Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 85

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

BUILDING (5) CONTINUATION.

The references, taken from old books, to the pioneer building activities on the island: it is to that summary I am now indebted for the following extracts.

Lt. John Ouchterlony, of the Madras Engineers, and for some period acting Engineer of the Colony, writing of 1841 in his book "Chinese War" says:

"A fort was constructed on a small island called Kellet's, where it was supposed guns could be mounted with advantage to command the eastern entrance of the bay and to suppress any movements of the enemy of Kowloon; two batteries for heavy pieces were erected at either extremity of its southern coast, and two masonry forts, which had been built by the Chinese in 1839 close to the water's edge to command the anchorage were destroyed and the promontory entirely evacuated.

"A considerable number of Chinese, principally dealers in live stock, bum-boat articles, spirits and ... soon began to squat on the shores of Hongkong, and although for many months they constituted about as rascally and vagabond a community as could be found in a similar position in any part of the world, the peace and order of the infant Colony were preserved by the Magistrate Major Caine.

In December 1842, he wrote :- "It may be interesting to observe the great change which had taken place in the appearance of the island, which, from a barren rock with a few poor huts of straw and leaves, had now become a spread thriving and populous colony, overspread with substantial houses and adorned by forts, batteries and public buildings. At the recommendation of a court of inquiry, the spot selected for the erection of the earliest barracks was the promontory of Chuck Chui (Stanley) on the south side, as being one of the healthiest on the island, and the surface of which is generally so mountainous as to afford but little ground available for building purposes..... The public buildings at present consist of a government house, gaol, and magistracy, a land office, commissariat office, naval victualling store, arsenal, engineer's office, market-place, batteries, fort and barracks for about 1,000 men to which additions are being made for the accommodation of 800 more.

Judging by old records, this first Government House stood in what we now know as Wanchai, on a slight elevation about the level of the eastern end of Kennedy Road. It was

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BUILDING (5) CONTINUATION. The references, taken from old books, to the pioneer building activities on the island: it is to that summary I am now indebted for the following extracts. Lt. John Ouchterlony, of the Madras Engineers, and for some period acting Engineer of the Colony, writing of 1841 in his book "Chinese War" says: "A fort was constructed on a small island called Kellet's, where it was supposed guns could be mounted with advantage to command the eastern entrance of the bay and to suppress any movements of the enemy of Kowloon; two batteries for heavy pieces were erected at either extremity of its southern coast, and two masonry forts, which had been built by the Chinese in 1839 close to the water's edge to command the anchorage were destroyed and the promontory entirely evacuated. "A considerable number of Chinese, principally dealers in live stock, bum-boat articles, spirits and ... soon began to squat on the shores of Hongkong, and although for many months they constituted about as rascally and vagabond a community as could be found in a similar position in any part of the world, the peace and order of the infant Colony were preserved by the Magistrate Major Caine. In December 1842, he wrote :- "It may be interesting to observe the great change which had taken place in the appearance of the island, which, from a barren rock with a few poor huts of straw and leaves, had now become a spread thriving and populous colony, overspread with substantial houses and adorned by forts, batteries and public buildings. At the recommendation of a court of inquiry, the spot selected for the erection of the earliest barracks was the promontory of Chuck Chui (Stanley) on the south side, as being one of the healthiest on the island, and the surface of which is generally so mountainous as to afford but little ground available for building purposes..... The public buildings at present consist of a government house, gaol, and magistracy, a land office, commissariat office, naval victualling store, arsenal, engineer's office, market-place, batteries, fort and barracks for about 1,000 men to which additions are being made for the accommodation of 800 more. Judging by old records, this first Government House stood in what we now know as Wanchai, on a slight elevation about the level of the eastern end of Kennedy Road. It was Page 84 Page 85 Page 86

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BUILDING ( 5 ) CONTINUATION. the references, taken from old books, to the pioneer buil- ding activities on the island: it is to that summary I am now indebted for the following extracts. :- Lt. John Ouchterlony, of the Madras Engineers, and for some period acting Engineer of the Colony, writing of 1841 in his book " Chinese War " says: "A fort was constructed on a small island called Kellet's, where it was supposed guns could be mounted with advantage to command the eastern entrance of the bay and to suppress any movements of the enemy of Cow- loon; two batteries for heavy pieces were erected at either extremety of its southern coast, and two masonry fores, which had been built by the Chinese in 1839 close o the water's edge to command the anchorage were destroyed and the promontory entirely evacuated. "A considerable number of Chinese, principally Jealors in live stock, bum-boat articles, spirits and piur soon began to squat on the shores of Hongkong, ad although for many months they constituted about as rascally and vagabond a community as could be found in a similar position in any part of the world, the peace and order of the infant, Colony were preserved by the Magistrate Major Caine. In December 1842, he wrote :- It may be interesting to observe the great change which had taken place in the appearance of the island, which, from a barren rock with a few poor huts of straw and leaves, had now become a spread thriving and populous colony, overspread with substantial ouse and adorned by forts, batteries and public buildings 1 the recommendation of ac ourt of inquiry, the spot selected for the erection of the earliest) barracks was the promontory of Chuck Chui (Stanley) on the south side, as being one of the healthiest on the island, and the surface of which is generally so mountainous as to afford but little ground available for building purposes..... The public buildings at present consists of a government ouse, gaol, and magistracy a land office, commissariat ffice, naval victualling store, arsenal, ́engineer's fice, market-place batteries, fort and barracks for sout 1,000 men to which additions are being made for De accommodation of 800 more. Judging by old records, this first Government House stood in what we now know as Wanchai, on a dight elevation about the level of the eastern end of Kennedy Road. It was 84 Page 85Page 86

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BUILDING ( 5 ) CONTINUATION.

the references, taken from old books, to the pioneer buil- ding activities on the island: it is to that summary I am now indebted for the following extracts. :-

Lt. John Ouchterlony, of the Madras Engineers, and for some period acting Engineer of the Colony, writing of 1841 in his book " Chinese War " says:

"A fort was constructed on a small island called Kellet's, where it was supposed guns could be mounted with advantage to command the eastern entrance of the bay and to suppress any movements of the enemy of Cow- loon; two batteries for heavy pieces were erected at either extremety of its southern coast, and two masonry fores, which had been built by the Chinese in 1839 close

o the water's edge to command the anchorage were destroyed and the promontory entirely evacuated.

"A considerable number of Chinese, principally Jealors in live stock, bum-boat articles, spirits and piur soon began to squat on the shores of Hongkong, ad although for many months they constituted about as rascally and vagabond a community as could be found in a similar position in any part of the world, the peace and order of the infant, Colony were preserved by the Magistrate Major Caine.

In December 1842, he wrote :- It may be interesting to observe the great change which had taken place in the appearance of the island, which, from a barren rock with a few poor huts of straw and leaves, had now become a spread thriving and populous colony, overspread with substantial

ouse and adorned by forts, batteries and public buildings 1 the recommendation of ac ourt of inquiry, the spot selected for the erection of the earliest) barracks was the promontory of Chuck Chui (Stanley) on the south side, as being one of the healthiest on the island, and the surface of which is generally so mountainous as to afford but little ground available for building purposes..... The public buildings at present consists of a government ouse, gaol, and magistracy a land office, commissariat ffice, naval victualling store, arsenal, ́engineer's

fice, market-place batteries, fort and barracks for sout 1,000 men to which additions are being made for De accommodation of 800 more.

Judging by old records, this first Government House stood in what we now know as Wanchai, on a dight elevation about the level of the eastern end of Kennedy Road. It was

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