Hugh Farmer was recently on holiday in Burma (in 2013) and visited the town of Pathein (Bassein) where he visited the Shwe Sar Umbrella Workshop which produces exquisite hand-made parasols. He mentioned this to group member Malcolm Morris, who lived in Hong Kong in the 1970s. Malcolm remembers his mother using a parasol which he thinks she bought in the […]
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HF: Matthew Lai recently posted this comment on our article, The Orient Tobacco Manufactory Company – updated information. “I’m not sure will this photo be useful for any research, but this is truely a mark of history that should be shared. I found a few of these packages remain. They are really beautifully printed, the picture was not just printed on […]
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HF: “The manufacture of bronze cutlery in Hong Kong began some eight years ago and already has earned a reputation for fine quality and excellent craftsmanship. At the recent 9th Washington State International Trade Fair, the dazzling rows of knives, forks and spoons in elaborately-carved canteens or brocade-covered boxes attracted much interest from overseas buyers, and it is certain that […]
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York Lo: Makers of Preserved Fruits – Wong Wing Kee, Lee Wah Mui, Hing Ah, Lee Sin Kee, Yam Hop Hing and Koon Wah I wrote an article earlier on the website about the “Five Treasures” of the HK sauce industry. Another traditional Chinese food product industry which is closely associated with sauce is preserved fruit (eg. Dried plums) as […]
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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: The venerable firm of Arnholds, Karberg Company was founded in 1866 and I believe has had a continuous presence in Hong Kong since then, barring when it was liquidated during World War One. The company currently deals in building materials and engineering equipment distribution. Arnholds seems to have had close connections to the Asiatic Petroleum Co. Ltd about which we […]
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If you arrived in Hong Kong after 1994 you will not have seen the Kowloon Walled City. And even if you have lived here all your life or came to Hong Kong before the mid 1990s you may not have been inside this fascinating and densely populated area. It became an enclave after the New Territories was leased to Britain […]
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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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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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Three repurposed factories in Tsuen Wan to deliver exhibition space, fashion catwalk shows and co-working opportunities for homespun innovation When the hoardings come down at The [Nan Fung Textiles] Mills, the four years spent on rejuvenating the cluster of disused cotton mills in Tsuen Wan will not be immediately apparent – and the architects wouldn’t have it any other way. […]
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