A final collection of shots from Hong Kong’s wild ‘Jumanji island’. Tung Ping Chau is the territory’s furthest flung ‘ghost’ island, too isolated to be featured on most maps. Its proximity to mainland China has meant there has long been a security detail based on the island…
- Part I: Photos – Sunrise on Hong Kong’s Furthest Flung & Wildest Island
- Part II: Photos – The Abandoned Hamlets & Military Camp on HK’s ‘Jumanji Island’.
- Part IV: Video – The History and Politics of Hong Kong’s Abandoned, Wild Outpost.
In 1975, British military Gurkhas built a training camp on the strategically important outpost of Tung Ping Chau. It was constructed over 7 months, years before the prospect of HK’s handover to China was even discussed.
The camp is relatively small in size and has now been mothballed – air-conditioners, doors and windows have been solidly boarded up and the site is surrounded by fences and barbed wire.
Ping Chau was of particular importance during WWII as the Japanese invaded HK. Today, the island is mostly abandoned and has no consistent water or electrical supply. Ferries only run at weekend so less than a dozen residents remain during the week.
Next door to the camp is a police post – the authorities still maintain a constant presence on the island and often check the identities of visitors. Occasionally, they still intercept boats of people attempting to enter Hong Kong illegally.
There are also telecommunication towers and nuclear fallout shelters on the island as it is opposite Daya Bay power station in Shenzhen. The camp itself is one of three emergency meeting points for the island’s nuclear fallout plan. Creepily, the Marine Department remote radar station (built in the late 90s) emits a loud, low-pitched drone which battles with the electrical buzz of cicadas.
The government recently looked at the feasibility of redeveloping parts of the island. Ping Chau Camp was the only area with potential to transform into holiday accommodation, but plans were shelved as the site is too small and the island deemed too lacking in infrastructure and amenities.
The remnants of a lonely basketball court may not see another game any time soon…
It appears the camp was designed to be largely self-sufficient. The latrine and what appears to be an incinerator are still intact…
Exploring forgotten corners of HK where nature is winning…
- Abandoned TV studios near Sai Kung.
- Abandoned Villages in HK’s ‘Wild West’ (Fan Lau).
- Central’s Abandoned Prison and Police Station.
- Fung Hang Semi-Abandoned Village.
- HK’s Abandoned ‘Ghost Island’, Yim Tin Tsai.
- Kuk Po: Interview with the Only Villager.
- Kuk Po: More Shots from the Abandoned Village Outpost.
- Kuk Po: Photos from HK’s Borderzone Ghost Town.
- Ma Wan Abandoned Town Part 1.
- Ma Wan Abandoned Town Part 2.
- Shing Mun Redoubt, HK’s Secret WWII Tunnels.
- Tung Ping Chau: The Abandoned Hamlets of Hong Kong’s ‘Jumanji Island’.
- Tung Ping Chau: The Abandoned Military Base on HK’s Wild Outpost.
- Tung Ping Chau: Video discussing HK’s Abandoned, Wild Island Outpost.
- Wanchai’s Abandoned Police Station.
Check out the Hong Wrong Mega Index for more.
I wonder what the communications towers are used for?
I wonder what the communications towers are used for?
Cool pictures — but how’d you get permission to get past the barbed wire fence?
Cool pictures — but how’d you get permission to get past the barbed wire fence?
Good stuff, but are you sure about the thing you describe as a “brick oven”? Many villages in the remoter parts of HK have those and I’ve always assumed that they are incinerators (probably for general rubbish, but also perhaps for bodies?).
I didn’t – ask forgiveness not permission, innit.
Good stuff, but are you sure about the thing you describe as a “brick oven”? Many villages in the remoter parts of HK have those and I’ve always assumed that they are incinerators (probably for general rubbish, but also perhaps for bodies?).
I didn’t – ask forgiveness not permission, innit.
I’d think you’re right on this, so will make the correction, 🙂
I’d think you’re right on this, so will make the correction, 🙂
I had a feeling that might be the case. Bold move! I’m not sure I’d have the attachments to post pictures of my exploits online. (But I’m more than happy to live vicariously through you!)
I had a feeling that might be the case. Bold move! I’m not sure I’d have the attachments to post pictures of my exploits online. (But I’m more than happy to live vicariously through you!)
Is there that much call for disposing of bodies in Hong Kong’s remoter villages? 😕
Is there that much call for disposing of bodies in Hong Kong’s remoter villages? 😕
Tung Ping Chau was as creepy as hell, I wouldn’t be surprised…
Tung Ping Chau was as creepy as hell, I wouldn’t be surprised…
It’s a Marine Department radar station, made some time after 1996 for monitoring shipping traffic.
http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/vts_radarstn.html
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr96-97/english/fc/fc/papers/fc011167.htm
Edit: …and commissioned in late 1998:
http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/pa99/english/epo/esea.pdf
It’s a Marine Department radar station, made some time after 1996 for monitoring shipping traffic.
http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/vts_radarstn.html
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr96-97/english/fc/fc/papers/fc011167.htm
Edit: …and commissioned in late 1998:
http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/pa99/english/epo/esea.pdf
Cool – I’ll make this update too – cheers Mike! 🙂
Cool – I’ll make this update too – cheers Mike! 🙂
No problems. I was guessing that’s what it was, and looked at map.gov.hk which quickly identified it.
No problems. I was guessing that’s what it was, and looked at map.gov.hk which quickly identified it.
Ahah, it’s an incinerator. They didn’t have garbage trucks back then so every night and morning they had to burn their rubbish.
Ahah, it’s an incinerator. They didn’t have garbage trucks back then so every night and morning they had to burn their rubbish.
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