York Lo: Lee Hung-tong (李漢忠): Thai Chinese Trader, HK Industrialist and Singer Trade between HK and Thailand had existed since the beginning of the colony and in fact the first trading firm in Nam Pak Hong was Yuen Fat Hong which was engaged in the Siam trade and firms that specialized in trading with Thailand are known as “Siam guilds” […]
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Tymon Mellor: As the end of 2020 draws to a close the water storage reservoir at Bishop Hill in Shek Kip Mei has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The relevant Government departments have failed to recognise the importance of this structure in the development of the Kowloon water supply and the unique design of this historic facility. Kowloon […]
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HF: Stephen Davies’ article, Ulderup and Schlüter Shipyard, Sham Shui Po c1900-1914, mentions that the shipyard became the local agents for the Swedish Bolinder marine diesels (Bolinder Rohölmotoren – strictly semi-diesels) – two strokes that for the first two decades of the 20th century were probably the world’s most common small marine diesels although most of their early output seems to have […]
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HF: I was contacted late on 28th December 2020 by Julian who sent the following message: Today a news article popped up that a beautiful service reservoir probably 100 years old in the centre of Kowloon is being demolished without consultation, grading or discussion. It happens that the structure is underground on a hill. Local residents soon discovered that the […]
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York Lo: C.F. Leung, Ng Iu-cheung and L.S. Chang – Directors of Kwong On Bank Before its acquisition by DBS Bank in 1999, Kwong On Bank (廣安銀行) was one of the leading Chinese-owned banks in Hong Kong. Founded in 1935 by Leung Kwai-yee and primarily led by his sons, Kwong On had other significant shareholders such as the trader William […]
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IDJ has sent several adverts for Far East Motors. York Lo: Far East Motors was founded in 1934 when Far East Aviation was awarded the exclusive dealership of Chevrolet (Chevy) in HK and South China by American auto giant General Motors. Its first location was at 26 Nathan Road in Kowloon next to the Peninsula Hotel with 15000 sq ft […]
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York Lo: Filmo Depot (菲林模影機) Left: Filmo Depot’s ad for Filmo 8 in 1939 (China Journal, December 1939); Center: article announcing the re-opening of Filmo Depot after the War in 1947 (HK Sunday Herald, 1947-9-21) Right: Filmo Depot’s ad for its Corrascope films in 1960 (Pacific Island Monthly, May 1960) From the 1930s to the 1970s, Filmo Depot was one […]
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IDJ has sent the following newspaper article of June 1934 which covers opposition in Canton to efforts in Hong Kong to link the Canton – Hankow railway with the Canton – Kowloon railway. This might be read in conjunction with our article, Hong Kong-London direct train service, newspaper article 1935, linked below which also mentions connecting the two railway lines […]
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Tymon Mellor: As you walk down the path from Lead Mine Pass to Tai Po, you will see along the route a number of concrete blocks that once formed the pipe supports from some long abandoned water supply project. The location of the pipeline is isolated and there is no obvious scheme associated with the works. However, this was part […]
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York Lo: Pak Wo Cheung (百和祥) and Secure Industries (保美實業) Chan Ho-sang and friends visiting the ROC consulate general in Honolulu during the Hawaiian trip. Left to right: Mr & Mrs. Wong Kam-fun (黃錦芬), consul general Hu Si-fan (胡世勳), Wong Sik-pun (黃錫彬, the Chan family’s business partner in Asia Motor), Chan Ho-sang, their tour guide Tso Hak-on (曹克安,brother of Tso […]
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