The Waglan Island: the Lighthouse and the People
Event Date:
12/01/2021
Event Time:
7:00 pm
Event Location:
Speaker: Ir Dr. S.W. Poon CPD Points: 1.5 CPD credit hours
| CPD Event: | The Waglan Island: the Lighthouse and the People |
| Date | 12 January 2021 (Tuesday) |
| Time: | 7:00pm to 8:30pm |
| Speaker: | Ir Dr. S.W. Poon, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Real Estate and Construction HKU |
| Venue: | By online media – ZOOM |
| CPD Points: | 1.5 CPD credit hours |
| Language: | English supplemented by Cantonese |
| Fee: | HK$50 for HKICON Members and non-HKICON Members
Limited to 100 Participates Free admission for current ACP students and Students registered under HKU Department of Real Estate and Construction. |
| Remarks: |
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About the CPD Talk
Waglan is a small island at a distance of 5km South-east of Cape D’ Aguilar or 12 km from Lei Yue Mun. It has the largest lighthouse compound and the largest number of staff working on the island before automation in 1989.
From 1989 the operation of the lighthouse as well as the weather station have become automated. Since then the island has become deserted with only the regular visits of technical staff in maintaining the installed equipment.
The research team has studied the archives, interviewed the personnel concerned and visited the island. This project is aimed to trace the records of the Waglan Island which commenced its essential functions 127 years ago. The findings would not only rebuild the full history of the lighthouse compound initiated, designed and built by the China Imperial Maritime Customs Service; but also the intangible legacy of those involved in keeping the lighthouse compound and recording the elements. It is hoped that the dissemination of the lonely men’s stories will help reinstall the forgotten memory of the lighthouse-related work on this frontier Island, the collection and transmission of important weather information, as well as the unique lifestyle and the conservation over there.
About the Speaker
Ir Dr. S.W. Poon
Currently Dr. Poon is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong. Previously he was Associate Professor, Deputy Head and Acting Head of the same Department.
In 1970s, he studied Structural Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic. Later he obtained an MSc in Construction and PhD from Loughborough University, U.K.
He is a Chartered Structural Engineer, a Corporate Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and a Member of Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. He worked in consulting firms for several years before commencing teaching and research at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The National University of Singapore and The University of Hong Kong.
His research interests include temporary works design and construction, and investigation of accidents and failures during construction. In the last decade his research interest covers historic construction works such as the Centenary Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dam, History of Quarrying in Hong Kong, and Historic Lighthouses in Hong Kong and Nearby Places.