385
The reference yesterday to the taking over of Hongkong in January, 1841, might be amplified by a note that the cession was not formally ratified until the Treaty of Nanking was signed, and the chronicles point out that it was proclaimed as a part of the British Empire, and, together with its dependencies, made into a separate colony, on June 26, 1843, under the designation of the "Colony of Hongkong" just 90 years ago.
That the military of the Garrison in the early days were no mere ornament, but might be required for defence, is revealed in a report that in August, 1856, an attack on "Cowloong" was contemplated by the remnant of a band that attacked the place two years previously. The people at Cow-loong, it was stated, made every preparation to give the invaders a warm reception, several of the head-men from "Sat'een" and other villages having come to render assistance.
This rallying of Shatin villagers to the aid of the Kowloon community against a bandit gang, in the years before British control of the mainland, is one of those romantic touches to which the foreign resident nowadays, motoring round the New Territories, would hardly give a thought.
An interesting contribution to the discussion on the old name of Queen's Road (see 25-7-33) comes from Mr. R.E. Stott:
"Once more I see in your articles, reference to the so-called 'Kwan Tai Lou'; which it is stated is now Queen's Road (Tai Ma Lo); phonetically pronounced in Cantonese as 'Gwu Die Lo' phonetically pronounced in Cantonese as 'Gun Die Lo' ignoring the Romanisation which strives to standardize names of persons and places, all over China, irrespective of the different dialects, which in Europe would be designated as separate languages, resulting in confusion to the foreigner.
"I have no wish to set myself up as an authority on Chinese, this is of course Cantonese, which is predominant here, but I would like to point out to learned Sinologues, that the term 'Gwun Die Lo' was, and is still given to guides. The term is derived from the name of the first 'Gwan' who originally guided 'Die' the Britishers over the Island Trails 'Lo', i.e., 'A road' when they first landed at Stanley.
"As proof of this, ask any Chinese to act as 'Gun Die Lo' and he will immediately ask you where you would like to be taken.
"All guides in the hotels and tourist agencies here and in Canton, are referred to by the same term 'Gwun Die Lo.'
"The idea of the original road, which is now Queen's Rd., being looked upon as a women's petticoat girdle, is very pretty and romantic but the theory hardly holds water, for if one stops to consider the fact, women of those days, even as now, wore pants which were of course held in place by a girdle. This island in those far-off days, inhabited solely by fishermen and pirates could not very well support any women of the leisured classes who might have worn skirts or 'petticoat'?"
5.
385
The reference yesterday to the taking over of Hongkong in January, 1841, might be amplified by a note that the cession was not formally ratified until the Treaty of Nanking was signed, and the chronicles point out that it was proclaimed as a part of the British Empire, and, together with its dependencies, made into a separate colony, on June 26, 1843, under the designation of the "Colony of hongkong" just 90 years ago.
That the military of the Garrison in the early days were no mere ornament, but might be required for defence, is revealed in a report that in August, 1856, an attack on "Cowloong" was contemplated by the remnant of a band that attached the place two years previously. The people at Cow- loong, it was stated, made every preparation to give the invaders a warm reception, several of the head-men from "Sat'een" and other villages having come to render assistance.
This rallying of Shatin villagers to the aid of the Kowloon community against a bandit gang, in the years before British control of the mainland, is one of those romantic touches to which the foreign resident nowadays, motoring round the New Territories, would hardly give a thought.
An interesting contribution to the discussion on the old name of Queen's Road (see 25-7-33) comes fron ir. R.E. Stott:
"Once more I see in your articles, reference to the so called "Kwan Tai Lou"; which it is stated is now Queen's Road (Tai Ma Lo); phonetically pronounced in Cantonese as "Gwu Die Lo" phonetically pronounced in Cantonese as "Gun Die Lo" ignoring the Romanisation which strives to standardize names of persons and places, all over China, irrespective of the different dialects, which in Europe would be designated as separate languages, resulting in confusion to the foreigner.
"I have no wish to set myself up as an authority on Chinese, the is of course Cantonese, which is predominant here, but I would like to point out to learned Sinologues, that the term "Gwun Die Lo" was, and is still given to guides. The term is derived from the name of the first dan "Gwan" who originally guided "Die" the Britishers over the Island Trails "lo" i.e. "A road" when they first landed at Stanley.
"As proof of this, ask any Chinese to act as "Gun Die Lo" and he will immediately ask you where you would like to be taken.
"All guides in the hotels and tourist agencies here and in Canton, are referred to by the same tern "Gwun Die Lo."
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"The idea of the original road; which is now Queen's Rd. being looked upon as a women's petticoat girdle, is very pretty and romantic but the theory hardly holds water, for if one stops to consider the fact, women of those days, even as now, wore pants which were of course held in place by a girdle. This island in those far off days, inhabited solely by fishermen and pirates could not very well support any women of the leisured classes who might have worn skirts of #petticoat"?"
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