XN000022-1972-05-26 — Page 16

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Friday, May 26, 1972

HONG KONG IN THE MAKING

Maps Exhibition In Ocean Terminal

The whole history of Hong Kong's development can be glimpsed at

the maps exhibition currently being held in the Ocean Terminal,

The oldest map on exhibition

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an impressionistic sketch of the

Sun On County (Kwangtung) drawn in 1819 by a Ching official -- hardly shows

Hong Kong among the myriad of coastal islands.

Kowloon peninsula, with its busy traffic and skyscrapers as the

present generation knows it, was described in a 1860 map as "an area of

barren hills".

A telling story unravels behind a "map of the Sun-On District"

drawn in 1866, "from actual observations made by an Italian missionary of

the propaganda, in the course of his professional labours during a period

of four years."

The map surprisingly appears very accurate. Included in the

topographical details, as can be expected, are Roman Catholic chapels, Not

so expected to those who are accustomed to the convenience of trains and

planes, are the markings for "pass through the mountains",

Another illustration of the tremendous development Hong Kong has

come through can be found in a map of the Central District in 1911.

Some of the buildings still remain but many others have been pulled

down and redeveloped in modern styles, though some of their names are still

retained.

The map