From the Archive

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

Harry Long – employment with Kung Lee Steamship Co and HK and Yaumatei Ferry Co

HF: Harry Kin Hong Long divided his life between New Zealand and Hong Kong. In the latter he worked for two companies, Kung Lee Steam Ship Co. and HK and Yaumati Ferry Co. Harry’ s daughter, Judy Chan, has kindly sent a considerable amount of biographical detail about him. In this article I have extracted that which relates directly to […]

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Pearl Oysters at Mirs Bay (Pearl Pool), Tai Po Sea, during the Five Dynasties – details of overland route to Tuen Mun

Pearl Farming In HK Courtesy SCMP

A short 1984, Hong Kong Government Publication about Hong Kong’s Country Parks contains information to add to that which we have in already posted articles about the pearl industry in Hong Kong. I would imagine that there must an academic article on this subject hiding away but I have not been able to find one yet. Naturally, I would be […]

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Taikoo Dockyard Managers – John Finnie, 1937 – ?

IDJ has sent a series of articles about managers at Taikoo Dockyard: “John Finnie, the present Manager, was born at Greenock in 1897 and served his apprenticeship with Scotts’ Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. He came to Taikoo Dockyard as Ship Draughtsman in 1924, became Assistant Manager in 1930, and was appointed Manager in 1937 on K.E. Greig’s retirement. The […]

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Private Technical Schools – World, Southeast and Columbia

Private Technical Schools Image 4 York Lo

York Lo: Private Technical Schools – World, Southeast and Columbia While the government and many industry organizations have played a role in providing the necessary vocational training for various industries in HK, several private technical schools emerged in the 1930s to 1950s to fill the unmet need of training workers for the burgeoning electronics industry. Of these, the most famous […]

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French trading companies in Hong Kong 1918-1941

French Trade Companies Image G

Dr. François Drémeaux, Honorary Professor, Department of History, The University of Hong Kong, is currently working on the presence of French companies in Hong Kong during the interwar period. He has kindly sent three charts showing a selection of these companies. The third one shows: The main French trading houses in Hong Kong (1918-1941) The earlier articles are linked below. I […]

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Recently Published

Q+A58 Information needed about a Leading Hong Kong Dressmaker, Lily Nègre, 1920s

Lily Negre Image B Of Lily Only

HF: Suzanne Clouthier has sent the following script and images highlighting Lily Nègre, who Suzanne’s grandfather described as having a reputation as a great seamstress in the Orient, possibly Hong Kong. Both Suzanne and I would welcome further information about Lily, and I would also like to learn more about others involved in the fashion industry in Hong Kong between […]

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Industrial Districts – North District

The main urban areas in this district are Sheung Shui and Fanling. It also includes the rural towns of Ping Che, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling, several villages and many islands, some inhabited including Ap Chau (Robinson Island) and Kat O Chau (Crooked Island). This article is the result of several people’s research  into industrial development, manufacturing, and other related topics in […]

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