A R Marty et Cie, Hong Kong trading house, established 1874 and Marty et d’Abbadie, Haiphong, Indochina

Marty & D'Abbadie, Haiphong E Hatingx M&D'A Haiphong

“The French merchant Auguste Raphael Marty (1841–1914) established his own trading house, A. R. Marty et Cie, in Hong Kong in 1874. Information about this Hong Kong company appears thin on the ground – further details would be gratefully received. Stephen Davies suggests that Marty in HK was only ever a shipping company office.  Following the acquisition of northern Indochina […]

» Read more

The Kowloon Canton Railway (British Section) Part 5 – The Post War Years (1945 to 1978)

Introduction  Tymon Mellor: Following the liberation of Hong Kong from the Japanese in 1945 the KCRC was operated by British Military Administration before its return to civilian control. Within a few months the line was operational and regular services re-commenced. As Hong Kong grew, so did the railway patronage, pushing the railway to the limits of the capacity of the […]

» Read more

The ‘Vital Spark’ – last steam powered vessel to be licenced by the HK Marine Department 1988

IDJ: In 1984 The Hong Kong Society of Model & Experimental Engineers (HKSMEE) was officially registered. A major project by a member was a coal fired steam-engine powered launch, the ‘Vital Spark,’ based at Hebe Haven. The substantial steam engine and its accessories were built in a ‘home’ workshop with the hull constructed and fitted out near Hebe Haven. Vital Spark was […]

» Read more

The Four Taxi Kings – Blue, Central, New and Star

Taxi, Four Kings Image 2 Detail York Lo

York Lo: The Four Taxi Kings – Blue, Central, New and Star From the 1920s to 1960s, taxicab service in Hong Kong was heavily regulated with medallions only awarded to taxicab companies rather than individuals and as a result, the industry was dominated by a few firms. Among these firms, the four most prominent were Blue, Central, New and Star and […]

» Read more

West Rail – Part 6 Project Management

Word Image 74039 1

Tymon Mellor: The West Rail project was completed on time and below budget, this was achieved by having a strong management team, experienced construction managers, motivated contractors and efficient project process. Building a large infrastructure project within existing urban environments is not just about the engineering but it is as much about managing all the different competing requirements, in particular […]

» Read more

Harpers – the Family, the Dealership and the first 50 years of Ford automobiles in Hong Kong

Harpers Ford Automobiles In HK Detail B Image 1 York Lo

York Lo: Harpers – the Family, the Dealership and the first 50 years of Ford automobiles in Hong Kong Left: Harper House on Ma Tau Wai Road in To Kwa Wan (now BMW Building); Right: 1938 Ford ad by Harpers promoting the new Ford Ten. For close to a century, Wallace Harper & Co (also known as Harpers) has been […]

» Read more

West Rail – Part 5 Construction – Southern Section

Word Image 73983 1

Tymon Mellor: With the approval of the environmental impact assessment in March, 1998 and endorsement of the Project Agreement in September 1998, work on the construction of West Rail could commence. The West Rail project management team had already started tendering the key construction packages and with the approval of the scheme, the initial packages were awarded allowing a ground […]

» Read more
1 3 4 5 6 7 29