Miramar [1978- ]

My parents lived in a house at Deep Water Bay called "Miramar" before the war.  In fact, I think they were living there at the time of the Japanese invasion.

Hi David,

I do not know if the site actually fits.  I only remember my mother telling me that she used to go swimming every day with her dogs to the little island opposite.  My mother was interned at Stanley.  Her professional name was Carol Bateman and her old dancing school at the Helena May is still going strong.  She organized ballets at the camp.  My father survived  the Lisobn Maru and was a POW in Japan.

Best regards

Adrienne

Adrienne, do you recall if your parents sold or rented Miramar to a shipping company after the Japanese occupation? 

I ask because I recently saw a 1960s directory that listed the resident of 68 Deep Water Bay as the managing director of the major shipping company, Wallem Group.  The company's previous managing director had lived in the first-generation Skyhigh (http://gwulo.com/node/26505), which I had been researching.

If your mother went swimming to the island opposite, she would have a quite a walk just to reach the water.  Looking at the foliage and elevation of the current Miramar, it is not possible to walk from the house's back garden directly down to Island Road.

I am sorry, I do not know but I think my parents probably rented the house.  Both were caught up in the Japanese invasion.  My father was called up to join the Middlesex regiment.  According to my mother, she had no idea where he was and the left the house - dogs and all - to search for him.  Apparently, she never returned home.  Somehow, before she was deported to Stanley, she ended up helping out at St. Paul's hospital.  After the liberation, she took it upon herself to walk all the way from Stanley to Deep Water Bay to see what had happened to her house.  She said it was one of the most eerie experiences in her whole life.  At that time, she still had no idea if my father was alive or dead.

Thanks David, I really appreciate this.  My mother often talked about Stanley and her experiences there.

Regards

Adrienne

i wonder if there are photos of the original house somewhere.  I have old photos of my mother and the dogs ( at that time she had about ten Afghans!)  I'll try to get them on here.

Hi David,

I have been going through my mother's old photographs and it seem as if I have made a mistake.  The house they lived in was definitely at Deep Water Bay but on the back of one of the old Photos (1938) was stated that the house was called "Zara".  I shall try to get the photos in but I do not quite know how to do it - shall have to get some help.  Does anybody know of a house called "Zara"?

This house is owned by Michael Kadoorie. The current version of it was built in 1978 and designed by Arthur C.S Kwok architects (AKAA).

The previous version was featured in the 1973 German film "Das Mädchen von Hongkong" (filmed at the end of 1972) and you can see some images of it at the following link: https://hongkongandmacaufilmstuff.blogspot.hk/2017/06/das-madchen-von-hongkong-joachim_80.html