Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse

In 1875 the Hong Kong Government Gazette announced, ‘A light will be exhibited on Cape D’Aguilar on and after the 16th April.’ Sometimes known as ‘Hok Tsui (a nearby village) Lighthouse,’ with its stately granite tower still standing, the lighthouse became superfluous and stopped operating in 1896 after Waglan lighthouse (of which more later) came into operation in 1893. A lighthouse keeper, Archibald Baird, was appointed from England. Such towers have to withstand immense force during severe typhoons consequently they are constructed circular on plan. It can be seen that Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse tower, constructed of local granite, is a splendid example of the stone mason’s craft. 



This photograph too in the 1990s shows a group of members from the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch listening to a talk about lighthouses. The old tower of Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse stands proudly in the background.