Photos of old Hong Kong | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Photos of old Hong Kong

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Submitted by David on Thu, 2006-10-05 08:30

Here we bring together the photos of old Hong Kong that are hosted on Gwulo, plus links to other collections.

Gwulo - Photos for sale

If you'd like to buy a print photograph of old Hong Kong for yourself, or as a gift, please click here to see our Catalogue of old Hong Kong photos.

Digital copies are available too, for you to use in your own creative projects (event backdrops, books & brochures, websites, videos, etc).

Please contact me for ordering details:

David's email address

Gwulo - Photos for browsing

Most photos here are not for sale, but they are great for browsing. We have over 25,000, so there are lots to see. If you know what you are looking for you can:

  • Search by decade - Visit the galleries to find photos grouped by decade, from the 1860s to the present day.
  • Search by location - Use our map of Places in Hong Kong to choose the building you are interested in (or one nearby), and see what photos we have for it.

Or if you like surprises, just click the photo on the right (see 'Random Photo'). That will show you a larger copy of the photo, some information about it, and ... a new Random Photo!

Most of the photos have been kindly contributed by readers like you. Do you have any you can share? It's easy to upload them to Gwulo.com, or to show them here if they're already on Flickr.

Other photo collections

Other websites with good photos of old Hong Kong include:

  • The Hong Kong Public Records Office offers an online catalogue to their 'Archives for Still and Moving Images'. There are over 8,000 images in the archive.
  • The Hong Kong Public Library also has a good online search for old photos. The photos can be viewed and downloaded in high-resolution (though with the library's logo on the picture), which means they can be cleaned up well in an image editor. [3-Oct-2008: For me this site only works with Internet Explorer, not Firefox. When you click the link you should see a search screen. If you don't, check the opening hours as the service closes at different times for maintenance.]
  • Hedda Morrison took several hundred photos of Hong Kong in 1946-7. Over 300 of these photos have been scanned at high-resolution and placed online in Harvard University's HOLLIS web site.
  • The St Georges School website has a gallery of photos of Kowloon believed taken in the 1960s.
  • Tom Jackson's 'Hong Kong 70s & 80s'. He writes:

I was brought up in Hong Kong in the 60s and went to the Peak School and KGV. These photos were mostly taken by myself on a Kodak Instamatic and Olympus OM10 between 1969 and 1987. A few other photos were given to me and some slides were bought from a street vendor in the late 70s. I hope you enjoy this bit of nostalgia as much as I did compiling it.

If you know of any other sites with good photos of old Hong Kong, please add a comment below with the details.

Regards, David

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Comments

Submitted by Craig on Thu, 2009-11-12 13:26.

I was having a quick surf on the web earlier and came across a great Flickr website.

Someone has gone an obtained loads of old photos of Hong Kong and then gone through a lot of trouble to find the exact place and vantage point of the original and taken a modern snap. They are quite accurate.

I've wanted to do the same with some of the old photos from the war, but this fella has done a grand job.

I recognise one photo that is on Gwulo, the photo of a Pillbox and ARP's outside near Pacific Place and Admiralty taken in about '41.

You can see lovely looking old buildings which have been replaced by ugly concrete and glass. Some of the old buildings that have been demolished is nothing short of criminal, but because some greedy landlord rather have a 30 story office block they have been flattened..... who needs history when you have a fat wallet? 

Check it out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/old-hk/

If someone has already mentioned the site, my apologies.  

 

Submitted by David on Thu, 2009-11-12 17:54.

Hi Craig, I did give him a mention on the page about HK & Flickr, but he's well worth highlighting again. Apart from the quality of his photos, it's also amazing how quickly he gets them finished. I've bookmarked plenty that I'd like to add here, but can't keep up! If anyone sees one they'd like to share here, please go ahead and add it.

Cheers, David

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2009-11-28 18:48.

Interesting scenes of 1930s Hong Kong on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHTrmz4hTI&feature=fvw

 

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2009-12-05 18:10.

Looks like this could be interesting. You can see it on ATV World every Wednesday from 18 November 2009, at 1855.

