Video | Hong Kong history: the tunnels where Japanese hid from air raids in wartime – exploring one of the last vestiges of 4-year occupation
Australian-born history buff Robert Lockyer leads tours of tunnels dug into Lamma Island by villagers the Japanese executed afterwards to keep their location secret; his explorations have also uncovered a Qing dynasty fort
Exploring second world war tunnels with guide Robert Lockyer comes with a couple of warnings.
“It’s addictive. Once you start, you’ll want more. And you’ll have nightmares for the rest of your life.”
It’s 9am on a Thursday and we’re gathered at the Yung Shue Wan ferry pier on Lamma, Hong Kong’s third-largest island just 3km from Central district. Lockyer, a bush boy from Victoria, Australia – he grew up on a cattle farm – has called Lamma home for four years and knows most of its 14 square kilometres like the back of his sun-wrinkled hand.
Today he’s briefing the latest group: Hongkongers Ming Chan, who recently returned after living in Canada since 1972, and Jasmine Yeung, a dentist who likes adventure. Anitta Hiekkanen from Finland, a Hong Kong resident of 1½ years, has also joined.
Lockyer has shunned office jobs, opting instead for occupations to match his wandering spirit (think diving instructor and cattle herder). Today he fills multiple environmental roles at non-profit Aquameridian Conservation & Education Foundation, and also works at HK125coastal, a job that involves organising rubbish clean-ups around Hong Kong’s coastlines. “My goal with the beach clean-ups is to be out of work,” he says, laughing.