I was originally going to do one report for all of these with a couple of photos from each, assuming that they were all going to be basically the same. As I've worked through a few of them they've been different enough to warrant a post for each.
I'm sure that I'm going to be doing more of them, so I'll add new posts as I do.
Hong Kong got it pretty hard during WW2, first the Japanese invaded and took over with relatively little effort, then once they were established the Americans began bombing. Unexploded ordnance is still quite regularly found on construction sites.
The Hong Kong government was pretty slow to begin preparations for defence and protection, with the construction of the Air Raid Precaution tunnels only beginning in 1940. Many were still unfinished when the Japanese invasion happened.
After they took control, the Japanese also started using the tunnels, now for protection against the american bombs and also for storage of munitions. Some are alleged to have also been used for detention and torture of prisoners.
So far I have not found a set of tunnels which has been complete, they have all to some degree been backfilled for support of new buildings above or have had sections destroyed as hills have been removed to allow for new building plots. Quite a large area have also been destroyed by the MTR extension work too.
CEDD lists a total of 34 ARP tunnels, although some have either been completely destroyed, were never built or have been lost. There are 9 where no information exists.
I'll put them up in the order that I've done them, with whatever information I have been able to uncover for each one.
First up was Network 11 Leighton Hill. Around 620m of the original 1265m of tunnels remain, they are 2.4-3.5m wide and 2m high.
Helpfully there are survey plans placed at most of the tunnel junctions.
The black sections on the first plan are unfortunately no longer accessible. Walking around the perimeter of the hill it is still sometimes possible to see where the portals to these tunnels would have been.
Some are more obvious than others.
I may or may not have accidentally locked a group of high school students inside this one over night..
Inside, the tunnels are in good condition and are dry with good ventilation, something that can't be said for any of the other ones I have done since.
There is also the only one I have found so far with two levels.
There is even a Doulton flushing toilet, although this is probably a later addition.
The original toilet blocks were most likely a lot less luxurious.
There are two vent shaft remaining, but any machinery is long since gone.
Also, fuck that ladder!
I'm sure that I'm going to be doing more of them, so I'll add new posts as I do.
Hong Kong got it pretty hard during WW2, first the Japanese invaded and took over with relatively little effort, then once they were established the Americans began bombing. Unexploded ordnance is still quite regularly found on construction sites.
The Hong Kong government was pretty slow to begin preparations for defence and protection, with the construction of the Air Raid Precaution tunnels only beginning in 1940. Many were still unfinished when the Japanese invasion happened.
After they took control, the Japanese also started using the tunnels, now for protection against the american bombs and also for storage of munitions. Some are alleged to have also been used for detention and torture of prisoners.
So far I have not found a set of tunnels which has been complete, they have all to some degree been backfilled for support of new buildings above or have had sections destroyed as hills have been removed to allow for new building plots. Quite a large area have also been destroyed by the MTR extension work too.
CEDD lists a total of 34 ARP tunnels, although some have either been completely destroyed, were never built or have been lost. There are 9 where no information exists.
I'll put them up in the order that I've done them, with whatever information I have been able to uncover for each one.
First up was Network 11 Leighton Hill. Around 620m of the original 1265m of tunnels remain, they are 2.4-3.5m wide and 2m high.
Helpfully there are survey plans placed at most of the tunnel junctions.
The black sections on the first plan are unfortunately no longer accessible. Walking around the perimeter of the hill it is still sometimes possible to see where the portals to these tunnels would have been.
Some are more obvious than others.
I may or may not have accidentally locked a group of high school students inside this one over night..
Inside, the tunnels are in good condition and are dry with good ventilation, something that can't be said for any of the other ones I have done since.
There is also the only one I have found so far with two levels.
There is even a Doulton flushing toilet, although this is probably a later addition.
The original toilet blocks were most likely a lot less luxurious.
There are two vent shaft remaining, but any machinery is long since gone.
Also, fuck that ladder!
