Mount Davis, Hong Kong

Mount Davis is a hill in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is the westernmost hill on Hong Kong Island.

It is named after John Francis Davis, who was the 2nd Governor of Hong Kong, from 1844 to 1848.

The summit is reached via Mt Davis Path, which comes off Mt Davis Road and Victoria Road.

History

It was an important artillery depot of the British forces since 1911 (proposed in 1900). 5 (later 3) 9.2" 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.

Geology

The geology of Mount Davis comprises dominantly pyroclastic rocks of the Cretaceous Repulse Bay Volcanic Group (Sewell et al., 2000). This same kind of rock is common in the south of Hong Kong Island and the east and north New Territories. The rock type in Mount Davis is mainly coarse ash crystal tuff.

Features

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...
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