Beneath us sprawls Tai Tam Harbour. Let me tell you about Boa Vista. It’s not just a scenic overlook. Boa Vista is a place of strategic importance.
Boa Vista rises 846 feet above sea level. From here, you can see the strategic Tai Tam Gap. The military HQ was located there. It included East Infantry Brigade and East Group Royal Artillery HQ. The Royal Rifles of Canada also had their Battalion HQ at the same location.
During the night of December 18/19, 1941, the Japanese landed on Hong Kong Island. A Canadian platoon was deployed on Boa Vista. Lt Gerard Williams commanded No. 5 Platoon HQ Coy Royal Rifles of Canada. I believe this was their pre-arranged war-station.
A path from Boa Vista led to Sanatorium Gap, also known as Quarry Gap. This gap sits between Mount Parker and Mount Butler. On that fateful night, a Japanese battalion landed at Aldrich Bay. They moved up the north face of Mount Parker. Then, they moved counter-clockwise around Mount Parker. They arrived at Mount Parker Road near PB 45. After overrunning the section at PB 45, they moved up to Sanatorium Gap. They captured the gap after a fierce fight. No. 1 Platoon of No. 1 Coy HKVDC defended it. The Japanese then occupied Mount Parker. This was their principal objective.
Lt William’s Platoon was ordered to Mount Parker from Boa Vista. They followed the path to Sanatorium Gap. They were to meet guides from the HKVDC positions. However, the HKVDC had been overrun. The Canadian platoon proceeded up Mount Parker. They found the Japanese in much greater strength. The Canadian platoon was destroyed.
A second platoon replaced Lt William’s platoon. Lt Collison Blaver commanded No. 9 Platoon from ‘A’ Coy Royal Rifles of Canada. Blaver’s platoon was ordered up Mt Parker. They ran into entrenched Japanese positions. They withdrew after suffering casualties.
Boa Vista was a strategic position. You might expect to find military shelters here. Shelters for a platoon of 25 to 30 men. For years, no one found any sign of military structures. Then, Sergio Marcal found a military splinter-proof shelter at Boa Vista. He also found a Royal Rifles of Canada cap badge near the structure.
Sergio, Stuart Woods, and I met on top of Boa Vista. Sergio showed us the military structure. Lt Williams and Lt Blaver likely used it. This splinter-proof shelter could sleep a section of nine men. It has three retractable bunks on three walls. The building is hidden in the undergrowth. It faces the direction of Mount Parker. Within 20 meters, there was another structure. It was brick-built and did not look like a typical WW2 military structure. This remains a mystery.
From the top of Boa Vista, you can follow a downhill path. It heads toward Tai Tam Harbour. It leads to Section 6 of the Hong Kong Trail. Head left to Tai Tam Road. Be warned. The last section of this path is steep. It cuts through thick woods. It requires you to clamber down.
It is pleasurable for the sublime scenery over Tai Tam Harbour from the top of Boa Vista. It is seldom for still having the aura of the primitive forest in the highly developed Hong Kong Island.
Remember Boa Vista. It is a place of strategic importance. It is a place of wartime history. It offers stunning views.