Mount Davis, Hong Kong
Mount Davis (Chinese: 摩星嶺; Cantonese in IPA: [mo1 sɛŋ1 lɛŋ5]; Pinyin: Móxīng Lǐng)(269 m) is a hill in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is the westernmost hill on Hong Kong island. Located 22.33°N 114.20°E.
It is named after John Francis Davis, who was the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong, from 1844 to 1848.
It was an important artillery depot of the British forces since 1911 (proposed in 1900). 5 (later 3) 9.2in guns were installed. It was heavily bombed by Japanese planes during the Battle of Hong Kong. The depot was later demolished by British defenses towards the end of the battle.
On top of the hill are remains of old gun batteries and a barracks from the Second World War, making it a famous wargame site for Hong Kong airsofters, though due to complaints, the Police will respond to any airsofters discharging pellet guns in the area and disperse them. There is a youth hostel (Hong Kong - Jockey Club Mt. Davis) on top of the hill.
There is an ionopsheric station housing an ionosonde. The ionosonde was set up in a refurbished bunkhouse by Oulton Walker and Tim Closs of the Hong Kong University Physics department in 1969. There are also microwave towers.
The summit is reached via Mt Davis Path, which comes off Mt Davis Road and Victoria Road.
The eastern side of the hill holds the Chiu Yuen Cemetery. The North East face has Kwun Lung Lau one of the earliest public housing developments in Hong Kong. Kennedy Town is on the north side.
Mount Davis is made from pyroclastics and some lava from the Jurassic Repuse Bay Formation. This same kind of rock is common in the south of Hong Kong Island and the east and north New Territories. The lower south west slopes have coarse tuff.
Sources
- P.K.MacKeown Physics at The University of Hong Kong – an anecdotal history
- 2003 Hong Kong City Guide ISBN 962-14-2537-9
- Geological Map of Hong Kong edition 1 1979
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