Aguilar is in the Southern District.[1] Nearby, there are two small islands collectively called Kau Pei Chau (狗髀洲). A channel called Sheung Sze Mun (雙四門) is located close to the cape.
Marine Reserve
Cape D'Aguilar is environmentally protected as part of the Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve.
Sightseeings
Common sightseeings for visitors include the Bone's of Miss Willy, a whale's skeleton display mounted in front of the University of Hong Kong Swire Institute of Marine Science.
The Crab's Eye is a sea cave off the Cape D'Aguilar Road, connected to the Thunder Cave. It is also a popular sightseeing point for tourists.
Another popular sightseeing point is the Bokhara Battery, the remains of an artillery battery that is used during the Battle of Hong Kong.[2]
Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse
 Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse | |
| Location | Cape D'Aguilar, Hong Kong Island, Stanley & Shek O, Southern District, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 22°12′33″N 114°15′33″E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1875  |
| Construction | stone |
| Height | 9.7 m (32 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with gallery, lantern removed and the light placed on a mast |
| Markings | white |
| Operator | Marine Department |
| Heritage | declared monuments of Hong Kong |
| Light | |
| Deactivated | 1896-1975 |
| Focal height | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Range | 20 nmi (37 km; 23 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 15s |
| Hong Kong no. | HK-158[3] |
Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong. It is also known as Hok Tsui Beacon.[4] The lighthouse is one of five pre-war surviving lighthouses in Hong Kong; it is also the oldest lighthouse in Hong Kong. Two of the five lighthouses are on Green Island while the other three are at Cape D'Aguilar, Waglan Island and Tang Lung Chau respectively. Waglan Lighthouse and Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse are also declared monuments of Hong Kong.[5]
The lighthouse was named after Major-General Sir George Charles d'Aguilar and began service 6 April 1875. The light was a fixed dioptric first order Fresnel lens, emitting a white light on a focal plane of 200 feet (61 m) above sea level, that could be seen in clear weather 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi). When the Waglan Island Lighthouse began operation in 1896 the Cape D'Aguilar light was rendered obsolete. In 1905 the light was removed and transferred to the Green Island Lighthouse to replace the forth order Fresnel light. In 1975 the Cape D'Aguilar was placed back into service with an automated system. The existing structure is 9.7 metres (32 ft) tall.[6]
References
- "District Council Constituency Boundaries - Southern District (Sheet 2)" (PDF). Electoral Affairs Commission. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- https://www.aab.gov.hk/filemanager/aab/common/historicbuilding/en/502_Appraisal_En.pdf
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of China: Hong Kong". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- "Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse Gazetted as a Historical Building". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2006.
- Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse Archived 25 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine- Antiquities and Monuments office: Leisure and Cultural Service Department, pp 3. Retrieved 2016-06-05
