From the Archive

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

The Rise and Decline of Hong Kong Industry

Clock Making

Hugh Farmer: Industrial development in Hong Kong has a long development. Making boats and shipping related industries were the first to develop. More heavy industries developed by European companies. In the early 20th century, Chinese merchants established factories in Hong Kong, stimulating such industries as textile and the manufacturing of rubber shoes and torches. By the time of Japanese occupation, […]

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Tai O stilt houses installed with solar panels- to be connected to CLP’s grid

Tai O Solar Panels Connecting To CLP Grid SCMP 26.2.17

“Discount the growing throngs of tourists and worsening traffic and not too much has changed for Tai O’s indigenous townsfolk. Shrimp, fish and squid are still laid out to air dry under the sun as they have for generations. But residents from one of the west Lantau town’s fishing villages are beginning to discover an additional use for sunshine through […]

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David L.F. Sung (孫麟方) and Hong Kong Flour Mills (香港麵粉廠)

David LF Sung And HK Flour Mills Detail Image 1 York Lo

York Lo: David L.F. Sung (孫麟方) and Hong Kong Flour Mills (香港麵粉廠) Left: The Hong Kong Flour Mills in Kwun Tong which operated from 1978 to 1995; Right: Golden Statue brand wheat flour made by HK Flour Mills (Ipoh World) In the history of the flour industry in Asia, the Sung/Sun family of Anhui can probably be considered as the […]

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Kowloon (HK & Whampoa) Dockyards during the Occupation 1942-45

Elizabeth Ride: Extracts from reports in the BAAG Intelligence Summaries. 1. Layout. [Map reference 223585: GSGS 3868 HK & New Territories 1/20,000] 2. During hostilities.“Superficial damage was caused by enemy bombing on the first day of the war. Dock gates were not damaged.” 3. During the Occupation. 1942. “The materials left in the Kowloon Docks are rapidly diminishing. There is […]

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Long To Cotton Yarn (浪淘花紗)

Long To Cotton Yarn Detail B Mage 1

York Lo: Long To Cotton Yarn (浪淘花紗) Left: Long To founder Lam Man-yan; Right: Long To Building in Cheung Sha Wan (Primeoffice)  Long To Cotton Yarn was a major manufacturer of cotton yarn in Hong Kong which derived its name from the word play of the Chinese saying based on Tang Dynasty poetry of “Waves washing the sand” (浪淘沙) and […]

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Hong Kong & Whampoa Dockyard – glass plate photographic collection

HF: The Hong Kong Maritime Museum website currently has an online exhibition representing a small portion of the photographic glass plates from its Hong Kong & Whampoa Dockyard collection. All images below are courtesy of the Museum. The Museum website says, with slight adaptation,”The consolidation of the Hongkong Whampoa Dockyard (HWD) with the Taikoo Dockyard in 1973 represented the most significant […]

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HK Textile Industry Photos and Information 1953, 1958 + 1961

IDJ has sent in these pages from HK Government Yearbooks. Can anyone tell us exactly which companies are shown and where these factories/mills were? Click on the images to enlarge. This article was first posted on 31st January 2014. See: The Hongkong Cotton-Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Company Ltd 1898-1914  Shanghai Spinners: Pioneers of Hong Kong’s industrialization, 1947-1955 About Nanyang Cotton […]

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Nan Fung Textiles Mill factory, Tsuen Wan – conservation project

The SCMP of 31st August 2016 has an article about the Mill6 Foundation, a “non-profit arts and cultural institution” run by property developer Nan Fung Group. “The foundation is working on a heritage conservation project called The Mills in Tsuen Wan, restoring the former Nan Fung cotton mill in situ. The project is expected to be completed in 2018. [The project […]

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Recently Published

Elizabeth Ride new website

Gwulo recent email: Two new resources about the British Army Aid Group: Elizabeth Ride’s extensive archives are now available online at elizabethridearchive.com Hong Kong Baptist University have published an excellent online introduction to the BAAG, making good use of online maps and photos to illustrate the story. This article was first posted on 9th September 2020. Related Indhhk articles:

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FER, The Hongkong-Canton Railway

Peter Crush THE HONGKONG-CANTON RAILWAY The report of Mr. G. W. Eves, Chief Resident Engineer of the Hongkong-Canton Railway construction, on the progress of the work up to December 31st, 1907, concludes with the an­nouncement that barring accident and unex­pected delays the line would be completed by December 1909, so far as the contract work was involved and the line […]

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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 […]

» Read more