Fan Lau Fort (also known in historical records as Kai Yi Kok Fort, Lantau Fort, or Shek Shun Fort) is located on a 70-metre-high hill on the Fan Lau Peninsula at the southwestern tip of Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, covering an area of about 966 square metres. Some scholars believe the fort was initially built during the Ming dynasty to defend against pirates, while others maintain it was constructed during the Qing dynasty to combat opium smugglers; regardless, Fan Lau Fort is confirmed to be the earliest built fort in Hong Kong. The fort was once occupied by pirates and resumed operations after their surrender. It is generally estimated that the fort fell into disuse after the New Territories were leased to Britain. After being overgrown with weeds for many years, the Hong Kong government declared Fan Lau Fort a declared monument in 1981 and commenced a two-phase restoration project.
