I have accidentally added a misspelt tag. Please can you delete Chung Chau.
Thanks,
David
Forum:
↧
Misspelt tag - Chung Chau, not Cheung Chau
↧
Hong Kong Gwulo lunch - Nov 2019
I’ll be in town again next week for five weeks. Anyone care to do lunch again? I can offer the American club in Exchange Square as a venue
I’m proposing 7 Nov, but certainly open to other dates that week.
Forum:
↧
↧
Enquiry regarding wedding photo
Can anyone assist in identifying the people in this wedding photo. The photo comes from the collection of Mavis Gock Ming and dates between 1939 and 1941
Hong Kong Wedding 1939-1941_1.jpg, by Richard Horsburgh
Forum:
↧
Tree Planting in Hong Kong
Hello,
When I look at old pictures, photographs of Hong Kong in the 1800's I am always amazes how the landscape looked like at that time. Really like a barren rock. It looked to me like on the surface of another planet. No trees at all, especially midlevels and peak area.
How did this started by planting trees ? It must have been an enormous task to plant so many trees. Has this been done also on small islands like Green Island and Ap Lei Chau Island and others ?
I have tried to look for any answers on the website, but I could not find much.
Could anybody be so kind to explain to me how this has been started and when / Over what kind of period has this been made. Thank you.
Moreover I read something lately of the many streams, around Midlevels and the Peak, which featured the landscape of that particular area. It must as well have been a enormous task to redirect these streams. Is there a map, where certain streams have been marked in the early stages.? Also have I learned of a ravine which was named after Charles Elliot, called the Elliot Ravine. Any information on that perhaps?
Thank you very much in advance for all informations, which can bring me a bit further with my search. Thank you and all the best and kind regards, Daniel
Forum:
↧
Heading to the Encontro 2019 in Macau?
Hello,
Since my family is of Macanese descent, I'm heading to the Encontro in Macau in a couple of weeks. It's held every 3 years to help preserve Macanese hertitage. I was just curious to know if anyone here is also attending. I think they get about 1,000 attendees from all over the world, on average.
Thanks,
Allison
Forum:
↧
↧
ID request : grand waterfront building and pier ~1900
Hi there,
This photo is from a postcard labelled “Hong Kong” - but I have no idea where or what it is a picture of. It is such an impressive building yet I’ve not come across it in any other picture of old Hong Kong. I’m starting to wonder whether it is of Hong Kong at all!
Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
Forum:
↧
Mo Tat Village on Lamma in the Seventies
Six young Hongkongers and Gweilo in Mo Tat Village are working on an oral history project. We have hit two interesting roadblocks:
1
Even in the Government archives in North Point, I could not find any aerial photos of South Lamma. This place seems to have been ignored (in other documentation as well) ever since the earth was still flat and the village was right on the edge, about to fall off. Any helpful ideas?
2
During the interviews, two of the charming oldsters in the village mentioned a seventies colonial government policy to "depopulate" the New Territories by inviting them to emigrate to Britain. Huh? That would be the first time in the history of colonialism, but then, what do I know. Any thoughts/links/info on this, and the Hongkong government's policy regarding the NT in the Seventies?
PS. They also said that the district officers recruited them to work on ships. Any info/thoughts on that?
Cheers, and many thanks,
Martin
Forum:
↧
Museum of old Hong Kong
My colleague, John Anton-Smith, has asked me to query whether there is a physical museum, either already in existence or in the planning, that might display some of the artefacts mentioned on Gwulo. In John's view, this could help to raise awareness of Gwulo among residents and tourists alike. He may have some items to contribute to such a museum.
Forum:
↧
Secret Files of UK Govt 1842-1997
I understand that there is lots of information that the British Govt has compiled about HK over the years and much of this is now available to the public. Just wondered if this has been covered at all by Gwulo ? I am aware of a recent book called "Secret 1842-1997 " by Wong Kan-Tai but i have no idea how to obtain a copy. Are you aware of other similar publications ? Thanks Jonathan Foxall
Forum:
↧
↧
The World of Suzie Wong
Suzie Wong film shoot b., by Andrew Suddaby
Suzie Wong film shoot a., by Andrew Suddaby
These two original photographs were taken in very early 1960 by a member of the Royal Air Force when he came across a film unit filming at Aberdeen harbour, and they recently appeared for sale on eBay. Recognising the face of William Holden, the male actor who appeared in 'The World of Suzie Wong', I was intrigued that the actress playing Suzie Wong was not Nancy Kwan but was Frances Nuyen, who had starred in the Broadway play and who was originally cast as Suzie for the film. Before its completion she was replaced by Nancy Kwan and much of the original footage filmed in Hong Kong and the studio had to be re-shot with Nancy Kwan. The two photographs show several film crew at work. I bought both images and donated them to Gwulo.
