Wong Nai Chung Gap

Wong Nai Chung Gap (Chinese: 黃泥涌峽; literally: "The gorge that yellow mud is gushing out of") is a geographic gap in the middle of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The gap is between Mount Nicholson and Jardine's Lookout behind Wong Nai Chung. Five roads meet at the Gap Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Tai Tam Reservoir Road, Repulse Bay Road, Deep Water Bay Road and Black's Link. It is a strategic passage between the north and south of the island, though less so today since the opening of the Aberdeen Tunnel.

Background

In the 1930s, the British army began installing defence structures at the gap as a strategically important location, being the primary passage between the North and South of Hong Kong Island. Defensive structures included bunkers along Wong Nai Chung Gap road, along with fortifications on Jardines lookout, near the end of Sir Cecils Ride.

Order of Battle

On 8 December 1941, the Battle of Hong Kong started; the Japanese landed at North Point on Hong Kong Island on 18 December, and reached Wong Nai Chung Gap on 19 December. They made their way to Wong Nai Chung gap through passage of Sir Cecils Ride towards Jardines Lookout on one side and up Wan Chai towards Mount Nicholson as a separate thrust. Following repeated frontal attacks on the top of the Gap, and extensive casualties on both sides, the Japanese gained control over the area. Canadian Winnipeg Grenadiers, Middlesex Machinegunners and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence corps troops defended the passage and Wong Nai Chung Reservoir, with more than 600 Japanese soldiers injured or killed resulting in the initial Japanese successful assault. This battle effectively brought the subsaquent downfall of the defense on Hong Kong island, by splitting East and West brigades of the defense force;

Coordinates: 22°15′26″N 114°11′33″E / 22.25723°N 114.19245°E