HF: The SCMP of 7th September 2015 contained an article titled, ‘Isolated pier harbours problems for city icon‘. This referred to a 20% drop in passenger numbers at the Wanchai Pier experienced by the Star Ferry Company since the pier was moved to a more isolated location in August 2014. Operations manager Samson Leung Shui-kin, pictured below right, with Star […]
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HF: I learnt about this company through the personal effects of Harry Kin Hong Long who briefly worked for Kung Lee from March to July 1923. Harry worked on two ships, the Kwong Mo and the Tin Ming as can be seen in his appointment letter below. Julia Bradshaw has kindly given permission to quote from her book, Golden Prospects…which finds […]
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HF: The SCMP of 19th August 2015 contains, “A controversial proposal to take Hong Kong’s iconic 110-year-old trams off the roads in Central district to reduce traffic congestion has been met with opposition from concern groups and members of the public online. The proposal, made by a retired government town planner, suggests removing trams from some of the city’s busiest […]
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HF: These images of Hong Kong Tramways Depots have all been sent by Joseph Tse except where indicated. Joseph Tse has considerable knowledge of HK Trams (and also the Peak Tram and Tuen Mun Light Rail) as can be seen by the links below. Additional images have been provided by Fung Chi Ming, FCM, of Sharp Street Depot. This article […]
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HF and IDJ: Up until 1926 steam power was used to drive the Peak Tram. In that year an electricity-powered haulage gear Ward Leonard system was installed incorporated within the double reversible funicular railway. Details of this system are provided below under the basic concept first link. I don’t fully understand this and wonder if anyone can provide an even simpler […]
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Before the British took over the New Territories in July, 1898 there were no roads but an extensive network of footpaths paths or Chinese Roads across the territory. These paths provided connections between the villages and to the sea shore for marine transport. The first topographical map of the New Territories, published in 1904 describes the paths as “Chinese roads about 4′-0″ […]
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Hugh Farmer: Marcus Wong has been in touch after I wrote to him asking if I could publicize his website. He describes himself as a “self confessed train nut” and lives in Melbourne, Australia. His father is from Hong Kong. He says he hasn’t been able to visit here as much as he would like. This is not obvious from […]
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Elizabeth Ride has sent the following summation of BAAG reports about Tramway services from 1942 through to September 1944. John Smith kindly typed out the original report. The HONGKONG tramway, which was extensively damaged at certain points during hostilities, was partially restored on 27 January 1942 and a full service along the entire route was resumed on 20 March 1942. Up to December […]
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Judy Chan, Harry (Kin Hong) Long’s daughter has kindly sent a number of documents, work testimonials and photographs about her father’s life in Hong Kong. He was born New Zealand in 1900 and died there in 1984. However he worked for two Hong Kong companies, Kung Lee Steam Ship and HK and Yaumati Ferry which is of great interest to us. […]
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Elizabeth Ride: Now, here’s a mystery. After reading the latest BAAG article, Bosco Radio Corp, the Gardner brothers and Kyoei Corp, I followed the link to the Shirogane Maru, and found that it differs in one important point – the fate of the ship. Wrecksites has it remaining in Buin for the duration of the war, while BAAG has it entering Kowloon […]
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