Aberdeen I II
"As regards the anchorage itself, at what he calls Hongkong Sound, naval men described it as affording admirable shelter for ships of any burden.
Such then, is all the information acquired at that time concerning a portion of the southern side of Hongkong. Little was it then thought that this very island would in a few years become a part of the British Empire ........
And now a vision not far from present-day developments:
"Undoubtedly the southern side, being open to the south-west monsoon, is comparatively healthy, but there is no harbour fit for mercantile purposes on that side, nor was any land appropriated there for building purposes in the first instance, because the unhealthiness of Victoria Bay was not fully ascertained, and because, where a man's treasure or his business, there will his heart and occupation be also. Doubtless, in a very short time, many of the Europeans will reside on the southern side of the island, and cross over the mountains daily to transact their business.
"The principal Chinese village, which numbered a population of about two thousand even when we took possession of the island, is prettily situated on the southern side, in a sheltered bay, well open, however, to the south-west wind. It is called Chek-chu and at the suggestion of Major Aldrich, cantonments have been formed for a detachment of troops there, so as to separate them from the Chinese population. A detachment of the 98th Regiment which was quartered there during the last season remained almost entirely healthy. There is little doubt that in a short time many Europeans will take up their residence in that neighbourhood."
"There is another detachment at Shekpywan, and I believe there was, or another small detachment at the eastern extremity of the island. There is every probability that a naval yard will be needed also on the southern side, probably in the bay where the Alceste and Lyra anchored in 1816. "Here there is plenty of water for the largest ships and perfect shelter from the fury of the typhoons, which cannot be found on any part of the northern coast. It is true that there is not room for a large ship to work in, but there will always be steamers stationed at Hongkong, and the facility of towing a ship in will remedy all the supposed inconvenience of narrow space."
We have in these extracts a valuable record of what Aberdeen locality appeared like to the first comers, and in 1846, when Mr. Bruce happily went sketching there, conditions can have altered little; for the book quoted was published in 1844, based on observations made up to a year previous.
The subsequent record of development might be briefly restated. One of the biggest schemes carried out on the south was the opening up of dockyards in 1857 by Captain Lamont and Mr. Douglas Lapraik (see 21-7-33 and 29-8-33), and the place has developed into a village of some importance,
ABERDEEN I II
"As regards the anchorage itself, at what he calls Hongkong Sound, naval men described it as affording admirable shelter for ships of any burden.
#Such then, is all the information acquired at that time concering a portion of the southern side of Hongkong. Little was it then thought that this very island would in a few years become a part of the British Empire ........
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And now a vision not far from present-day developments:
"Undoubtedly the southern side, being open to the south- west monsoon, is comparatively healthy, but there is no harbour fit for mercantile purposes on that side, nor was any land appropriated there for building purposes in the first instance, because the unhealthiness of Victoria Bay was not fully ascertained, and because, where a man's treasure or his business, there will his heart and occupation be also. Doubtless, in a very short time, many of the. Europeans will reside on the southern.de of the island, and cross over the mountains daily te transact their business.
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"The principal Chinese village, which numbered a popula- tion of about two thousand even when we took possession of the island, is prettily adjusted on the southern side, in a sheltered bay, well open, however, to the south-west wind. is called Chek-chu and at the suggestion of Ma jor Aldrich, cantonments have been formed for a detachment of troops there, so as to separate them from the Chinese population. A detachment of the 98th Regiment which was quartered there during the last season remained almost entirely healthy. There is little doubt that in a short time many Europeans will take up their residence in that neighbourhood."
"There is another detachment at Shekpywan, and I believe there was, or
another small detachment at the eastern extremity of} island. There is every probability that a naval yard will bened also on the southern side, probably in the bay where the Alte and Lyra anchored in 1816. "Here there is plenty of witer for the largest ships and perfect shelter from the fury of the typhoons, which cannot be found on any part of the northern coast. It is true that there is not room for a large ship to work in, but there will always be steamers stationed at Hongkong, and the facility of towing a ship in will remedy all the supposed inconvenience of narrow space."
We have in these extracts a valuable record of what Aberdeen locality appeared like to the first comers, and in 1846, when Mr. Bruce happily went sketching there, conditions can have altered little; for the book quoted was published in 1844, based on observations made up to a year previous.
The subsequent record of development might be briefly restated. One of the biggest schemes carried out on the south was the opening up of dockyards in 1857 by Captain Lamont and Mr. Douglas Lapraik (see 21-7-33 and 29-8-33), and the place has developed into a village of some importance,
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