Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence — wartime ghosts at the old fort

The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence in Shau Kei Wan occupies the site of the Lei Yue Mun Fort, a coastal fortification that served Hong Kong's defence from the Ming dynasty through World War II. During the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in December 1941, fierce fighting took place at the fort, and many soldiers — British, Canadian, and Indian — died defending the position. The museum, built within and around the old fortifications, has been the subject of ghost reports since its opening. Visitors and staff have described seeing soldiers in World War II-era uniforms in the tunnels and gun emplacements, hearing gunfire and shouted commands in multiple languages — English, Cantonese, Japanese, and Hindi — and experiencing cold spots in the underground passages. The old magazine and ammunition stores are considered the most active areas. Some visitors have reported feeling a sudden sense of panic in the tunnels, as though reliving the terror of the 1941 battle. The fort's elevated position overlooking the Lei Yue Mun channel, where the Japanese forces crossed to invade Hong Kong Island, means the ghosts of the defenders still watch the approach route they died trying to block.