A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (cont.)
602
25.
From these arose several developments which led to the opening up of the district and its eventual permanent settlement.
Brief reference has already been made (4.9.33) to the gradual development of British Kowloon. When we look at the teeming town of Yaumati to-day if viewed from one of the nearby hills this locality is seen to be worthy of being termed a town in itself it is not easy to imagine a time when nearly the whole area was given up to rice and vegetable growing. In the Sixties it was a well-known snipe shooting region, but not long afterwards substantial dwelling houses were built by foreigners, particularly members of the Portuguese community, and later a large number of Chinese houses sprang up, so that by the close of last century all its suburban appearance had practically vanished, and it developed into an essentially Chinese quarter. It is interesting to recall the time, however, when Yaumati was truly a village. Here is an extract from the Hongkong Times of July 1, 1873, which gives a description of certain villages on the mainland.
It is stated that the village of Chim-Sa-Wan (Cheung-Sha-Wan?), a few yards westward of the English boundary, "was very gay on Sunday last." A matshed theatre was erected near the beach and a company of Cantonese actors performed a few farces interspersed with local hits in the Hakka language - the tongue spoken by the villagers.
The village of Chae-Mi (?) the next visited, situated four miles westward of Stonecutters Island "shows signs of decay and poverty. Several houses are in a state of ruins while the only shop had a stock worth only £6.
A small trade in salt fish was carried on by the villagers with Hongkong but owing to the vigilance of the Customs cruisers, in the Capsingmoon Pass, very little salt from the salines of Lantau finds its way to the village."
A passing visit was also paid to the flourishing village of Chin Wan, three miles northward of Chae-Mi. We are told, "The Praya wall, sort of breakwater, is not yet completed and the work seems to be progressing very slowly."
There was already a ferry operating from Hongkong to Yaumati in the early Seventies, for the chronicle of August 6, 1873, has the following:
"The notice in our advertisement column shows that the steam launch 'Vencedora' leaves Pedder's Wharf every evening at 5.30 for British Kowloon. The single fare is 25 cents or monthly tickets can be obtained at $4. Provided always that the weather is propitious, a trip over to Kowloon of an evening should be most enjoyable.
"The Yow-Ma-Tee steam ferry boat leaves Messrs. Vogel, Hagdorn and Co.'s wharf for Yow-Ma-Tee every hour from 6.30 a.m., the fares are cabin, 5 cents and 10 cents, deck 2 cents. The traffic is said to have been to date very fair, but some annoyance has been expressed by the sampan people who evidently do not relish the competition.
Improvements are noted the following month, the issue of September 9 stating:
"We are very glad indeed to notice the many improvements in the village of Yow-Ma-Tee. The most important of the Hongkong dependencies has undergone great changes during the past six months In addition to the magnificent building, now in course of completion, intended for a police-station, with its solid granite pier attached, two private dwellings are now being raised and some shanties are being removed.
"The breakwater wall, partly constructed in 1849 by the natives for their own protection in case of typhoons, has been ever since allowed to decay but we hope to see it soon restored."
A PAGE FROM KOWLOON HISTORY (cont.)
602
25.
From these arose several developments which led to the opening up of the district and its eventual permanent settlement.
Brief reference has already been made (4.9.33) to the gradual develop- ment of British Kowloon. When we look at the teeming town of Yaumati to-day if viewed from one of the nearby hills this locality is seen to be worthy of being termed a town in itself it is not easy to imagine a time when nearly the whole area was given up.to rice and vegetable growing. In the Sixties it was a well-known snipe shooting region, but not long after- wards substantial dwelling houses were built by foreigners, particularly members of the Portuguese community, and later a large number of Chinese houses sprang up, so that by the close of last century all it suburban ap- pearance had practically vanished, and it developed into an essentially Chinese quarter. It is interesting to recall the time, however, when Yau- mati was truly a village. Here is an extract from the Hongkong Times of July 1, 1873, which gives a description of certain villages on the main- land.
It is stated that the village of Chim-Sa-Wan (Cheung-Sha-Wan?), a few yards westward of the English boundary, "was very gay on Sunday last." A matshed theatre was erected near the beach and a company of Cantonese actors performed a few farces interspersed with local hits in the Hakka language- the tongue spoken by the villagers.
The village of Chae-Mi (?) the next visited, situated four miles west- ward of Stonecutters Island "shows signs of decay and poverty. Several houses are in a state of ruins while the only shop had a stock worth only £6.
A small trade in salt fish was carried on by the villagers with Hong- king but owing to the vigilance of the Customs cruisers, in the Capsingmoon Pass, very little salt from the salines of Lantau finds its way to the village," ::
A passing visit was also paid to the flourishing village of Chin Wan, three miles northward of Chae-Mi. We are told, "The Praya wall, sort of breakwater, is not yet completed and the work seems to be progressing very slowly."
There was already a ferry operating from Hongkong to Yaumati in the early Seventies, for the chronicle of August 6, 1873, has the following:
"The notice in our advertisement column shows that the steam launch "Vencedora" leaves Pedder's Wharf every evening at 5.30 for British Kowloon. The single fare is 25 cents or monthly tickets can be obtained at $4. Pro- vided always that the weather is propitious, a trip over to Kowloon of an evening should be most enjoyable.
"The Yow-Ma-Tee steam ferry boat leaves Messrs. Vogel, Hagdorn and Co.'s wharf for Yow-Ma-Tee every hour from 6.30 a.m., the fares are cabin, 5 cents and 10 cents, deck 22 cents. The traffic is said to have been to
date very fair, but some annoyance has been expressed by the sampan people who evidently do not relish the competition.
کے
* * * *
*
Improvements are noted the following month, the issue of September 9
stating:
"We are very glad indeed to notice the many improvements in the vill- age of Yow-Ma-Tee. The most important of the Hongkong dependencies has undergone great changes during the past six months In addition to the mag- nificent building, now in course of completion, intended for a police-station, with its solid granite pier attached, two private dwellings are now being rais ed and some shanties are being removed.
"The breakwater wall, partly constructed in 1849 by the natives for their own protection in case of typhoons, has been ever since allowed to decay but we hope to see it soon restored."
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