IDJ has sent extracts from an in-house Taikoo Dockyard book of the 1950s which cover a wide range of company facilities including a brief description of each and illustrative photographs. The Dock was at the height of its importance during this period, employed around 4,500 people, and offered a range of services which extended considerably beyond shipbuilding and ship maintenance. […]
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IDJ has sent the following newspaper article about S.H. Dodwell who was a prominent businessman in Hong Kong before World War Two. As you will see he was chairman of several Hong Kong companies, including Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Dairy Farm, the Ice and Cold Storage Company and Hong Kong Brewers and Distillers, Managing Director of Dodwell and […]
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York Lo: Cost Plus Bazaar (美廉市場) and Mark V (美發) Left: Chinese advertisement for Cost Plus Bazaar at the Ocean Terminal in 1964 featuring some of the Japanese furniture. The store opened daily from 10 to 10 (WKYP, 1964-7-19) American retailers, big and small, have been the key driving force of industrial development in HK and China for the past […]
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Elizabeth Ride has sent the Naval section of a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) Waichow Intelligence Summary (WIS No.6) dated 14th September 1942. This covers shipping movements in and out of Hong Kong during the Japanese occupation in World War Two during late August and September 1942 and scheduled sailing dates for October 1942. These reports also describes time spent by […]
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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.” Here is an introduction to this British shipping company […]
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On 28th March 2024 Stephen Davies, Ex-Director of The Hong Kong Maritime Museum, left the following comment. ”This [article] isn’t quite right accurate. According to the SCMP (22 May, 1954 p.17) Great Southern (not South) Fishing Industries Ltd. got approval the previous day for the Southern Glory, built at Kwong Cheung Hing, Cheungshawan, which was steel built, 126.3 GRT, 94.95′ […]
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IDJ has sent in more information about the Lam Tei Quarry and its connection to the proposed Ping Shan Airport. This time a Technical Bulletin from the Airfield Construction Service (RAF) from May 1946. Click the images to enlarge. RECORD BLASTING AT PING SHAN A.C.S Technical Magazine Vol. 2. No. 2 May 1946 Several times a week the echoes […]
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James Chan: The Borneo Company Ltd had a very interesting history. In 1856 it apparently opened an office in Hong Kong and it would be interesting to know more about the company’s operations here. Rudi Butt’s fascinating Hong Kong’s First blog (linked below) contains this: This summary of the company comes from wikipedia: The Borneo Company Ltd formed in 1856, is […]
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Tymon Mellor: Mining is always a high risk enterprise, but in the case of the Lam Tsuen lead mines, it was compounded by remote terrain, objecting villagers and corrupt officials. This is the story of the lead mines on the Lam Tsuen river at Ng Tung Chai, near Tai Po. After the Second World War, interest in mining picked up […]
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York Lo: Lee Seng Heng (李成興魚露): King of Fish Sauce Left: Lee Seng Heng’s Kingfisher trademark featuring medals it won in the 1920s and 1930s. (IP Australia); Right: recent ad for Lee Seng Heng fish sauce (Yue Yick Food Industries) Earlier on the website, we covered many HK sauce makers which have a long history of over a century. Lee […]
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