Welfare Handicrafts Shop, TST [c.1955-c.2005] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Welfare Handicrafts Shop, TST [c.1955-c.2005]

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Submitted by David on Fri, 2016-03-04 17:47
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
c.1955-12-31 (Year, Month, Day are approximate)
Date Place demolished: 
c.2005-01-01 (Year, Month, Day are approximate)

Timeline, using notes from this thread:

  • c.1955. Opened. KP writes, "The shop was built and opened circa 1955 and is reported, with photo, in the HK Annual Report of 1956.
    It was staffed by the members of various charities, which were responsible for different days of the week. My mother frequently worked there over a period of about five years 1955 - 60. I often used to go there after school and wait for her to finish."
  • 2003. Closed. 
  • 200?. Demolished.
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Photos that show this place

1956
1987
2000

Comments

Submitted by mike on Sat, 2016-03-05 00:32.

This was a wonderful shop selling all sorts of stuff.I used to buy many presents and still have some

Xmas tree decorations bought there in the sixties.

Mike

Submitted by Sandra Trimble on Sun, 2016-03-27 13:36.

This has bought back fond memories - three little girls dressed in long red brushed cotton nightdresses, singing Christmas carols to the folk nextdoor. Nightdresses bought at Welfare Handicrafts. Lovely patchwork bedspreads,these lasted about 20 years, finally fell apart due to strong Australian sunlight. Christmas decorations, bought in the 70's and still in use today.

Sandra

 

Submitted by Alison. on Tue, 2016-03-08 10:54.

I also remember this shop very well - during the early 60's we used to buy presents there to take back to UK after our school holidays.  My mother also volunteered there and I recall the beautiful Ada Lum dolls as well as little pincushions which I believe you can still find today.  We still have Christmas decorations as well and they have survived after all these years.  Anyone know where we can get similar gifts now - I am coming to HK for a "trip down memory lane" later this month armed with old photos etc. and hopefully will find some familiar locations.

Submitted by mike on Tue, 2016-03-08 16:21.

Alison....goodluck on your trip to HK and exploring your old haunts.

I have not been back for quite awhile but last time the changes I saw in Kowloon where alarming.

I found it all rather upsetting,going to the Ocean Terminal where my late Mum used to work,and Kai Tak was no more.

Hope you have a good time and see places you can recall from a distant time!

Regards Mike Cussans

Submitted by David on Tue, 2016-03-08 17:23.

Hi Alison,

The shops in the market at Stanley are the likely candidates for gifts. There's also a shop in one of the Li Yuen Streets with lots of little cheap & cheerful gift items.

If you're not sure of the location of any of the old photos, feel free to post them here and we can help identify where they were taken. (Here's how to upload a photo to the site: http://gwulo.com/node/2076)

Regards, David

Submitted by Alison. on Wed, 2016-03-09 05:22.

Thank you Mike and David - looking forward to the trip!

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2016-03-09 14:04.

Here's the photo that appeared in the "Hong Kong Annual Report 1956":

1956 Welfare Handicrafts Shop

 

Submitted by Pip.mm49 on Sun, 2016-03-20 22:44.

Hello Mike,

     I'm not sure what I'm doing with this but hope I've managed to get a message to you.  I was going through an old box of photo's recently and found one in which you (if you are the right Michael Cussans) and I are sitting in my back garden in Cranford, Middx. at around the age of 8.  As it brought back some memories I thought I would try and see if you were still around!   I can email a copy of the photo to you but am not sure how to do it on this site....if I've contacted the right person you can get back to me on Pip.mm@hotmail.co.uk.  If you've absolutely no idea who I am......ignore this!       Best wishes,    Philippa Mukherjee (Field)