Or you can view it online from the RTHK Website's archive.

Submitted by David on Fri, 2009-12-11 00:11.

I recently received an email from Peter Moss, linking to his photo albums. There are several that contain photos of Hong Kong:

  • Wind from the North. Photos from the 1967 disturbances, with many taken along the border with China.
  • The drowning of Plover Cove. Photos of the Plover Cove area after the sea had been drained away, but before the new reservoir was filled with fresh water. Also several photos taken around Port Shelter and Silverstrand Bay.
  • Hong Kong retreat. Ma Wan island in the 1970s.

The photos are sharp, the comments below them are interesting, and the name seemed familiar. Then I clicked through to his website, and all became clear - he's the author of many of the glossy Form Asia photo books I've browsed through in local bookshops. Fingers crossed we'll hear more from Peter.

Submitted by philk on Mon, 2009-12-21 11:55.

not sure if anyone has posted this link before, but seems to be afew good pictures on here too: http://hkfilex.rthk.org.hk/memorieX/

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-01-25 17:46.

Thanks to Paul Watty for getting in touch:

I lived in Hong Kong between 1968 and 1971 and have a series of photos from the period - they're more family photos than scenery, but I hope they may be of some interest.

He describes them as:

A selection of photos, featuring me, my mother, my father, brother Peter, HMS Intrepid and Fred the dog.

My father was based in Victoria Barracks between 1968 and 1971, we lived in Montgomery Block just above the barracks and I attended school at Victoria infants.

View the photos here.

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-05-11 22:09.

The text at the top of this page used to include the section below.

Unfortunately the link to Harry's website no longer works, and I can't find any sign of his new website on the internet. They are great photos, so Harry, if you read this please could you let us know your new website? Or if you need a new home for your photos, we'll be very happy to host them here.

Regards, David

  • Harry Marshall has several photos of Hong Kong in the 1950s (click on the thumbnails along the right for a larger version of the picture and background information). His introduction begins:

During the British National Service years I was stationed in Hong Kong from 1954 to 1957. Initially I was one of the R.E.M.E. personnel attached to the 27th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Stanley Fort on Hong Kong Island. Then followed a short period on Stone Cutters Island before I was finally transferred to the R.E.M.E. workshop in Shamshuipo. Repatriation came in July 1957, and I was sorry to leave. Hong Kong I mean, not the Army! I couldn't wait to get out of the bxxxxy Army! — But I had fallen in love with Hong Kong.

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-05-13 17:02.

How many photos have we created here? Take a guess...

 :

 :

 :

I got a very pleasant surprise when I checked this week: 3,580 !

That includes all the photos uploaded here, and the photos we've linked to on Flickr. It doesn't include any photos pasted straight into text, so the total number of photos visible on the site is even higher.

Many thanks to every one who has taken the time to upload photos here or on Flickr. Next stop 5,000 ...

Regards, David

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2010-10-17 08:28.

Views of old Hong Kong: http://www.corbisimages.com/Search#pg=Michael+Maslan&ri=IH063784&rin=102...

Submitted by hoito (not verified) on Fri, 2011-05-06 16:11.

Check this out. 

http://oldphoto.lb.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/en/list.php?req=3&target=Hong%20Kong

it includes a photo of the Protestant Cemetery.

Enjoy

hoito

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 2011-05-22 21:27.

80sKid has found this set of photos:

Great series of shots taken during Far East tour in late 1930s, including a number of Hong Kong here:

http://www.croiseur-lamotte-picquet.fr/index.php?page=hong

They are very high-resolution scans, so there is lots of detail to see.

Submitted by Karl J on Wed, 2012-02-29 11:34.

Here is a shot of the Ma Wan village. Not sure when it was taken, but some parts of the village are now developed and very modern but some parts are still untouched and in original condition.

http://parkislandhongkong.blogspot.com/2012/02/photo-of-ma-wan-village-before-it-was.html

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2012-07-03 21:52.

Views of Hong Kong 1958-1959. See

http://www.panoramio.com/user/5462617/tags/Old%20Hong%20Kong

 

Submitted by David on Mon, 2012-10-29 18:02.

