Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) worked at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC), with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin (Tianjin), Rotterdam and London. At the start of the company, in 1903, Willem Kien (1877-1970) started to work for HCHC in Shanghai, later becoming director. In 1921 he left China and became director at the Rotterdam head office, at Diergaardelaan 36.
Willem Kien obtained this photo during a visit in Hong Kong in the 1930s. I believe a tram line is visible on the left (Peak Tram?).
Courtesy Kien family archives
Comments
Hong Kong 1930s, Victoria harbour
Dear reader,
Can you please help to determine the date of this photo? And can you recognise what appears to be a tram line on the left?
Kind regards,
Pieter
Pre-1933
The photo shows the Peak Tram and the HSBC HQ, 2nd generation, which was demolished in 1933.
Ian
Hong Kong 1930s, Victoria harbour
Many thanks Ian.
Re: Photo
I have the same photo and dated mine to the 1920s. Date range between 1924 and 1931. The latter date being before the completion of Gloucester Building and its clocktower.
Hong Kong 1920s, Victoria harbour
Many thanks moddsey,
This probably means the photos were obtained by Willem Kien, rather than made by him. I have not yet placed all photos on Gwulo. There were some twenty photos, still in the original wrapper from "Modern Photo Supplies", in Queens Theatre Building. They were obtained in the 1930s, as the wrapper had a date which could be filled out: "........... 193.....".
https://gwulo.com/atom/33707
https://gwulo.com/atom/33708
After 1928, before 1931
Aigburth Hall on May Road (1928) is there, but Abermore Court on Old Peak Road (1931) isn't there.
So 1928-30?
Well Done
Nice to have the date range whittled down.
Hong Kong 1920s, Victoria harbour
Many thanks marlowe!