From the Archive

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

History of Mapping Hong Kong Part 12 – Post War Geological Maps

A group of people sitting on a bench Description automatically generated

Tymon Mellor: Between 1923 and 1933, four Canadian geologists mapped and documented the territory’s geology. This resulted in the first geological map being published in 1936, along with a memoir published much later in 1952. In the post war environment, the high population growth and economic development required new and extensive infrastructure, in turn requiring a better understanding of the […]

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Gande, Price & Company Ltd – Hong Kong agents and wine and spirits merchants

Gande, Price & Co Ltd, Premises In Shanghai 1917 Virtual Shanghai

The firm was established in 1892. It had branches in Hong Kong, Kobe and Taipei.(1) And Shanghai. This calendar poster of Gande, Price & Co., Ltd. was designed by Kwan Wai-nung and printed by Asiatic Lithographic Printing Press. The lady in cheongsam leaned against the Western-styled sofa. The English name of the Company was printed on the top of the […]

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Hongkong Land Ltd: The Growth of a Giant

Hongkong Land 1898 1906 The First Buildings

Paul Mark Onslow kindly sent me a manuscript of The Hongkong Land Company’s 90th Anniversary 1889-1979. This contains information about a number of Hong Kong companies. Here I am incorporating the main article about Hongkong Land subtitled The Growth of a Giant written by Nigel Cameron. HF: I have retyped the article to increase legibility and aid searches on the […]

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Hongkong Shipyards Among World’s Busiest, newspaper article 1939

Taikoo Dockyard 1950 Source Barrow Submariners Association

HF: Sent in by IDJ and posted here 81 years to the day after first being published in 1939. I am a little unsure of the spelling of one shipping company mentioned, indicated by [?] and would be grateful to be informed of any errors I have made in retyping the original article. Hongkong Shipyards Among World’s Busiest THE TOTAL […]

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The five Tang brothers – oyster farming Deep Bay, Sui Luen Weaving Mill 瑞麟 織造廠, Sui Luen Towel Mill 瑞麟毛巾 廠, Tung On Cheong Bakery 同安祥餅家 – further information provided by a granddaughter

Five Tang Brothers Business Locations Of, Source Jennie Tang

HF: Jennie Tang, the granddaughter of one of the five Tang brothers, left a comment about the original Historical Building Appraisal article shown below. It should be noted that Jennie doubts the existence of the third brother mentioned in the Appraisal. When I contacted her she kindly sent further information, and the two photos shown here, especially about her grandfather, […]

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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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