James Chan: Frank Bowden was born in Exeter, England on 30th January 1848. In the early 1870s he came to Hong Kong. By 1872, when only 24, he had made a fortune in the local stock market. It would be of interest to have further details about Bowden’s time here. In particular how he made his fortune at that time […]
» Read more
James Chan: This advert from 1951 is courtesy of Grace’s Guides: British Industrial History. However, the company doesn’t appear to have operated in the UK. So I wonder if it was a Hong Kong based company. If so did it manufacture here? I can find no mention of Walter Dunn & Co. in the HK Public Records Office newspaper search. […]
» Read more
James Chan: The Borneo Company Ltd had a very interesting history. In 1856 it apparently opened an office in Hong Kong and it would be interesting to know more about the company’s operations here. Rudi Butt’s fascinating Hong Kong’s First blog (linked below) contains this: This summary of the company comes from wikipedia: The Borneo Company Ltd formed in 1856, is […]
» Read more
James Chan: William Dolan, Sailmaker, Duddell Street, opposite the French Consulate. Note: 1868 is the correct year of the publication of this advert despite 1866 being mentioned within the advert. First posted: Date unknown Related Indhhk articles: Chutsing, Sailmaker, Endicott’s Bazaar, 1864 Neil Pryde Ltd – sailmaker, windsurfers – first factory Fanling 1970
» Read more
James Chan: Town Island (伙頭墳洲 Fo Tau Fan Chau), also known as Dawn Island is an island located south of the former High Island in Sai Kung District. A drug rehabilitation centre was established on the island in 1976 which is run by Operation Dawn. “Located off Sai Kung and without connection to the power grid, the Island used to rely […]
» Read more
We would be grateful if anyone could provide further information about or images of this company. This article was first posted on 21st March 2017. Related Indhhk articles: J S Hook, Son & Company, shipping and commission agents
» Read more
James Chan: I found this Royal Asiatic Society (HK Branch) ‘Notes and Queries’ article while looking through old volumes of the HKBRAS’ Journals. I thought it would be a useful addition to what we have on rope-making in Hong Kong. I regret that I was unable to find the illustrations that accompanied the article. If you can please contact the […]
» Read more
James Chan: Yau Fung Tours and Transportation Company Ltd, later trading as Hong Kong Bus was incorporated on 11th February 1977 and dissolved on 31st July 2008. “Another operator who had traditionally run an all-single-deck fleet was Yau Fung Tours which introduced six ex-Greater Manchester Fleetlines in 1987. These were followed by two ex-Stagecoach of Perth Neoplan Skyliners. A further single Fleetline […]
» Read more
James Chan: Ten years ago any shop in Hong Kong would have had a landline which you could use, and for free… then quite quickly the number decreased. As one of the few people in Hong Kong without a mobile phone I came to rely on any MTR station to be able to phone on the odd occasion when something was […]
» Read more
James Chan: Jimmy Heung died on 20th November 2014 in Beijing. He co-founded Win’s Entertainment with his elder brother Charles in the 1980s. The company went on to become one of the most successful Hong Kong film studios in the 1990s. Charles formed China Star Entertainment Group. See: SCMP article -Legendary movie mogul dies of cancer at 64 This article was […]
» Read more