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Not long after Hongkong became British, horses were imported in large numbers, and horse carriages were commonly in use by 1846, as we see from Bruce's admirable drawings published at that time. Actually (see 6-7-33) the first carriage drawn by horses made its appearance in the streets as early as October, 1841, within a few months of the cession of the island. It was an importation from Manila, where the Spaniards, long established, had already introduced the comforts of the west. From this Colony's earliest years, Manila ponies were largely imported; horseflesh from that place appeared in the earlier races held at Happy Valley.
The popularity of rickshas probably had a great deal to do with the limitation of the use of carriages, apart from the discouragement occasioned by the few roads where that type of conveyance could be used.
Trams were introduced early in this century; and motor-cars appeared in increasing numbers from about 1915, though they were no novelty then, merely the lack of suitable roadways limiting their use. In fact, as early as 1910 the motor-car had come to stay: in the S.O.M. Post of March that year is a reference to the commencement of a public service what might be termed the forerunner of our present bus service operated by the Victoria Motor Car Company. This concern, which does not appear to have enjoyed a long life, imported what was termed a hill-climbing motor-car, which could take a full load of seven passengers.
Perhaps the frequent engine failures, particularly on steep gradients of those early motor vehicles, killed that pioneering effort to develop a public conveyance service by motor-car. Improved types of vehicles, however, soon wrought rapid changes in local traffic, and the horse-drawn carriages finally passed out of use except (up to a few years ago) in the form of hearses.
867
2.
.
Not long after Hongkong became British, horses were imported in large numbers, and horse oarriages were commonly in use by 1846, es we see from Bruce's admirable drawings published at that time. Actually (see 6-7-33) the first carriage drawn by horses made its appearance in the streets as early as October, 1841, within a few months of the cession of the island. It was an importation from Manila, where the Spaniards, long established, had already introduced the comforts of the west. From this Colony's earliest years, Menila ponies were largely imported; horseflesh from that place appeared in the earlier races held at Happy Valley.
The popularity of rickshas probably had a great dealto do with the limitation of the use of carriages, apart from the discouragement occasioned by the few roads where that type of conveyance could be used.
Trams were introduced early in this century; and motor- cars appeared in increasing numbers from about 1915, though. they were no novelty then, merely the lack of suitable roadways limiting their use. In fact, as early as 1910 the motor-car had come to stay: in the S.0.M. Post of March that year is a reference to the commencement of a public service whɛt might be termed the forerunner of our present bus service
operated by the Victoria Motor Car Company. This concern, which does not appear to have enjoyed a long life, imported what was termed a hill-climbling motor-car, which could take a full loed of seven passengers.
Ferhaps the frequent engine failures particularly on steep gradients of those early motor vehicles, killed that pioneering effort to develop a public conveyance service by motor-car. Improved types of vehicles, however, soon wrought repid changes in local traffic, and the horse-drawn carriages finally passed out of use except (up to a few years ago) in the form of hearses.
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