From the Archive

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

Hong Kong Rope Manufacturing Company build new factory in Singapore

Hong Kong Rope Manufactoring Company, Colonial Industrial Estate, Hillview, Singapore, Ijamestann.blogspot

IDJ has kindly sent the following newspaper article about the Hong Kong (or sometimes Hongkong) Rope Manufacturing Company planning a rope producing factory in Singapore. Thanks to SCT for proofreading the retyped article. That work is now going ahead with the establishment of a rope works in Singapore was disclosed by Mr G.E. Marden, MC, in his statement to shareholders […]

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West Rail – Part 5 Construction – Southern Section

Word Image 73983 1

Tymon Mellor: With the approval of the environmental impact assessment in March, 1998 and endorsement of the Project Agreement in September 1998, work on the construction of West Rail could commence. The West Rail project management team had already started tendering the key construction packages and with the approval of the scheme, the initial packages were awarded allowing a ground […]

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Second harbour water pipe line completed, Shing Mun reservoir to Hong Kong island, 1935

Reservoirs, Cachment Areas And Pipelines Of Kowloon District, The Far East Review Oct 1934 Chinarail Gwulo

IDJ has sent the following newspaper report about the construction of a second water pipe running from Shing Mun reservoir to Hong Kong Island, the first being laid in 1929. Thanks to SCT for proofreading the retyped article. 2ND HARBOUR PIPE LINE NEARLY COMPLETED ENSURING ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE COLONY DIVERS EXCEED ALL EXPECTATIONS ISLAND LINK WITH SHING MUN […]

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C Williams, Able Seaman, HMS Kent – died in accident at “HK Dockyard”, 1910

HF: While on holiday recently in Aberystwyth, Wales, UK, I came across this memorial photograph  of Able Seaman, C Williams. The ‘Hongkong Dockyard’ could refer to either of the two large shipyards in 1910, Taikoo, or HK and Whampoa. However the latter was more usually known as Kowloon Docks so I am guessing AB Williams died at Taikoo on HK […]

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Ho A-mei – developer and owner of the silver mine, Mui Wo, and HK political activist

1864 Ho Image

The following article has been extracted from the Dictionary of Hong Kong Biography. The article about Ho A-mei was written by Elizabeth Sinn and first published in the Dictionary of Hong Kong Biography, edited by May Holdsworth and Christopher Munn. The publisher, HK University Press, has kindly granted permission for it to be posted here, but retains copyright over this material from […]

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Fireworks article HK Trade Bulletin July 1960

Fireworks Article Image 2

HF: We don’t have very much posted on the manufacture of fireworks. To add to what little we have here is a Hong Kong Trade Bulletin, Fireworks, published by the Commerce and Industry Department in July 1960: Source: The Hong Kong Memory Project Hong Kong Memory (HKM) is a multi-media web site that gives free and open access to digitized materials […]

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Recently Published

NEW Henry Charles Forde 1894 superintended cable telegraph from Singapore to Hong Kong

In his introduction to the article 1871 Singapore – Hong Kong Cable on his website, History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications, linked below, Bill Burns writes:- The China Submarine Telegraph Company was set up by John Pender in 1869 to link Hong Kong into his growing network of cable companies. Telcon manufactured the cable and used CS Agnes, Kangaroo, Belgian and Minia to lay […]

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Wo Fat Hing Distillery production of 玉冰燒酒 (Juk Bing Siu Zau) or 肉醪燒 (Juk Lou Siu)

Mike T: Regarding the Wo Fat Hing Distillery I’m guessing the type of wine specifically made there was  玉冰燒酒 (Juk Bing Siu Zau) or 肉醪燒 (Juk Lou Siu), as they mention pork being placed in the wine as part of the process. Wikipedia says that it’s, “…a Cantonese rice liquor with over 100 years of history, made with steamed rice. After distillation, […]

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Henry Charles Forde 1894 superintended cable telegraph from Singapore to Hong Kong

In his introduction to the article 1871 Singapore – Hong Kong Cable on his website, History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications, linked below, Bill Burns writes:- The China Submarine Telegraph Company was set up by John Pender in 1869 to link Hong Kong into his growing network of cable companies. Telcon manufactured the cable and used CS Agnes, Kangaroo, Belgian and Minia to lay […]

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The business of night soil collection

The business of night soil collection Moira Chan-Yeung, FHKCP, FRCPC (Internal Medicine) Honorary Clinical Professor, The University of Hong Kong; Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia; https://www.hkmj.org/system/files/hkmj-v22n5-hkmms.pdf Member, Education and Research Committee, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society Reminiscence: FIG 1. Receipt issued by the Hong Kong Kowloon Night Soil Collection Company (Authorised by the Hygiene Department, […]

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