A nice set from the 1950s: http://imgur.com/a/Haout#0

Thanks to Chris for the link.

Regards, David

Submitted by David on Tue, 2012-10-30 21:14.

Interesting viewpoint - Hong Kong as seen from kayak, including several of the old KCR terminus in TST: https://plus.google.com/photos/117963875908342241471/albums/5257401593285992209?banner=pwa

Thanks to Jim for the link,

regards, David

Submitted by hfsiu on Tue, 2013-04-02 20:55.

I have started this page recently. I'm uploading all my collections about photos taken during Qing Dynasty, both original and electronic copies. You must have seen most of them though.....:)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%88%8A%E5%BD%B1-Hong-Kong-Old-Photograph/431607540258153

 

HF

Submitted by IckyChris on Wed, 2013-04-03 16:24.

Very nice. 
I liked your page and passed to my friends. 

 

Submitted by hfsiu on Wed, 2013-04-03 19:07.
Only a few people find them interesting.

Submitted by watty on Fri, 2013-04-05 22:00.

My (Paul Watty) photos are now at

http://wattyworld.co.uk/Hong-Kong-68-71.htm

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2013-07-15 04:02.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hongkongphotographic/sets/72157626529409270/

Thanks to Tinja for the link.

Submitted by Gerald Laishley on Sat, 2013-07-27 07:00.

Hello David;

A link for some excellent colour shots of 50's/60's HK can be found at a US Navy site http://ussdehaven.org/.

It was common knwledge that the US sailors had better cameras and gear than their Royal Navy counterparts - primarily due to the wage disparity between the navies, with Jack Tar coming in a lowly fourth in line after the Canadians, Americans, and Aussies.

I can especially recommend the shots taken by George Hofius and Scott Martin (who runs the site).  George has an excellent shot of Government House which he took from the top of the Hilton Hotel - and one of the Colonial Secretariat Building just below it.  He also has a shot of the site of the old Foreign Correspondents Club on Conduit Road where scenes for "A Many Splendored Thing" were filmed.

Also, a shot by Don Holloway (50's #25) will show you the HKFC Stadium looking east - showing the line of HKG houses that used to line Wongneichong Road.

Enjoy!

G.

Submitted by David on Mon, 2013-07-29 04:11.

Thanks Gerald, some very good photos there.

I can't see any way to link directly to a gallery, but George's photos are at Photo Galleries >> 60's photos >> 65-68 George Hofius  >> In and around Hong Kong.

Regards, David

Submitted by Gerald Laishley on Mon, 2013-07-29 11:16.

Hi David;

Try this one: http://ussdehaven.org/images/martin/martin_hk1.htm

Best regards,

Gerald

Submitted by Gerald Laishley on Mon, 2013-07-29 11:16.

Hi David;

Try this one: http://ussdehaven.org/images/martin/martin_hk1.htm

Best regards,

Gerald

Submitted by tngan on Mon, 2013-07-29 13:40.

Hi Geralk

I noticed images 89 & 90 should have been looking towards Pokfulam Reservoir and the High West respectively instead of the Repulse Bay.   The photographer would likely be somewhere on The Peak.

On the other hand, the Cinema featuring 'The Battle of the Bulge' as shown in photo 121 was said to be haunted.  Sort of a believe it or not stuff.

Best Regards,

T

Submitted by doug on Tue, 2013-07-30 00:58.

I think Scott Martins photos are the best ones in existence of Wanchai in the '60s-I've never yet found any better ones (well, I took a few myself in '72, but not nearly as many as him). Too bad he doesn't keep that album on Flickr (or Gwulo!), where a lot more people might see his work.

Submitted by Gerald Laishley on Tue, 2013-07-30 18:26.

Scott is the webmaster for USSDeHaven.org, so you could always drop him a line and make that suggestion.  I agree with you about Wanchai during the 60's - he even got a shot of the China Fleet Club, which I never did in all the years I lived there.  Several of the others in the DeHaven Photo Gallery uploaded business cards from all the Wanchai bars they frequented, including a letter to the ship's company inviting them in for a complimentary first drink. They don't do that anymore!

