HF: The following article about Robert Kotewall was written by John M. Carroll and first published in the Dictionary of Hong Kong Biography, edited by May Holdsworth and Christopher Munn. The publisher, HK University Press, has kindly granted permission for it to be posted here, but retains copyright over this material from 2012. I am including this biography on our […]
» Read more
York Lo: Kan Choi (簡彩): Construction Pioneer and Owner of Man Hing Lane in Central Left: Kan Choi; Right: ad for Choi Yuen Construction (both from the HKBCA yearbook, 1954) Kan Choi (1907-1959) was one of the leading general building contractors in HK in the 1940s and 1950s and served as a director and honorary treasurer of the HK Building […]
» Read more
York Lo: Woo Ping (胡炳) – Weaving and Real Estate Pioneer Top: article about Shun Shing Weaving in the late 1940s with pictures of Woo Ping and the “Three Bears” and “Three Dragons” trademarks; Bottom Golden Hill Commercial Building in Mongkok (Landvision) Woo Ping was a pioneer in the weaving and real estate industry in Hong Kong who was active […]
» Read more
Louis Ha and Dan Waters have kindly both given permission to post their article published in the HKBRAS Journal, Volume 41, 2001. This contains a great deal of information. In particular details about these Hong Kong lighthouses: Green Island Cape Collinson Waglan Tang Lung Chau On life at the lighthouses: Climatic conditions Water Supply Manpower Defence Communications Creature comforts and […]
» Read more
Tymon Mellor: The Shing Mun Valley Scheme was implemented in two stages. The First Section established a new water supply and distribution system including the first cross harbour pipeline. The Second Section provided for the construction of the Jubilee Reservoir with a capacity greater than the total existing storage and possibly “the highest in the British Empire” [i] along with […]
» Read more
York Lo: Kiu Sing Plastic Factory (僑星塑膠廠) Kiu Sing ad for its polythene shoes in 1958 (WKYP, 1958-6-5) Kiu Sing Plastic Factory was one of the leading plastic manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s and was related to Lucky Plastic Factory (see article) covered earlier as its proprietor Jok Yip-wong (祝業旺) and Jok Ying-chung (祝映忠, possibly also went by “Rayston […]
» Read more
Nahaha Lau (NL): Castle Peak Ceramic Company (CPCC) was founded in 1927 by Mr. Lee Tak Luen, Mr. Choi Yin Bo and Mr. Tong Chin Wan. The factory was established near Shek Pai Tau and Tuen Mun San Hui. It was one of the biggest factories in the New Territories back then, and many Tuen Mun residents worked there to support […]
» Read more
York Lo: Luks Industrial (陸氏實業) – Maker of Etron TV Left: Luks founder Luk King-tin (Capital, 1990); Right: logo of Etron TV from a 1988 TV ad in HK listing Luks as its manufacturer and Yin Kin Ltd as its distributors and being available in the Sheung Wan, Yaumatei and Mongkok branch of Wing On (VCRBase) A history of television […]
» Read more
HF: I’ve been contacted by a Chinese lady who is looking into her family history and their involvement in the manufacture of thermos/vacuum flasks. This is my initial investigation into the business around the time her family were involved, the 1950s. Hopefully it will develop into something with greater order and substance. Vacuum flasks, also known as Dewar flasks, Dewar bottles […]
» Read more
HF: Added information “Another adventurer was the Neapolitan aviator, Francesco de Pinedo (1890-1933) who, in 1925, landed his Savioa S-16ter two-seater hydroplane (nicknamed Gennariello) in Hong Kong harbour.|Engineer Ernesto Campanelli from Oristano was his co-pilot. After Hong Kong they flew on to Shanghai, Japan and Australia before returning to Rome landing on the Tiber River. It was truly a remarkable expedition, […]
» Read more