Calum Johnston: the attached photograph is of a clock my uncle brought back from Hong Kong where he worked at Whampoa dockyard in the 1920s. I first saw it as a three or four year old when I went to stay with my aunt and uncle (in Glasgow) in the 1930s. I recently started to make an effort to have the […]
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HF: Tymon Mellor’s article, Sha Lo Wan Mine, includes, “A local company, The Bank Line (China) Ltd was interested in production of the ore for shipment to Japan, through Andrew Weir & Co, a local “reputable firm” as advised by the superintendent of Mines in a memo dated 7th January, 1953.” Further research led to our article, Andrew Weir Shipping and Trading […]
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HF writes: I am trying to gather information about this company and not coming up with much. Apparently in mid-January 1942 (ie during the occupation of Hong Kong by the Japanese) the Inland River Operations Company resumed river steamers between Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland. I am not sure whether “resumed” meant the company existed pre-1942 or whether it was […]
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At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, 106 years ago today, the British ocean liner Titanic sank into the North Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada. The massive ship, which carried 2,200 passengers and crew, had struck an iceberg two and half hours before. “Eight Chinese men were among the 2,200 people on board the RMS Titanic. Six […]
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Hugh Farmer: I was recently contacted by Samantha Martin, granddaughter of the subject of this article Frank Gardner. Samantha said there were errors in the original article, shown below which was originally posted in November 2014. I am happy to correct those mistakes she notes and thought it best to start with her recent email and highlight the changes Samantha […]
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Hugh Farmer: When I first came to Lamma Island in the early 1990s a powerful odour greeted the visitor as you entered Yung Shue Wan. The smell was instantly recognisable and initially overwhelmingly unpleasant. The manufacturing of shrimp paste. I got used to the odour. Then I began to actually like it. And now I miss it, it’s still made on […]
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IDJ says the Kaiser Cement plant at Tuen Mun was supposed to be integrated with the CLP Power Station next door to utilise its large quantities of waste ash and dust from burning coal. Kaiser had large compressors/blowers on their site to move the waste products to their site and silos. We have many articles about Green Island Cement Company and […]
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Hugh Farmer: Does anyone know if this London company had any connection to Hong Kong apart from in its name? This advert is from 1847 courtesy of the superb British website www.gracesguide.co.uk. I don’t know where it was originally published. Note that “Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, Hotel & Boarding House Keepers …may be supplied with packages”. That leaves most of us out […]
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Evelyn Char has sent the following information: A few family members have worked for Gold Coin thermal flasks, which was a competitor of the more famous Camel back in the days. The factory used to be located on Sheung Heung Road, To Kwa Wan. The manufacturer was I-Feng Enamelling Company and Freezinhot Bottle Co. Ltd. In fact its development and move to HK was intricately linked […]
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HF: Robert Wilson recently emailed me, “I am engaged in some historical research and looking for information on Thomas Alexander Loughlin who according to the Hong Kong Jurors List, was a sub-manager, then manager of Bank Line from 1915 to 1920. He was also Rowing Captain of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in 1917. If you have any information, or could […]
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