COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION
(Continuation)
"It seems a great pity that official red tape should deprive Hongkong of this, its first and perhaps for years to come, its only, opportunity of witnessing the conquest of the air by proved experts. The ordinances of the Colony forbid aviation at Happy Valley, the only suitable site on the island, and when the aviators were willing to venture so far afield as Tuipo and take their chance of a gate, the law might have been stretched a point to meet their wishes and enable the public to enjoy an exhibition that people all over the world are clamouring to see.
The local public were satisfied a few weeks later, however, when another visiting airman made the first flight on record in the Colony.
COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION
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We come to-day to an account of the first actual flight made in the Colony - on March 18, 1911. The airman was a Belgian named Van den Born, and though there was nothing really spectacular about his flights, he several times took the air, and local residents had the satisfaction of seeing an aeroplane soaring high above the ground. He also had one slight mishap. The press reports of the time gave full accounts of the event.
On February 28, 1911, the S.C.M. Post stated:-
"An exhibition of aviation is to take place in Hongkong after all, not on the island itself because of the Government prohibits that, but at Taipo in the New Territory. Mr. Van den Born, the man who is to be the first flier in Hongkong, arrived yesterday on the French mail from Saigon, and his three Farman biplanes are expected to be landed to-morrow. The business end of the exhibition is in the hands of Arndt and Co., who inform us that the necessary permission has been obtained from the authorities and that the flights will come off when Mr. Van den Born has had time to discuss and complete the details. The date of the Exhibition will be announced later, and meantime preparations are under way.
"Mr. Van den Born is accompanied by his wife and a mechanic, and is staying at the Hongkong Hotel. He takes high rank among European aviators. Having been a teacher of the art in Farman's school, he passed through his hands most of the prominent French fliers whose names are household words to-day. He is fresh from a series of triumphs in Bangkok and Saigon. At the former place, he enjoyed the duly patronage of the King and members of the Royal household, including several of the Princes and a Princess, who ventured into the air with him.
Arrangements for flights were put in hand, and in its issue of March 18, the S.C.M. Post stated:-