The Secretary for Development, in his capacity as Antiquities Authority, has declared Blocks 7, 10 and 25 of the old Lei Yue Mun Barracks as monuments under the Antiquities & Monuments Ordinance.
The notice was gazetted today.
The barracks was one of the earliest and most important British Army fortifications in Hong Kong. It was returned to the Hong Kong Government for civil use in 1987.
The central area and the western ridge have been the Lei Yue Mun Park & Holiday Village since 1988, whereas the military installations on the headland were restored to form the Museum of Coastal Defence, which opened in 2000.
Block 7 was built from 1890 to 1895 at the north end of the barracks on top of a prestigious hill overlooking Lei Yue Mun Pass.
It is believed to be one of the earliest buildings constructed in the first phase of the barracks' development. It was originally built as officers' quarters for the Royal Artillery. In the post-war period, it was used by the Hong Kong Military Service Corps as a training centre.
Block 10 was also built from 1890 to 1895 with an extension added in 1935. The older part is believed to be one of the earliest buildings constructed in the first phase of the barracks' development.
It occupies a commanding site towards the north. It was originally built as soldiers' quarters for the Royal Artillery.
Block 25, used as the Officers Mess, is believed to have been built in the late 1890s to early 1900s.
It is one of the earliest buildings constructed in the first phase of the barracks' development and is a good representative example of early colonial military architecture.
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