Green Island, Hong Kong

Green Island Lighthouse

Green Island Lighthouse Compound
Green Island Lighthouse Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°17′02″N 114°06′40″E / 22.283799°N 114.111163°E / 22.283799; 114.111163
Year first constructed	1875 (first)
Year first lit	1905 (current)
Construction	granite tower (both)
Tower shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (current) cylindrical tower and lantern removed (first)
Markings / pattern	white tower and lantern
Height	12 metres (39 ft) (first) 17.5 metres (57 ft) (current)
Focal height	37 metres (121 ft) (current)
Original lens	4th order Fresnel lens (first)
Current lens	1st order Fresnel lens
Range	16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 10s.
Admiralty number	F3538
NGA number	19460
ARLHS number	HOK-002
Hong Kong number	HK-069

Green Island (Chinese: 青洲) is an island off the northwest coast of Kennedy Town on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, separated by the Sulphur Channel. A smaller island nearby to the east, uninhabited, is called Little Green Island (小青洲). Administratively, the two islands are part of Central and Western District.

Green Island is largely uninhabited and at the east coast is Green Island Reception Centre and Green Island Police Station. Top of the hill is an office of Marine Department and a light house southwest guides the ships in Sulphur Channel.

The buildings of the Green Island Lighthouse Compound were declared as monuments in 2008. The historic buildings include the two lighthouses built in 1875 and 1905 respectively and the European quarters of the lighthouse compound. These three buildings are individually Grade II historic buildings.

The first lighthouse began operation July 1, 1875, 12 metres (39 ft) tall, and was constructed of granite. There are two cross-shaped openings on its wall for ventilation and lighting. The openings resemble gun-posts like those found in medieval European castles. These are of the same construction that was found on the Cape Collinson (Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island) Lighthouse. Construction began on a second lighthouse in 1904, that was completed in 1905, and was originally intended to house the Cape D’Aguilar light. Built of granite and concrete, sitting beside the older one, the newer lighthouse is 17.5 metres (57 ft) tall, painted white, with a steel caged lantern on top. A concrete spiral staircase with rails give access to the lantern room. An upper floor was added to the keeper’s house in 1923 and the lighthouse was automated in the 70's. The two lighthouses, along with Cape D'Aguilar Lighthouse, Waglan Island Lighthouse and Tang Lung Chau Lighthouse (Kap Sing Lighthouse) are the only prewar lighthouses remaining.