The Collinson Battery Search Lights
The plan of the day is to visit the Cape Collinson Battery Search Lights via the Leaping Dragon Path in Siu Sai Wan. We began at the Siu Sai Wan Promenade and hiked up on a gentle incline to reach the Search lights of the Cape Collinson Battery.
The locals call these search light positions of the Cape Collison Battery “Big Screen TV” for a reason. The search light positions face the southeastern waters of Hong Kong. Inside the structure, you see wide-open views of the ocean through the framed lookout of the ruins. On a sunny day, it really is fantastic there.
The only caveat is, if you go on a sunny weekend afternoon, you will be fighting for the prime photo-taking spot with a whole lot of tourists.
About the Collinson Battery
The British had plans to construct this battery as early as 1934. The Cape Collinson Battery had the geographical advantage of overlooking the eastern approaches to Victoria Harbor. The Hong Kong Island was to be reinforced with 3 new six-inch batteries, and Collinson Battery was one of them. Construction began in 1936. The guns that stationed here came from the Stonecutter Island in the west.
During WWII, Cape Collinson Battery belonged to the Eastern Fire Command. The 36th Coast Battery, 8th Coast Regiment Royal Artillery stationed here. On the morning after the Japanese’s first landing on Hong Kong Island, the Japanese Imperial troops advanced quickly in the Tai Tam catchment area. Eventually, the Collinson Battery had to be destroyed, as with the Bokhara Battery (in Cape D’aguilar) and the Chung Hom Kok Battery.
How to Get There
From the Chai Wan Station, take Green Top Minibus Route 47M to Siu Sai Wan and get off at the Island Resort / Siu Sai Wan Promenade stop. Once you enter into the Siu Sai Wan Promenade, pass the public toilets and go straight on to find this sign of the Leaping Dragon Path. Head up the path.
All along the way, follow the blue rail of the path.
There are not too many flights of stairs on this trail, and you will be climbing on gentle inclines. When you see this blue rail on the left, climb up the stairs.
Once you are up the stairs, make a left.
When you reach Cape Collinson Road, you should be making a left. Keep on going, until you look to your left and see the rail with a clear “ladder.” Watch out for this rather inconspicuous ladder because that is where you must descend to the search lights. Climb over and go down the trail from that point.
To return, go on the same way back to the Siu Sai Wan Promenade. There is no public transportation on Cape Collinson Road.
Otherwise you will also be able to hike back to Shek O’s Big Wave Bay via the Pottinger Peak. The entrance to that trail is on Cape Collison Road.
Sources
Ko Tim Keung & Jason Wordie, Ruins of War: A Guide to Hong Kong’s Battlefields and Wartime Sites (1996).