LOOKING BACK NINETY YEARS
The series entitled "Old Hongkong," commenced in June, 1933, has now covered practically every phase of the Colony's history, in a total of approximately five hundred and fifty articles, illustrated with scores of reproductions of old photographs, sketches and other pictures, of considerable historical value. The actual old material has probably all been plumbed by now: latterly some extracts from newspaper/files of the early part of the present century have been given, to enable us to visualise the growth of local institutions, industries, and amenities; the erection of large buildings which stand to-day in the city and in their time were considered the last word in architecture; and the development of the mainland, Kowloon and the New Territories. The full tale, then, has probably been told, and it seems time for the writer to call a halt in the series. With this article to-day, it is intended to revert to the early years, to capture again an impression - in passages not yet quoted by me of Old Hongkong.
of Old Hongkong. And this (at least for the time being) must close the daily "Old Hongkong" feature.
When the series was commenced nearly two years ago, an appeal was made for residents who were in possession of records, pictures, or other information, to come forward with these, for publication here.
The response was not as great as it easily might have been: many of the historical facts, not hitherto published, ... which have appeared in these articles, had to be obtained by laborious research, involving considerable time and, also, a certain amount of expense to this paper.
Valuable material was, however, collected. For there was a response; without which much of the material published could not have been obtained. To all who did come forward, and assisted in various ways, my best thanks. In the course of this series, mention has been made on occasion to individuals, firms, Government departments, and Naval or Military officials, who readily placed files or other documents at my disposal: others lent photographs or old books, while some even made donations of these: and others again kindly searched their memories and wrote contributions which were of the greatest service. I again thank them all; their ready cooperation, even when other matters may have required their time, considerably lightened the effort to revive local history and place on record much that seemed otherwise destined to be forgotten, or entirely lost to future generations.
It is not intended to write an actual finis to "Old Hongkong:" merely to cease publication of the series. If, at any time, some fresh material of importance should come to hand, it will find space under the old caption, to take its place among the records of the Colony's history.
In concluding, I take a few extracts from the writing of Robert Fortune. He has previously been quoted in these articles, for he it was who left a valuable record of the beautiful garden at "Green Bank", the house of Mr. John Dent, which was situated off Queen's Road Central, approximately to the north of the present Masonic Lodge site. An earlier reference from his pen, there appears the following (written in 1846):
In an even...
LOOKING BACK NINETY YEARS
The series entitled "Old Hongkong," commenced in June, 1933, has now covered practically every phase of the Colony's history, in a total of approximately five hundred and fifty articles, illustrated with scores of reproductions of old photographs, sketches and other pictures, of considerable historical value. The actual old material has probably all been plumbed by now: latterly some extracts from newspaper/files of the early part of the present century have been given, to enable us to visualise the growth of local institutions, industries, and amenities; the erection of large buildings which stand to-day in the city and in their time were considered the last word in architecture; and the development of the mainland, Kowloon and the New Territories. The full tale, then, has probably been told, and it seems time for the writer to call a halt in the series. With this article to-day, it is intended to revert to the early years, to capture again an impression - in passages not yet quoted by me of Old Hongkong.
of Old Hongkong. And this (at least for the time being) must close the daily "Old Hongkong" feature.
When the series was commenced nearly two years ago, an appeal was made for residents who were in possession of records, pictures, or other information, to come forward with these, for publication here.
The response was not as great as it easily might
have been: many of the historical facts, not hitherto published,
..
which have appeared in these articles, had to be obtained
by laborious research, involving considerable time and,
also, a certain amount of expense to this paper.
4
萨
Valuable material was, however, collected. For there was a response; without which much of the material published could not have been obtained. To all who did come forward,” and assisted in various ways, my best thanks. In the course of this series, mention has been made on occasion to individuals, firms, Government departments, and Naval or Military officials, who readily placed files or other do- cuments at my disposal: others lent photographs or old books, while some even made donations of these: and others again kindly searched their memories and wrote contributions which were of the greatest service. I again thank them all; their ready cooperation, even when other matters may have required their time, considerably lightened the effort to revive local history and place on record much that seemed otherwise destined to be forgotten, or entirely lost to future generations.
It is not intended to write an actual finis to "Old
If, Hongkong: " merely to cease publication of the series. at any time, some fresh material of importance should come to hand, it will find space under the old caption, to take its place among the records of the Colony's history.
In concluding, I take a few extracts from the writing of Robert Fortune. He has previously been quoted in these articles, for he it was who left a valuable record of the beautiful garden at "Green Bank", the house of Mr. John. Dent, which was situated off Queen's Road Central, approximately to the north of the present Masonic Lodge site. earlier reference from his pen, there appears the following (written in 1846):
In an even
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