Tymon Mellor: The first water supply and distribution network for Kowloon commenced operations on the 24th December 1895. The source of the water was from a series of wells, providing a daily capacity of 232,000 gallons and supporting a population of 13,200. By 1898, the demand for water was out-stripping supply; a new water source was required along with additional […]
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Duncan Tong (唐鼎康) died a few years ago aged 103. He was a pioneer of the plastic flowers industry and owned the Hong Kong Artificial Flower Works in San Po Kong (and apparently not Li Ka-Shing as is often incorrectly reported) where the 1967 riots started. “The political struggle between the colonial government and the leftist camp started in a […]
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Many thanks to IDJ for sending in the following newspaper article. HF: I have retyped the original article to aid clarity and searches on the website. Thanks to SCT for proof reading the retyped copy of the original article. THE CULMINATION OF A GRAND ENGINEERING FEAT THE BEACON HILL TUNNEL REPATRIATED CHINESE MINERS ENTER MALARIAL DISTRICT BRITISH PLUCK TRIUMPHS (By […]
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York Lo: Millie’s (妙麗)– the Iconic Handbag and Shoes Brand Left: the iconic Millie’s neon sign on Nathan Road at night; Right: Millie’s founder Alan Lau on the cover of Economic Digest at the height of his success in 1982 In the 1970s and early 1980s, Millie’s was the leading handbag and shoes manufacturer and retailer in Hong Kong. Its […]
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Tymon Mellor: At 11.39pm on the 3rd August, 1972 Mr M. McMillan, a construction superintendent became the first member of the public to drive from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon through the new cross-harbour tunnel. The tunnel project was a first, not only for connecting Hong Kong to Kowloon, but also for using private capital to finance the project under a […]
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James Chan: I have just come across this CEDD report. The major scope of works under the project included the demolition of buildings of Kennedy Town Incineration Plant and Abattoir, and reinforced concrete chimneys. Traditional top-down method was adopted to demolish the main buildings of Kennedy Town Incineration Plant and Abattoir, which was a structure consisting of steelwork and reinforced concrete. […]
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Nick Cranfield, in Shanghai, has been researching the history of the SS Tien Loong. And discovered: The SS Invergoil was built by Harland and Wolff at Belfast in 1922 and launched on 21st September 1922. It was delivered to the British Mexican Petroleum Company on 9th November 1922. But subsequently sold to Moller & Co of Shanghai in 1936 and […]
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“The firm of Messrs. Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co., established in 1864, is the largest and best known in the wine and spirit trade in the East. The headquarters are in Rangoon Street, Crutched Friars, London, and there are branches in Glasgow, Shanghai, Hongkong, Singapore, and Tientsin; whilst agencies have been established at Port Arthur, Chefoo, Weihaiwei, Kiaochau, Hankow, Foochow, Taiwan, […]
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Elizabeth Ride has sent a British Army Aid Group (BAAG) report from 1st March 1945, An Outline of Conditions in Occupied Hong Kong which was compiled in early 1945 for use by the Civil Affairs Committee which was to take on the rehabilitation of HK after the planned allied invasion. HF: The report is lengthy so I am going to divide it […]
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IDJ has sent the following newspaper article… HF: I have retyped the original article to aid clarity and searches. I would welcome any information about (or images of) Ye Olde Printerie. Thanks to SCT for proofreading the retyped version. Hong Kong Personalities MR. V.C.LABRUM This is the ninety-second of the exclusive series of sketches of leading Colony residents by Mr. […]
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