Media

Funded by the Hong Kong Government’s Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme, a research team led by The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has completed a study on the city’s pillbox relics constructed by its defenders and invaders during World War II (WWII).  The research team found that many hill paths leading to these historical sites have disappeared for various reasons, thereby hindering access for prospective visitors.  This has resulted in a significant waste of potential tourism and educational resources.

The study identified feasible paths to each surviving pillbox along the Gin Drinker’s Line, produced guides for visiting British pillboxes on Hong Kong Island and Japanese pillboxes in the Northeastern New Territories. The key outputs of this study are: (a) a full report to government (released to the public in the next issue of Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors’ official journal Surveying & Built Environment); (b) a promotional documentary (in Chinese and English), (c) an article published in research journal Land use Policy, (d) an e-book (in Chinese, English and Japanese) titled A Short Guide to World War II Pillboxes in Hong Kong; (e ) a Chinese article published in Hong Kong Economic Journal Monthly. The research team, led by Professors Lennon H.T. Choy, Lawrence W.C. Lai and Daniel C.W. Ho with the assistance of Prof. Stephen N.G. Davie, Dr. Justin Y.H. Chan, Dr. Nixon T.H. Leung, Mr. Y. K. Tan, Dr. Vincent N.H. Chan, Mr. Stephen Y.H. Yip, Mr. Stanley Au, and Dr. Ken S.T. Ching and other friends and students, recommends that the government classify and grade these pillboxes as part of three defensive systems for conservation purposes, construct viewing platforms at each pillbox site, integrate them with the hiking trail network and routinely maintain and clear the identified accessible routes to the pillboxes,

The research team will deliver a brief presentation, screen a short film, and distribute advanced photocopies of selected sections of the e-book to each media in the press conference. Following the conference, interested reporters can register for a guided tour of two pillboxes along the Gin Drinkers Line, which are situated near highways but have largely been overlooked due to overgrown vegetation and neglect.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the press conference. Details are as follows:
Date: November 21, 2025
Time: 11 am
Venue: KB533-534, 5/F, Knowles Building, The University of Hong Kong

For media enquiries, please contact Dr. Nixon T.H. Leung (Tel:  6908- 3222; Email: nthleung@rhacap.org).