Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse

Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse (Chinese: 鶴咀燈塔) is one of the declared monuments of Hong Kong. It is also known as Hok Tsui Beacon.^[2] 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.^[3]

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[1]

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.^[4]

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of China: Hong Kong". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
2. "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse". Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
3. "Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse Gazetted as a Historical Building". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2006.
4. 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