PEAK
776 وويل
Reference has already been made (see 21-11-33) to the development of the Peak district once the prejudice against dwelling "above the clouds" had been overcome. For a good many years people preferred to live at the lower levels and in view of the mist which hung over the higher land throughout the early spring months, as well as on many rainy days at other times of the year, this is not to be wondered at. For a long time after the Colony was founded there was severe malarial fever in nearly every part, and the newly-opened areas suffered most (see 20-12-33) The peak was not free from this menace, and in view particularly of the belief then prevailing that dampness was a primary cause of "Hong Kong" fever, a fear that higher-level residence would be actually more unhealthy than lower down, persisted.
4
It has been shown in the earlier reference that the first suggestion for a sanatorium on the Peak was made in 1848 by a medical man; that the military effort to run a sanatorium there in 1862 was practically a failure, and that prejudice died hard. Owing principally to the pioneering efforts of Mr. Granville Sharp, following the earlier advocacy of Sir Hercules Robinson, a former Governor, the idea of making permanent homes on the hills gained force, and by 1876 quite a number of the older Peak houses were erected.
It was the opening of the Peak Tramway in 1888 which, as we have seen, gave the final fillip to the development of upper level sites.
We might consider the year following, 1889, as an example of what this ease of access meant to the foreign residents of Hong Kong. In the contemporary newspaper records many instances are given of well-known people building homes on the elevated sites thus opened up to them.
In the Hong Kong Telegraph of April 10, 1889, reference is made to the erection of many new houses on the Peak. At this time between 30 and 40 premises were in course of construction. The Hon. Mr. B. Layton had almost finished a splendid residence, and the trustees of the late Mr. W. H. Brereton were erecting a terrace of ten houses in the sheltered hollow just above the Ladies Recreation Ground. In this vicinity houses were also being erected by Mr. L. Poesnecker, Mr. G. S. Coxon, the Richmind Terrace Building Company, Mr. S. G. Bird and the Hon. Mr. C. P. (afterwards Sir Paul) Chater.
Right overhead at the most prominent part of the Peak summit, Mr. Belilios was stated to be erecting another house midway between the Signal Station and his existing house the "Eyrie." Near the Flagstaff two villas were being built for Mr. Jones Hughes and Mr. N. J. Ezra. Close to the Peak Police Station, a few yards above the Tramway headquarters, the Austin Arms Hotel site was being prepared. A short distance away, where the "old-fashioned" Peak Hotel stood, a more modern edifice was soon to be erected. Most within a stone's throw of the terrace then being erected by the Austin Arms Company, a fine residence was being built by Messrs. Butterfield and Wise for Mr. E. Mackintosh, the then head of the firm.
Al-
Mount Gough was being rapidly populated and building going on everywhere. The Spanish Procuration was building houses in the centre of this district. Mr. H. L. Dennys was preparing sites for two or three houses near his residence on the summit of Mount Gough and Mr. Chater had commenced building in this vicinity, for Mr. Stewart Lockhart.
#1
On Mount Kellet, near "Myrtle Bank," Mr. Belilios was building a row of six small houses.
At the top of Wanchai Gap two semi-detached villas were being erected to the order of Mr. J. H. Smith. In the same locality but near the Sanatorium, Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C. had just finished a terrace of three houses. On the side of Mount Kellet, Mr. W. Danby was building himself a fine house.
Page 200
Page 201