From the Archive

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

Once Upon A Time in Mongkok: Chow Ngai Hing Knitting Factory

Chow Ngai Hing Knitting Factory 1941 Detail Four Image Of The Factory

York Lo: Once Upon A Time in Mongkok: Chow Ngai Hing Knitting Factory One of Chow Ngai Hing’s brands – the Horse trademark. In Mongkok, there are four streets which have names there are associated with garments – Yim Po Fong Street (染布房街, dyeing mill street), Hak Po Street (黒布街, black cloth street), Pak Po Street (白布街,white cloth street) and Sai […]

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Harpers – the Family, the Dealership and the first 50 years of Ford automobiles in Hong Kong

Harpers Ford Automobiles In HK Detail B Image 1 York Lo

York Lo: Harpers – the Family, the Dealership and the first 50 years of Ford automobiles in Hong Kong Left: Harper House on Ma Tau Wai Road in To Kwa Wan (now BMW Building); Right: 1938 Ford ad by Harpers promoting the new Ford Ten. For close to a century, Wallace Harper & Co (also known as Harpers) has been […]

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Synthetic Marble Pioneer Dr. Andrew Liu and his Family

Andrew Liu, Synthetic Marble Pioneer, Detail Image 1 York Lo

York Lo: Synthetic Marble Pioneer Dr. Andrew Liu and his Family While his father physician Dr. Liu Yan-tak and sibling jurist Benjamin Liu and politician Dorothy Liu might have a higher profile, Dr.  Andrew Tze-chiu Liu (1929-2000) left his mark in HK industries as the founder of Marble Synthetic Products, the first local manufacturer of synthetic marble in the 1970s […]

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Chy Loong Ginger Factory adverts

Chy Loong Ginger Factory Image 1 York Lo

Thanks to IDJ for sending these adverts in which complement York Lo’s article on the company linked below. The image of the Chy Loong Ginger factory on the Home Page of this article was originally included in the article below compiled by York Lo. This article was first posted on 10th September 2020. Related Indhhk articles: Chy Loong Ginger Factory […]

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Japanese map of HK Harbour during the occupation WW2 – translation and transcription

Kwong Chi Man has kindly translated the Japanese names of the piers shown in columns at the bottom of this map of Hong Kong harbour which was drawn during the occupation, WW2. Elizabeth Ride has kindly transcribed the faint handwritten English ‘translation’ alongside the Japanese. Many thanks to both contributors. KCM: This map of the Japanese Harbour Authority (under the […]

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Relocation of Wanchai Pier results in 20% Star Ferry passenger loss – SCMP article

HF: The SCMP of 7th September 2015 contained an article titled, ‘Isolated pier harbours problems for city icon‘. This referred to a 20% drop in passenger numbers at the Wanchai Pier experienced by the Star Ferry Company since the pier was moved to a more isolated location in August 2014. Operations manager Samson Leung Shui-kin, pictured below right, with Star […]

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Symposium : Postwar Design and Industry in East Asia

HF: Jennifer Wong, Assistant Curator, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has sent details of  a public symposium and industrial design history workshop to be held this Friday 12th in Kowloon Tong and Saturday 13th in Shenzen. Subject: Import/Export: Postwar Design and Industry in East Asia. You’ll find full details at http://www.westkowloon.hk/en/whats-on/current-forthcoming/event-type/highlights    

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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