For many years, a British Army camp had lain at the base of Crest Hill, so called because a regimental badge had been carved into its slopes. Latterly, Royal Artillery survey units occupied the largely tented camp below the hill, with duties including observation into the People's Republic from the outlook post on topping Crest Hill. In February 1950, during a period of assaults on the mainland from Formosa, an aircraft of the Koumingtang flew illegally over Hong Kong to bomb the railway to Guangzhou beyond Lo Wu.

Between 1898 and 1949,