HK Industry during and immediately after World War Two – Utilities

July 5, 2015 Hugh Farmer Articles, Hong Kong Companies, Utilities

Contributions from:-

HF Hugh Farmer
JH James Hayes
IDJ
ER Elizabeth Ride

Charcoal

JH: Extracted from James’ article Charcoal Burning in Hong Kong which was included in the RASHKB Journal Volume 11, 1971.

Not an obvious candidate as a utility but see the reference to North Point Power Plant.

Electricity

1943 Aug “By August the coal stocks were exhausted. The power stations could no longer supply electricity, industrial activity ground to a halt and the colony was plunged into darkness as soon as night fell” (Snow)

China Light and Power

Hok Un Power Station

Elizabeth Ride: An undated British Army Aid Group (BAAG) report made during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, WW2

BAAG KWIZ#75 17.11.44

IDJ has supplied the following photos of China Light & Power’s Hok Un Power Station. The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong ended in August 1945 and all these photos were taken in October of that year.

Click to enlarge.

CLP Hok Un Power Station
Oct 1945 as are the following photographs

Steam Turbine Generators

Steam Turbine
Ron Smith reblading

Visitors on boiler chain grate that feeds in coal

Hong Kong Electric

North Point Power Plant

In 1941, during the Battle of Hong Kong just prior to the Japanese occupation the plant was severely damaged. Casualties included the plant’s manager, Vincent Sorby, who later died in a prison camp of wounds received during the attack.

HF: The chimneys of the power plant can clearly be seen in this Japanese photograph.

North Point Power Station under attack during the Jap invasion

Source: “The Battle of Hong Kong- Hong Kong under the camera of the Japanese Army” Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of History, 2002 Author Mainichi Newspaper, Japan

HF: A rare photograph showing two Japanese tanks on probably King’s Road with the four chimneys of the North Point Power Plant visible in the background.