The Ma On Shan Iron Mine

Ma On Shan Mine Source Getty Images + Scmp

HF: The Ma On Shan Iron Mine operated for 70 years between 1906-1976. Small-scale open cast mining was carried out between 1906-1949, with underground mining beginning in 1953. Mining had moved entirely underground by 1959. Major development work occurred in the 1960s, after all the reserves in the upper levels had been exhausted. In 1963, 5,458 metres of main tunnels […]

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World War Two – 1944 BAAG reports – Four HK Shipyards

HF: Elizabeth Ride has sent information about four Shipyards from BAAG reports made during the Japanese occupation. This information is of interest with regard to what was (or wasn’t ) happening in them in 1944. The first Taikoo Docks is well known. The other three much less so. Kwong Hip Lung Shipyard, Wing On Shing Shipyard and Tai Kok Tsui […]

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Three of Hong Kong’s oldest restaurants, Part One – Tai Ping Koon

Tai Ping Koon Restaurant In Guangzhou Courtesy Tai Ping Koon

From Tai Ping Koon, which opened in 1860 and served Sun Yat-sen, to Gaylord Indian Restaurant, open since 1972, to the award-winning abalone served in Forum since 1977, these restaurants have stood the test of time. In a city where restaurants come and go with dizzying speed, those which have stood the test of time are few and far between. […]

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Chao Kuang Piu – Hong Kong wool magnate and co-founder of Dragonair

K.P. Chao Image

HF: Chao Kuang Piu (24th November 1920 – 12 March 2021) was a Hong Kong based Chinese industrialist, sometimes referred to as Hong Kong’s ”Wool Magnate” given his involvement in Hong Kong’s garment industry. He was one of the co-founders of Dragonair, Hong Kong’s first Chinese owned airline, which was subsequently acquired by Cathay Pacific. Chao was born on 24th […]

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Pacific Enamelware Factory (太平洋搪瓷廠)

Pacific Enamelware Factory Image 1 York Lo

em 8/5/18 York Lo: Pacific Enamelware Factory (太平洋搪瓷廠) Pacific Enamelware Factory was one of the leading enamelware manufacturers in Hong Kong in the 1950s-60s before its closure in 1970. Pacific Enamelware Factory next to vegetable fields in Tsuen Wan in 1957 (Source: HKU Libraries) The firm was a partnership between Chua Kian-bun (蔡建文, 1898-1983), a prominent Fukienese businessman with business […]

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Dairy Farm, Pokfulam, recent photographs of structures within the estate

At the end of September 2015, Julian Kwong joined a group visiting the Dairy Farm estate at Pokfulam. He took several photos of structures at the farm and has provided a brief description of what each image shows. This map shows  the farm, its buildings and other structures. (1) Thanks to Paul Onslow for providing it. See Paul’s article, The Dairy Farm […]

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George M. Lau – Father of the Hong Kong wig Industry

George M Lau Father Of The HK Wig Industry Image A Detail York Lo

York Lo: George M. Lau – Father of the Hong Kong wig Industry Left: Advertisement of Regina Hair Products from the early 1970s; Right:  1953 ad of George M. Lau & Bros. (Source: IDJ) In 1970, the Hong Kong wig industry included 478 factories which employed 5 percent of the city’s total workforce (39000 workers) and its export value of […]

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