Museum of Coastal Defence, Hong Kong

The museum stands in the former Lei Yue Mun Fort.

This fort occupies a strategic position, guarding the eastern approach to the Victoria Harbour. As early as 1844, the British started to fortify this place. However, due to numerous deaths of soldiers caused by severe epidemics in the area, the place was abandoned.

By 1885, to cope with possible attacks from France and Russia, the British decided to construct batteries on the south side of the Lei Yue Mun Channel. An impressive redoubt, surrounded by 18 casemates were built.

In 1890, the place was completed with the Brennan Torpedo station (you can still see it on the northern shore of the museum).

However, Hong Kong did not suffer from any attack and by the 1930s, the strategic importance of Lei Yue Mun declined as a result of technological advances and the construction of new defence positions in the territory.

On 8 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Hong Kong. After the fall of the New Territories and Kowloon, the British Forces strengthened the Lei Yue Mun fort to prevent the Japanese from crossing the Lei Yue Mun Channel. After several assaults, the British were overwhelmed and the fort finally fell on 19 December.

With no significant strategic interest after the war, the fort became a training centre for British forces, and was finally vacated in 1987.

The fort was converted into a museum and was open to the public on 25 July 2000.

Nowadays, you can visit all the installations. The museum is mainly located in the redoubt.