Submitted by doug on Tue, 2013-07-30 20:19.

I tried contacting him through his Facebook page-I wanted to use a few of his photos to illustrate my collection of HK bar cards on Flickr, but got no response.

Submitted by Gerald Laishley on Wed, 2013-07-31 11:08.

You'll probably have better luck contacting him using the USSDeHaven page contact info.  I did that and got a response from him.

Submitted by 80sKid on Fri, 2013-08-09 16:01.

lots of photos from 1949, including some unusual ones. Strong BOAC connection

http://natlib.govt.nz/photos?utf8=%E2%9C%93&text=hong+kong

Submitted by barbaramerchant on Tue, 2013-10-15 16:30.

There is also the Hong Kong in the '60s group
Barbara

Submitted by David on Mon, 2014-01-13 13:12.

Phil's blog http://hongkongandmacaufilmstuff.blogspot.hk/ is a good example of how film stills are a source for photos of old Hong Kong. He's posted and identified stills from a bunch of different films and TV series, with a special interest in Kung-fu movies. 

Regards, David

Submitted by philk on Mon, 2014-01-13 16:07.

thanks for the link, David. Thomas has been instrumental in discovering many of the film locations as well.

Submitted by wcfreeman on Tue, 2019-03-19 17:36.

Hello everyone, I am Willy Freeman from Bermuda, this being post #1 for me. I have recently purchased both of David's books, Old Hong Kong & the tales they tell. I quite simply cannot get enough of this stuff!! David's books are perfectly written and organized to create a very pleasant reading experience, I know you will all agree to that. I can wallow in these old pictures for hours & hours...good thing I'm single, because nothing gets done! I have a website to share with everyone which is panoramic and zoomable to give extraordiary detail within each plate. The official title is University of Cambridge digital library; subtitle Royal Commonwealth Society. Once on the website, click the exspansion arrows on the top right and you're off. Enjoy! Here it is...

http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/3

Submitted by David on Sat, 2019-03-23 14:21.

Thanks Willy, I haven't seen these before, and they've got lots of detail. Here are the photos that show HK:

2. TST from harbour: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/2

3. View north from Peak: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/3

4. HK Island north shore from harbour: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/4

5. Buildings along seafront from VRC: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/5

6. View east from Peak: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/6

7. View west from Fortress Hill: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-30383-A/7 << The first close-up I've seen of this area

(#1 is Shanghai, and #8 is Macau).

I see that site allows downloads, so if anyone can download & add them to Gwulo they'll be a good addition.

Regards, David

Submitted by David on Thu, 2019-04-25 10:28.

The British Empire and Commonwealth collection, held at the Bristol Archives, includes a selection of Hong Kong photos.

Submitted by Jimmy K. C. Ho on Sun, 2020-08-16 15:28.

To see the photos:
 - Visit the Via website at: http://via.lib.harvard.edu/via/deliver/advancedsearch?_collection=via

Unfortunately, this link is no longer valid.

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2020-08-21 18:51.

Thanks for letting me know - I've updated the text with a new link that works.

Submitted by David Clarke on Fri, 2022-03-25 12:30.

 

A website I’ve been working on to show my photos of Hong Kong has now reached a stage where it can be launched.  There are already more than 40,000 of my personal images of Hong Kong inside it.  Although it does have an interface that can accommodate to viewing on mobile devices, of course it is best viewed on a larger computer screen.  It is being kindly hosted by the Art History Department at the University of Hong Kong on its server.  It can be searched by date or by keyword (or by a combination of both), but one can also use a ‘lucky dip’ function if one is not after something in particular.  Users are free to download images for not-for-profit purposes. 
The website covers a quarter century of Hong Kong's recent history during which I have been intensively photographing the city.  I know this only slightly overlaps with the focus of Gwulo's historical interests but nevertheless I thought users might have an interest in it so I am posting a link to it here.  


Hong Kong in Transition: 1995-2020


https://arthistory.hku.hk/HKinTransition/

All the best,

David Clarke. 

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