Today, I took part in the first activity organised by the Marine Department Youth Group. We went on an excursion to the Green Island Lighthouse.

The Deputy Directors of Marine, Mr Wong and Ms Lam, also joined the visit and mingled with us, which convinced me that the Marine Department (MD) is attaching great importance to youth development. On the way to Green Island, Senior Assistant Shipping Master of the MD, Mr Yuen, introduced to us the anchorages and aids to navigation. I learnt that the "roads" at sea are indeed called "principal fairways", and lighted buoys of different colours and shapes are placed on the fairways to assist the coxswains in avoiding deviation from the track and inadvertent entry into dangerous waters. Each buoy has an astounding weight of 11 tons, not to mention some of them are placed at remote locations, so their maintenance is never an easy task for the MD staff!

Green Island sits on the west entrance of the Victoria Harbour, so it only took us 20 minutes from the Central Pier to the Green Island Pier. According to the law, Green Island and its surroundings is a restricted area. No vessels shall enter any area within 100 metres from the low water mark on Green Island except with the permission of the Director of Marine.

After a 5-minute walk from the Pier, the two lighthouses finally came into view. Upon arrival, Mr Yuen introduced to us their history and functions. The Old and New Green Island Lighthouses are two of the five surviving pre-war lighthouses in Hong Kong. Over the years, the lighthouses have illuminated the course for thousands of vessels entering Hong Kong waters from the East Lamma Channel and have played an important role in Hong Kong's maritime history.

To my surprise, we were even allowed to reach the top of the New Lighthouse to take a closer look of the sophisticated signal light and to appreciate the stunning panoramic view. Little did I know, there were light keepers for the Green Island Lighthouse in the past. They bore the hardship of living on this isolated island in order to ensure the safety of vessels and save countless lives of seafarers. I truly respect them for their sacrifice. Not until the 1970s, the lighthouse became fully automated and powered by solar energy. The device in it is now able to detect the light intensity and respond accordingly. At present, the signal light of the Green Island Lighthouse can be seen within 16 nautical miles, which is approximately equivalent to the straight line distance between the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and the Lo Wu Port.

On the return journey, Assistant Marine Officer, Danny, and Marine Inspector II, Mr Wan, shared with us their daily work in different sections of the MD and the promotion prospects of their grades. They also encouraged young people to join the MD and contribute to the marine services of Hong Kong.

Although it was blazing hot today, every one of us enjoyed ourselves at the historic Green Island Lighthouse. I can't wait to visit other marine facilities!