Page 508
I am indebted to "R.McW." for some interesting research work and reminiscences, in connexion with local hotels and taverns. He brings the list up to the early part of this century, and thus practically completes this rather fascinating chapter in local history. It is hoped to publish further contributions from the same pen in the near future. Here is what "R.McW. has to say:
"Now that your list of names of hotels has reached comparatively modern times, I would like to write of the taverns and hotels which existed in Hongkong twenty-five years ago.
"Then Arthur Fred Davies was Manager of the Hongkong Hotel. These were in the days before this establishment had a Grill Room (subsequently succeeded by the Roof Garden and the Lounge downstairs). The ground floor then was principally given over to the Public Bar and Billiard Rooms.
"Few in Hongkong to-day will have forgotten the King Edward Hotel in Royal Building which was gutted as a result of a fire which took place in March, 1929.
"A quarter of a century ago Mr. Finlay Smith was the proprietor of the Peak Hotel. This gentleman it was who was responsible for the inception of the Peak Tramway. After he sold his interest therein he conceived the idea of starting a rival line to the Peak by way of Ice House Street, Glenealy, Queen's Gardens thence to Victoria Gap. Having acquired a concession for this undertaking from Government, the Peak Tramway bought him out and the new scheme never developed. With the proceeds, Mr. Finlay Smith became Boniface at the Peak Hotel.
"I may also mention that the present Mount Austin Barracks was previously the Mount Austin Hotel.
"The present St. Francis Hotel was at one time known as the Astor House and, previous to that, the Connaught Hotel. The Astor House had a hydraulic lift.
"No.2, Queen's Road, on the site where now stands the National City Bank, not so many years ago was the location of the Grand Hotel and before that, the Oriental. Going further back, it was Thomas's Grill Room, this gentleman being a native of the West Indies. I understand also that previously he had the premises directly opposite formerly occupied by the Victoria Hotel. This building for many years after was rented by the International Bank.
"Hongkong in the old days had many houses of call on its former water-front. Many of their names were redolent of the sea.
"Proceeding West after leaving the Oriental Hotel, there was the New Traveller's Hotel a few doors east of Pottinger Street. For some reason its habitues used to refer to this establishment as "Mother's".
"On the same side of the street, between Pottinger and Cochrane Streets, was the "Criterion." Turning half-right from it across the road was the Colonial Hotel. This hostelry was in Jubilee Street about a third of the way down and on the other side of the Central Market.
Page 508
لمجد
12:
I am indebted to "R.McW." for some interesting research work and reminiscences, in connexion with local hotels and taverns. He brings the list up to the early part of this century, and thus practically completes this rather fascinating chapter in local history. It is hoped to publish further contributions from the same pen in the near future.. Here is what "R.McW. has to say:
مر
"Now that your list of names of hotels has reached com- paratively modern times, I would like to write of the taverns and hotels which existed in Hongkong twenty-five years ago.
"Then Arthur Fred Davies was Manager of the Hongkong Hotel. These were in the days before this establishment had a Grill Room (subsequently succeeded by the Roof Garden and the Lounge downstairs). The ground floor then was principally given over
to the Public Bar and Billiard Rooms.
"rew in Hongkong to-day will have forgotten the King Edward Hotel in koyal Building which was gutted as a result of,a fire which took place in March, 1929.
.
"A quarter of a century ago Mr. Finlay Smith was the proprietor of the Peak Hotel. This gentleman it was who was responsible for the inception of the Peak Tramway. After he sold his interest therein he conceived the idea of starting a rival line to the Peak by way of Ice House Street, Glenealy, Queen's Gardens thence to Victória Gap. Having acquired a concession for this undertaking from Government, the Peak Tramway bought him out and the new scheme never developed. the proceeds, Mr. Finlay Smith became Boniface at the Peak Hotel.
"I may also mention that the present Mount Austin Bärracks was previously the Mount Austin Hotel.
"The present St. Francis Hotel was at one time known as the Astor House and, previous to that, the Connaught Hotel. The Astor House had a hydraulic lift.
On
508
"No.2, Queen's Road, on the site where now stands the Aational City Bank, not so many years ago was the location of the Grand Hotel and before that, the Oriental. Going further back, it was Thomas's Grill Room, this gentleman being a native of the West Indies. I understand also that previously he had the premises directly opposite formerly occupied by the Victoria Hotel. This building for many years after was rented by the International Bank.
"Hongkong in the old days had many houses of call on its former water-front. Many of their names were redolent of the
sea.
"Proceeding West after leaving the Oriental Hotel, there as the New Traveller's Hotel a few doors east of Pottinger reet. For some reason its habitues used to refer to this vablishment as "Mother's".
"On the same side of the street, between Pottinger and Sochrane Streets, was the "Criterion." Turning half-right from it across the road was the Colonial Hotel. This hostelry was in Jubilee Street about a third of the way down and on the other side of the Central Market.
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