There cannot be many other photographs that show Frances Nuyen's as Suzie - unless anyone knows otherwise? Andrew Suddaby
Forum:
↧
Sek Kong ..C Sguadron 16th/5th Lancers..1974 to 1976
Christmas Greetings to you all,
I am hoping that someone out there can help me put an accurate final stage to a total rebuild of a Scorpion (CVRT) light British Army Tank that for the first three years of its operational life......Jan74 to April76 served with C Sqn 16/5 Lancers.
The rebuild of this Tank has been an on going project that has taken 8 years to virtually complete.
The Tank was decommissioned in November 1996 and was partially stripped to spend its final days as a " Hard Target " on Salisbury plain ranges.....it was saved this indignity and is only 30 Plus working hours away from coming to life.
The final stage is a full repaint in the colours that it would have had back in 74... along with the correct insignia....and this is where I need some help...
I know that the unit markings were '2' worn over an RAC arm-of-service sguare and the formation sign of 48 Gurkha Brigade...but need to be sure of colours and locations of the marks.
Might somebody possibly have images of British armour of that time....and with luck, maybe a Scorpion Tank?
fingers crossed
Chris Webb
..
Forum:
↧
The Italian (Canossian) Convent in Caine Road
When I was in Hong Kong this month, I met up with Bob Tatz, who was on a book signing trip to HK. Bob and I first met during WW2 in the old Italian Convent, on Caine Road, which was our mutual refuge during the last years of the Japanese Occupation. He is kindly donating all the proceeds from the sale of his memoir (Lost in the Battle for Hong Kong) to the Canossian Sisters. He mentioned to Sister Therese, the current archivist there, that I, too, was in town, and she asked to meet me. She gave me a personal tour of the old Chapel where I had been an altar boy during the War. Alas, the rest of the beautiful old convent has gone, but the Chapel is a registered Monument to be preserved.
Sister Theresa explained that she could handle emails, but that was about the limit of her abilities with the World Wide Web, so she asked if I could find anything of interest for their archives. It occurred to me that Gwulo may well be a great place to start, in our search for relevant info. If any of your members has any info which may be of interest to the Canossians, Sister Theresa would be most grateful to receive it. I will, of course, explore any other nook and cranny I can think of which may help us achieve our aims. Their email address is: cmissionhk@netvigator.com
Paul Atroshenko
Forum:
↧
pubs, inns and taverns
This may have been covered elsewhere, but does anyone know of a list of the pubs, inns, taverns etc in Hong Kong in the nineteenth century. I'm looking at the moment for the Liverpool Arms, the Diver's Inn and Welcome Tavern, the Bristol Arms and the Crown and Anchor. I think they're all in or around Queen's Road Central, but it would be interesting for the stories I'm looking at to know where they were along that stretch. Thanks - Patricia
Forum:
↧
↧
Stanley Camp Internees
Hello everyone. I am looking for pictures of the hotels on Des Voeux Rd where civilians rounded up by the Japanese forces in January 1942 were held prior to their removal to Stanley. I am particularly interested in the Tai Koon Hotel where my future mother-in-law Mavis Ming was incarcerated but pictures of any of these hotels would be fine. I have seen one such photo in the book Hong Kong Internment, 1942 to 1945 by Geoffrey Charles Emerson but would like to get a clearer copy if possible. Any assistance would be appreciated. Richard Horsburgh
Forum:
↧
Rotary Club of Hong Kong
Hi, I am researching the history of Rotary Club of Hong Kong, and the background of their founding presidents. The club is found in HK in 1931, and soon it will be 90 years old next year. Please point me to the right direction in the resarch.
