There was once an idea in developing a museum about Hong Kong Voluntary Defence Corp suggested by the urban council around 1993. An old barracks at Lei Yue Mun was chosen as a possible site in displaying those artifacts about Hong Kong Voluntary Defence Corp. Eventually, this old barracks was reuse and developed as nowadays the Museum of Coastal Defence. This is one of the worlds' largest fort restoration projects
This old barracks at Lei Yu Mun was found fortuitously while the elevated sites near Heng Fa Chuen are being inspected. It is a 19th century redoubt with a network of underground chamber and was built by the British royal engineer in 1887 in order to defend its interests against the hawkish French and Russians. Defending the eastern approach to the Victoria Habour, the fort was the most sophisticated coastal fortification in that contemporary. It was also an important battlefield for a few fierce World War II battles which involved the British, Canadian and Indian soldiers entrusting with the task of defending Hong Kong against 20,000
Japanese soldiers. It was closed to the public and used as a training ground by the British military until 1987. The Urban Council then used this old barracks as a holiday camp site. While Civil Aviation Department and Hong Kong observatory had equipment set up there to collect data on aircraft movements and the weather respectively.