James Chan: The SCMP had an article on 9th December 2014 about re-using the Nan Fung Textiles building at Nos 4,5 and 6 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, into a “creative landmark for fashion culture and an incubator for young design talent.” The article says that “the original mills played a key role when the group was founded in […]
» Read more
James Chan: I found this 1889 map while looking through an archaelogical assessement of the MTR West Island line. The map shows Kennedy Town. On it are a silk works betwen Cadogan and Davis Streets. And a rope works along Forbes Street between Davis Street and Smithfield. What does anyone know about either of these two works? This article was […]
» Read more
James Chan: In 1863 Thomas Sutherland became the first chairman of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock. He was 29. The following has been extracted from the Dictionary of Hong Kong Biography. Both the author Robert Nield and HK University Press have given permission for extracts to be used in this article. Robert Nield: “Thomas Sutherland was the founder of one […]
» Read more
James Chan: I was reading about the Public Steelyard system which was used at Luen Wo market, Fanling, NT, Hong Kong. What was this system? What was the origin of the term? When was it used? Was it used all over the NT or the whole of HK? This Q+A was first posted on 18th February 2014
» Read more
James Chan: John L Sardy was connected to the Motor Car Works, 8 Saracen’s Chambers, Snow Hill, London which sold the products of the Steam Vehicle Company of America, Pennsylvania, USA, for which Sardy was the General Agent. In 1894 John’s life was about to dramatically change! “John L Sardy was engaged by the R.E. Dietz Company to circumnavigate the globe […]
» Read more
James Chan: The SCMP of 26th October 2015 contained an article which began: Hong Kong’s first locally designed electric bus will roll out onto the city’s roads next month in a test run its creators hope will boost the local electric vehicle industry. The 12.5-tonne single deck electric bus, designed by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Automotive Parts […]
» Read more
James Chan: I thought this map would be useful. Here is a snipped version of HK Island and Kowloon. The full version can be seen in the link below. This shows rather small maps of reclamation development: a) up to 1887 b) 1888-1924 c) 1925-1945 d) 1946-1967 e) 1968-1976 f) 1977-1996 This article was first posted on 21st March 2015. […]
» Read moreI heard that there was a serious plan to build the KCR around the coast because it was thought the Beacon Hill tunnel was too long to build. I suppose it would have taken the Western route through Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Can anyone confirm this? And provide a map and details of where the railway would have gone? […]
» Read more