Peter Lau
President-Elected for Rotary year 2020/2021
Forum:
↧
Gwulo meet-up on Tue., 17th Dec.
Hello, a few of us will be meeting David the webmaster for pre-Christmas drinks at around 5 pm on Tuesday, 17th Dec. The venue is to be determined -- it would likely be around Central. Please post below if you are interested to join.
Forum:
↧
Film from March 1946
On the website of the Imperial War Museum, a number of (silent) films can be found. Some of them are on war criminals trials and include other scenes. They seem to be raw materials that have been used for e.g. Movietone Films like this.
One of the films shows the recovering Hong Kong from March 1946 (here). The description on the website is as follows:
Full description
Part 1, shot on 6 March 1946: Platform sign reads 'Kowloon'. Repeat shot of the sign with pan to a passenger locomotive reversing. Chinese labourers wearing conical straw hats at work on Kai Tak airfield; behind them a Vultee Vengeance divebomber comes in as if to land before taking off again. Train arriving at Kowloon station; a woman with a pole hurries alongside and a number of buckets are passed out of a carriage window to her, while the passengers disembark. Passengers walk along the platform and the camera pans to follow them. Passengers pass through a gate and hand tickets to a collector. A trolley piled high with square objects is pulled along by a number of civilians. The trolley is hauled towards the docks. A view of a gas holder or gasometer, with an Indian soldier on sentry duty and civilians with handcarts. Out of focus view of a Dakota landing at Kai Tak. Passengers, apparently from the Dakota, get down from a lorry; pan to a sign which reads 'No. 201 Staging Post RAF Transport Command'. The gates of the Hong Kong Electric Company are pushed open and a car drives in, apparently carrying company officials; pan to chimney stacks. Very dark interior apparently showing an engineer checking an instrument panel. A clearer shot of the same. Looking down on a coal heap with civilian labourers; pan to the gasometer. Civilian women hauling a trolley laden with pieces of scrap metal.
Full description
Part 2, shot on 28 March 1946: Exterior of headquarters Hong Kong Land Forces with a sign which reads 'War Crimes Court No.5'; the General Officer Commanding Hong Kong, Major-General Frank Festing, gets out of his car and goes inside as the camera follows him (the cameraman slightly misjudges this shot and Festing is cut off at the chest). A civilian woman selling newspapers with billboard that reads 'China Mail - Hong Kong War Trials Begin - Grim tales of torture and killing - Security Council deadlock'. Closer shot of the headline. Japanese war crimes suspects get down from a lorry. They are marched into the court compound led by the senior accused; they keep step and are escorted by armed Commandos. Very dark interior shot of the courtroom.
The last scenes show soldiers patrolling in Central (a sign says Queen's Road Central).
I'm not sure of the exact locations shown, e.g. gas works could be Ma Tau Kok or Shek Tong Tsui. Any help is welcome.
Forum:
↧
↧
Two Events Relating to Far East Prisoners of War
Two events in the north of England for anyone interested in the POW and civilian internee experience in the Pacific war:
Secret Art of Survival, an exhibition of art created by prisoners of war in the Far East is on at the VIctoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool until June 20th, 2020 (secret-art-of-survival-exhibition-opens-at-liverpool’s-victoria-gallery-museum)
Making and Marking Memory - a conference co-hosted by the Researching Far East Prisoner of War History Group and taking place in Liverpool between June 5-7. This needs pre-booking:
making-and-marking-memory-widening-perspectives-on-far-east-captivity
There are some interesting international speakers down to address the conference.
Forum:
↧
Missing posts and photos.
Working on some anti-spam yesterday, I managed to break the website. I've restored from a backup which means about 24 hours worth of posts have been lost. I made copies and will post them back later today. Sorry for any trouble this caused.
Regards, David
Forum:
↧
Barracks identification Kowloon side
Hello to one and all, just joined and would like help with picture identification.My father Albert Stephenson was posted to HK for his national service arround 1952/53.He was serving as a driver in the Royal Corp of Transport,he told me his main taskes was based around transporting new tanks up to the border with China.Or recovery of broken down dead tanks, back to be serviced and overaled back to a working state.I am not sure of where his regular barracks were located,so would like to ask if anyone can help identify the location of these old black and white pictures.
Forum:
↧