Ewo Mess (Jardines) [????-????]

Our first married home in HK in 1963-64 was a flat in the building at No. 20 Mt Austin Road, once known as the Ewo (Bachelors) Mess but in my time were the married quarters for some of the senior floating staff of the Indo China Steam Naviagtion Co., Ltd: General Managers, Jardines Mathesons. At some time after the original bachelors moved out, the interior was remodelled to provides four single bedroom and four two bedroom flats. The bonus gained from living in such an old building was enjoying the glassed in verandahs with their fabulous view of the harbour,  wide enough to serve as separate dining rooms.  I have many long range photos but would love to see a close up view of the building which I think was demolished in the 1980s.

Nick Wilson

An example of an advertisement for the "Ewo Mess" situated at No. 8 The Peak, owned by Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd.

Ewo Mess The China Mail page 8 6th March 1917.png, by eurasian_david

Source: The China Mail, page 8, 6th March 1917 

That is an interesting tid-bit. If there were flats there in 1915 it must have been a while since the building had been a mess, becuse some of the flats i remember from 1963  were quite large two bedroom affairs indicating they were built  for families.

Nick

This is something else that is interesting too. The following is an obituary for a Henry T. Allan, a respected jockey and old China Hand who died in Shanghai in 1917 aged 70 years. According to the obituary, he was once employed by Jardine, Matheson and Co. Ltd from 1879 till 1890 and during this period he was for 10 years looked as the hong's "first jockey", winning many prestigious races in Hong Kong and nearby Treaty Ports. It then commented after leaving "Ewo", he was then employed by the Shanghai Horse Bazaar, having management of the Central Stables in Foochow Road, Shanghai. I was wondering if the 'Ewo' he left referred to in the obituary was the building in the Peak in Hong Kong? Or was it something else (which is what I think)

Henry T. Allan Ewo The China Mail page 5 3rd March 1917.png, by eurasian_david

Source: The China Mail, page 5, 3rd March 1917

'Ewo' is the Cantonese name for Jardines. It would refer to Mr Allan leaving the Jardine establishment.

I think  for Ewo we can read Jardine, Mathesons. Is it not the Cantonese name for the company? We uesed to drink 'Ewo' distilled in Scotland whisky on Jardine ships in the old days with a house flag on the label.

Ahh thanks everyone! Learn something new everyday

http://www.godfreydykes.info/EWO_A_WELL_KNOWN_.html