Gerald Friesen, Professor of History at the University of Manitoba, Canada, was recently in touch as he is researching the career of Alfred Herbert Rennie in that city. Rennie, now an almost forgotten figure in Hong Kong started and briefly operated the Hongkong Milling Company’s flour mill close to what is now Tseung Kwan O. We have several articles about both […]
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Elizabeth kindly sent this BAAG Report WIS # 19 from February 1943, There is a single and brief mention of the Taiwan Transportation Company which was apparently involved in shipping unspecified material from HK to Japan and Formosa. It is likely that this company only existed during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. However any further information about the company […]
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To Tei Wan or “Too-te-wan”, is located at the northwest of D’Aguilar Peninsula, facing Tai Tam Bay, Hong Kong Gazette published in 1841 indicated that Too-te-wan had quarries, and a population of 60 people. Shek O quarry, which has been operated since 1964, is locatedat the hill behind Too-te-wan.(1) Source: Hong Kong Mining History, Jackie CT Chu and Jacky SL […]
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Hall, Russell and Co, and Alexander Hall and Co were two famous Aberdeen shipbuilders with yards next to each other. The Hall Russell Yard was nationalised in July 1977, becoming part of British Shipbuilders Corporation, and then was dedicated to naval work. This was undertaken for British, and Hong Kong governments. A company biography, courtesy of the Grace’s Guides website: Alexander Hall and […]
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Elizabeth Ride has sent the Naval section of a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) Waichow Intelligence Summary (WIS 25) dated 27th March 1943. This covers shipping movements in and out of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two during late February to mid-March 1943. There are a number of Naval Section Intelligence Summaries covering these months which tend to […]
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Elizabeth Ride has sent a number of British Army Aid Group (BAAG) reports regarding Japanese efforts to collect metals, vehicles, machinery, coins etc for export, mainly to Japan, during their occupation of Hong Kong (WW2). Elizabeth has re-typed several of these reports and has kindly added references to assist searching where this has not been done. This was a considerable effort […]
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HF: Maya Gnyp has written to me from Australia: I have come across your website online and wanted to reach out regarding my hunt for an antique Santa Claus toy from Hong Kong circa 1969, 1970, or 1971. I’m producing a documentary about an Australian singer who as an 11 year old boy sang Christmas Carols on a recording for […]
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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
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HF: Our recent article about Arnhold Aviation, a subsidiary of Hong Kong based Arnhold Holdings Ltd which is the corporate descendant of Arnhold, Karberg & Co., a company founded in 1857, says that Arnhold Aviation represented four aircraft manufacturers in China. Three of these I am at least familiar with but the fourth Blackburn I had never heard of. I thought […]
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IDJ has added to the information we have about Arnholds & Company with this extract about the company’s aviation subsidiary based in Shanghai but apparently active throughout China. In the spring of 1928 Arnhold & Co, Ltd. decided to start selling aircraft and hired WEF Jones to head the operation. The Arnhold Aviation Department was born on 1 April 1928. […]
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