KOWLOON (contd.).
599
22.
the Old Kowloon picture is the site of the present Water Police Station and that the beach is not part of the shore of Hung Hom Bay but lying between Within the memory of some Signal Hill and the Water Police Station site.
of the old residents that beach was used for bathing. The building is obviously some sort of guard house or lookout, as study through a magnifying glass will show.
"The photographer was standing on the slopes of Signal Hill facing practically due West, as Green Island can be faintly seen on the left of the photo and Stonecutters on the right.
***
The brief reference yesterday (16.8.33) to the Observatory having been erected on Mount Elgin, Kowloon, recalls the statesman of that name, who is commemorated in Hongkong in Elgin Street (which runs from Hollywood Road to Caine Road junction with the Old Bailey). This was at one time a fashionable quarter of the city. The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, G.C.B., came as Special Plenipotentiary to China in 1857, and the grateful Colonists at Hongkong perpetuated his memory by giving his name to this street most fashionable at that time,
the
In Kowloon, the street running from Nathan Road to the waterfront (through the present Kowloon Wharf property) and leading to the first pier used by the cross-harbour ferry, was known as Elgin Road. It is now called Haiphong Road, but no longer extends to the seafront.
The Royal Observatory at Kowloon is on the hill formerly known as Mount Elgin, but since changed to Observatory Hill.
****
**
An old photograph is published to-day showing the principal Kowloon thoroughfare, known to-day as Nathan Road, as it used to be nearly thirty years ago. The point of view is that part of the road near the Chater bungalow site, facing inland. To the right, in this photo, was the large plot of land known then as Chater's garden, where Sir Paul Chater had a delightful garden area, on which he built his Kowloon bungalow residence, and on part of which St. Andrew's Church and Vicarage were afterwards erected. The Chater bungalow was demolished a few years ago, and most of the land has already been built over with large blocks of modern flats.
The sylvan beauty of this roadway is well shown in the old photograph. The lines of large banyan trees and the absence of motor traffic are the most noticeable features. Many of the banyan trees have gone now, and those that remain are apparently doomed, owing to their unsuitability for roadside shade purposes, because of their tendency to put forth long root processes extending above ground from the base of the trunk, and radiating outward, thus causing an impediment to traffic when the trees attain a great age. In other respects, with their dense shade, the banyans are ideal for the purpose, and it is a pity that the fine avenue seen in this picture should be destined gradually to dwindle away.
*******
Nathan Road at the time this photo was taken was known as Robinson Road, being named after Sir William Robinson, who was the Governor of the Colony from 1893 to 1898. Owing to the confusion with the Robinson Road in Hongkong (called after Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor from 1859 to 1865) the name of the Kowloon thoroughfare was changed to Nathan Road, in honour of Sir Matthew Nathan, who was Governor from 1904 to 1907. Owing to the long straight stretch it remains the finest roadway in the Colony. The completion of this road (surfacing and so forth) covered the period 1905-1907.
In a reference to Nathan Road the other day (see 18.8.33) it was mentioned that this thoroughfare was formerly known as Robinson Road, and the statement added that it was named after Sir William Robinson. This statement was not correct, for the road had been named long before Sir William (who was Governor from 1893 to 1898) had arrived here. It is assumed that as Robinson Road in Hongkong was named after Sir Hercules Robinson (the Governor from 1859 to 1865) the name of the Kowloon road could not have been similarly obtained. In this I erred, and am indebted to Sir Henry Pollock for pointing out that there is
KOWLOON (contd.).
599
22.
the Old Kowloon picture is the site of the present Water Police Station and that the beach is not part of the shore of Hung Hom Bay but lying between Within the memory of some Signal Hill and the Water Police Station site.
of the old residents that beach was used for bathing. The building is obvious- ly some sort of guard house or lookout, as study through a magnifying glass will show.
"The photographer was standing on the slopes of Signal Hill facing practi- cally due West, as Green Island can be faintly seen on the left of the photo and Stonecutters on the right.
***
The brief reference yesterday (16.8.33) to the Observatory having been erected on Mount Elgin, Kowloon, recalls the statesman of that name, who is commemorated in Hongkong in Elgin Street (which runs from Hollywood Road to Caine Road junction with the Old Bailey). This was at one time a fashionable quarter of the city. The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, G.C.B., came as Special Plenipotentiary to China in 1857, and the grateful Colonists at Hongkong perpetuated his memory by giving his name to this street most fashionable at that time,
the
In Kowloon, the street running from Nathan Road to the waterfront (through the present Kowloon Wharf property) and leading to the first pier used by the cross-harbour ferry, was known as Elgin Road. It is now called Haiphong Road, but no longer extends to the seafront.
The Royal Observatory at Kowloon is on the hill formerly known as Mount Elgin, but since changed to Observatory Hill.
****
**
An old photograph is published to-day showing the principal Kowloon thoroughfare, known to-day as Nathan Road, as it used to be nearly thirty years ago. The point of view is that part of the road near the Chater bunga- low site, facing inland. To the right, in this photo, was the large plot of land known then as Chater's garden, where Sir Paul Chater had a delightful garden area, on which he built his Kowloon bungalow residence, and on part of which St. Andrew's Church and Vicarage were afterwards erected. The Chater bungalow was demolished a few years ago, and most of the land has already been built over with large blocks of modern flats.
The sylvan beauty of this roadway is well shown in the old photograph. The lines of large banyan trees and the absence of motor traffic are the most noticeable features. Many of the banyan trees have gone now, and those that remain are apparently doomed, owing to their unsuitability for roadside shade purposes, because of their tendency to put forth long root processes extend- ing above ground from the base of the trunk, and radiating outward, thus causing an impediment to traffic when the trees attain a great age. In other respects, with their dense shade, the banyans are ideal for the purpose, and it is a pity that the fine avenue seen in this picture should be destined gradually to dwindle away.
*******
Nathan Road at the time this photo was taken was known as Robinson Road, being named after Sir William Robinson, who was the Governor of the Colony from 1893 to 1898. Owing to the confusion with the Robinson Road in Hongkong (called after Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor from 1859 to 1865) the name of the Kowloon thoroughfare was changed to Nathan Road, in honour of Sir Matthew Mathan, who was Governor from 1904 to 1907. Owing to the long straight stretch it remains the finest roadway in the Colony. The completion of this.. road (surfacing and so forth) covered the period 1905-1907.
In a reference to Nathan Road the other day (see 18.8.33) it was mention- ed that this thoroughfare was formerly known as Robinson Road, and the statement added that it was named after Sir William Robinson. This statement was not correct, for the road had been named long before Sir William (who was Governor from 1893 to 1898) had arrived here. It is assumed that as Robinson Road in Hongkong was named after Sir Hercules Robinson (the Governor from 1859 to 1865) the name of the Kowloon road could not have been similarly obtained. In this I erred, and am indebted to Sir Henry Pollock for pointing out that there is
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