Kowloon Battle

九龍海戰 Kowloon Battle

九龍砲台位置 Location：

九龍原指九龍村，位於九龍寨城前面，龍津橋邊. 清遷海政策之後，九龍村變作駐兵防守前哨，稱為九龍墩台，或九龍台，墩台成一高坵.

Kowloon referred to the Kowloon village, close to the Walled City of Kowloon. However, after the migration policy in Qing Dynasty, Kowloon village was converted into the Kowloon fort on top of a hill.

九龍砲台源起 History of the Battery：

十九世紀初，嘉慶15年，1810年，為防海盜，廣東水師提督錢夢虎，向兩廣總督百齡建議撤消佛堂門炮台，並移建砲台於九龍寨. 九龍寨炮台建於1810年，位於九龍灣的沙灘盡頭興建一座砲台，在一坵之地安營紥寨，九龍寨因而得名.

In 1810, the battery was built for the purpose of fighting against pirates, and replaced the battery at Fat Tong Mun. A small fort was built at the head of the beach which then adjoined the site.

九龍海戰始末：

道光十九年七月二十七日﹝1839年9月4日﹞英國商人向九龍鄉民購買食物，但遇中國巡船阻止. 義律突然率領五艘英船駛往九龍灣，向九龍寨炮台發動襲擊. 賴恩爵率領部隊奮起迎戰，雙方接仗前後共十小時，義律終被擊退.

On 4 September, 1839, British sought food and drinks at Kowloon village, but was stopped by Chinese navy. Charles Elliot took 5 ships and shot the Kowloon fort. The Kowloon battle lasted for about 10 hours, and Charles Elliot left afterwards.

關於九龍海戰的中方報導 China's report：《會奏九龍洋面轟擊情形摺》

關於九龍海戰的英方報導 British's report：Charles Elliot's letter dated 5 September 1839

備註及參考 Remarks and References：

區議會資料錯誤把九龍海戰與官涌之戰混為一談，讀者宜小心查察. Mistake is found in the following official report by mixing up Kowloon battle and Kwun Chung Battle.

http://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/klc/doc/tc/publications_links/KCD_Heritage_Txt.pdf