Gin Drinkers' Line

Gin Drinkers Line
Map of the Gin Drinkers Line
Chinese	醉酒灣防線
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin zuìjiǔ wān fángxiàn Wade–Giles tsui-chiu wan fang-hsien IPA [tswêitɕjòu wán fǎŋɕjɛ̂n] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization jeuijau wan fangsyan IPA [tsɵ̄ytsɐ̌u wáːn fɔ̏ːŋsɪ̄n] Jyutping zeoi3zau2 waan1 fong4sin3

The Gin Drinkers Line (Chinese: 醉酒灣防線) or Gin Drinkers' Line was a British military defensive line against the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941, part of the Pacific War.

The concept came from France's Maginot Line, built after World War I. The British believed the line could protect the colony from Japanese invasion for at least six months and even called it the "Oriental Maginot Line" (Chinese: 東方馬奇諾防線). The Japanese generals also believed the line would stop their advance until the scouts found out the line was very weak. For example, only 30 soldiers defended Shing Mun Redoubt in the Battle of Hong Kong. It had a capacity of 120 men.

The Line's name originated from Gin Drinkers Bay, a former bay in nearby Kwai Chung, New Territories (now reclaimed and part of Kwai Fong). It passed through Kam Shan, the Shing Mun Reservoir, Beacon Hill, Lion Rock, and Tate's Cairn, ending at Port Shelter in Sai Kung. Its total length was 18 kilometers. Its key points were the stretch between Beacon Hill and Sha Tin Pass, and the Shing Mun Redoubt, the latter of which also housed command HQ for the Line.