MOSQUE
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Recent references to the military stationed in the Colony in the early days have included the names of Indian units, and a Mohammedan reader has kindly supplied me with the following notes on the first mosque to be built here:
"Muslim. After digging up several old files and delving into various documents, I am still unable to discover the exact date the first Mosque was built in Hong Kong. I find that a movement was started round about 1850 to build a Mosque for the purpose of congregational prayers. The indications are that it was built round about the year 1855, the site being Inland Lot No. 268, on which the present Mosque stands.
"Although not a spacious one, the Mosque was found to be quite adequate for a number of years. With the growth of the Mohammedan community, it was found more and more difficult to accommodate all who attended the Juma prayers on Fridays and festive days, with the result that from time to time several minor alterations were made to the building.
"For a long time, an attempt was made to put up more spacious premises, but for various reasons this was not done until as recently as 1915, when Mr. H.M.H. Esack Elias, of Bombay, seeing the conditions then existing, volunteered to rebuild the premises, at his own expenses. The foundation stone of the new Mosque was laid on August 15, that year, plans of the building being left in the hands of Mr. A. Abdoolrahim.
"A hostel for the use of travellers passing through the Colony had been in existence for a number of years on the grounds of the Mosque, but in 1929 an up-to-date building was put up.
"The street which runs by the side of the Mosque is known as Shelley Street, and Mosque Street nearby speaks for itself.
"Interest also attaches to the Mohammedan Cemetery that was situated in Saiyingpun over 70 years ago. It was in the year 1858, that Government granted Inland Lot No. 582 to the Mohammedan community to be used for burial purposes. This piece of land was situated on the north side of Bonham Road, abutting on to the south-east side of Robinson Road, It is now familiarly known as Breezy Point.
"For exactly ten years, this little piece of land served its purpose, but in 1865 the Government resumed possession of the site, and granted Inland Lot No. 288 in lieu thereof. Inland Lot No. 238 is the present site of the Mohammedan Cemetery at Happy Valley, which thus dates back about 65 years.