MacIntosh Forts
Encyclopedia
The MacIntosh Forts are a group of seven observation post
s built in Hong Kong
between 1949 and 1953 at the border with China
, to safeguard the border against illegal immigrants
, when there was
an influx of refugees from China
due to political instability. The Forts were named after Police Commissioner Duncan William MacIntosh (in office, 1946-1953) who decided to build a chain of observation posts guarded day and night. They have been listed as Grade II historic buildings since 1997.
The MacIntosh Forts were built along the Sham Chun River
when an influx of Chinese refugees was followed by border incidents of armed clashes between the police and refugees. Amongst the refugees were the defeated remnants of the Kuomintang
Nationalist armies and also a "fair number of common criminals". The Forts were built in reinforced concrete
of the same style and of very similar design, which may be categorized as Modern Utilitarian
. Built on hilltops at strategic spots, with a view across the border, they were dubbed the Macintosh Cathedrals because of their distinctive appearance and outline against the skyline. Six out of the seven Forts are now remotely controlled. They are not open to public.
The seven observation posts are located in a chain, covering most parts of the land frontier. They are from east to west:
Observation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
s built in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
between 1949 and 1953 at the border with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, to safeguard the border against illegal immigrants
Illegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
, when there was
an influx of refugees from China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
due to political instability. The Forts were named after Police Commissioner Duncan William MacIntosh (in office, 1946-1953) who decided to build a chain of observation posts guarded day and night. They have been listed as Grade II historic buildings since 1997.
The MacIntosh Forts were built along the Sham Chun River
Sham Chun River
Sham Chun River serves as the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China, together with the Sha Tau Kok River....
when an influx of Chinese refugees was followed by border incidents of armed clashes between the police and refugees. Amongst the refugees were the defeated remnants of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
Nationalist armies and also a "fair number of common criminals". The Forts were built in reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
of the same style and of very similar design, which may be categorized as Modern Utilitarian
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
. Built on hilltops at strategic spots, with a view across the border, they were dubbed the Macintosh Cathedrals because of their distinctive appearance and outline against the skyline. Six out of the seven Forts are now remotely controlled. They are not open to public.
The seven observation posts are located in a chain, covering most parts of the land frontier. They are from east to west:
| Location | Notes/References | Photographs |
|---|---|---|
| Pak Kung Au (伯公坳), Sha Tau Kok Sha Tau Kok Sha Tau Kok or Shataukok or Sathewkok is a town in the northeastern corner of Hong Kong. Located on the border with mainland China, there is another town of same Chinese name, Shatoujiao, romanized using Hanyu Pinyin, across the Sham Chun River-defined border in Shenzhen of mainland... , North District North District, Hong Kong North District is the northernmost district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The new town of Fanling-Sheung Shui is within this district. It had a population of 298,657 in 2001. The district has the second lowest population density.It... |
The second highest among the 7 Forts, with nearly 700 steps to reach it. | |
| Kong Shan (礦山), Sha Tau Kok, North District | The highest among the 7 Forts, with nearly 900 steps leading up to it. It cannot be controlled remotely and a police constable is still deployed on it every night. Its elevation is over 700 feet above sea level. | |
| Pak Fu Shan (白虎山), Sha Tau Kok, North District | This fort, together with three nearby pillboxes and the Pak Fa Shan Operation Base (Ta Kwu Ling Division), formed part of the border defence system. | |
| Nga Yiu (瓦窰), Sha Tau Kok, North District | ||
| Nam Hang (南坑), Sha Tau Kok, North District | It is located near Lo Wu Lo Wu Lo Wu or Lowu is an area in North District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It lies on the borders between Hong Kong and mainland China, specifically the Luohu District of Shenzhen in mainland China. The area is most notable as the location of the most heavily used immigration control point for... . |
|
| Ma Tso Lung (馬草壟), Ta Kwu Ling Ta Kwu Ling Ta Kwu Ling is an area in the North District, New Territories, Hong Kong, located northeast of Sheung Shui, close to the border with mainland China.... , North District |
||
| Pak Hok Chau (白鶴洲), Mai Po, Yuen Long District Yuen Long District Yuen Long District , is one of the districts of Hong Kong located in the northwest of the New Territories. It had a population of 449,070 in 2001. The district has the youngest population of Hong Kong and the lowest income in the New Territories.-Geography:... |
The only Fort not located within the Frontier Closed Area. It is near to Mai Po Nature Reserve and has played an important role in intercepting illegal immigrants coming from the Deep Bay Deep Bay, Hong Kong Deep Bay is a bay off the northwest coast of Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong. It is surrounded to the north by Shenzhen proper and west by the peninsula of Nantau, China. It is also known as Hau Hoi Wan in Hong Kong, and Shenzhen Bay in China.-Name:... . |
