From the Archive

Rediscover stories from Hong Kong’s industrial past, published on this date in previous years.

Joe MacDonald – Asiatic Petroleum employee, China/HK late 1930s

Joe MacDonald was Ian Brown’s father’s cousin. Ian has sent both information about and photos of Mr MacDonald who worked for Asiatic Petroleum in China and in all probability Hong Kong during the late 1930s. He appears to have travelled quite a bit during his time in the former and may well have lived and worked in Shanghai. This undated photo […]

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Kin Sun Manufactory (建新織造廠) and Longfellow shirts

Kin Sun Manufactory And Longfellow Shirts Detail Image 2 York Lo

York LO: Kin Sun Manufactory (建新織造廠) and Longfellow shirts Left: Kin Sun’s ad in Singapore in 1953 warning customers about counterfeited Longfellow shirts (南洋商报, 10 April 1953, Page 7); Right: Kin Sun Manufactory in Sham Shui Po on the right. The bamboo structure was for lowering a coffin from the second floor which was common practice before the 1960s (Uwants)  […]

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The Hong Kong Rattan Industry and some of its key historical players

Rattan Industry Image 20 York Lo

York Lo: The Hong Kong Rattan Industry and some of its key historical players Rattan is one of the oldest industries in Hong Kong and astute merchants and skilled craftsmen in southern China had long profited from importing rattan cane from Southeast Asia (the majority from Indonesia with the remainder from Malaysia, Burma and the Philippines), weaving them into beautiful […]

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Ma On Shan Iron Mine 1906-1976 – biggest mine in HK – further information

HF: This article is the result of several people’s research into Ma On Shan Iron Mine. If you can provide further information about this or any other mine, quarry or dredging activity please email me at: indhhk at gmail dot com Information provided by Hugh Farmer, IDJ, Tymon Mellor and Elizabeth Ride Ma On Shan Mine operated for 70 years […]

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Cheng Hong (鄭航) and Victory Advertising (勝利廣告)

Victory Advertising Detail Image 4 York Lo

York Lo: Cheng Hong (鄭航) and Victory Advertising (勝利廣告) Left: Cheng Hong (center) next to Tin Tin Daily publisher Wai Kee-shun (right) and Miss HK 1969 Tam Mei-mei (left) at the press conference regarding the Miss Hong Kong contest in 1970 (WKYP, 1970-5-5); Right: Article about Victory’s client General cigarettes’ promotional campaign with a song guessing contest across HK ran […]

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