1899-08-02_Meeting_at_Tai_Po_Market (2) | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

1899-08-02_Meeting_at_Tai_Po_Market (2)

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1899-08-02_Meeting_at_Tai_Po_Market (2)
Submitted by Klaus. View the original image on Flickr.
Authors: 
The National Archives UK
Tags: 
New Territories
Tai Po

Quite sure this also shows:

Meeting at Tai Po Market between Sir Henry Blake and the gentry and elders of the New Territories communities at which the Governor explained the principles upon which the leased territories would be governed. Gentry and elders assembled to greet the governor and his party, 2 August, 1899.

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Wednesday, August 2, 1899
Gallery: 
1890s Hong Kong
Connections: 
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Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2021-08-13 03:39.

Taipohu (Tai Po Hui) was reached at 11.30 a.m.. On the summit of Flagstaff Hill is now in course of erection the official quarters.....

A guard of honour consisting of men of the Hong Kong Regiment being drawn up in front of a pavilion below the official quarters, where the (village) elders were also assembled. China Mail 3 August 1899 refers

The 'official quarters' mentioned - is this the Old Tai Po Police Station or the residence of the district officer?

Interesting to note that 2 August (6th Moon, 26th Day) was also the birthday of the Emperor of China.

Submitted by LizB on Fri, 2021-08-13 01:22.

This is more likely to be the Tai Po Police Station, which according to the AMO was built in 1899 (see https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_128.php), rather than the Old District Office North (Tai Po), which was not built until 1907 (see https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_12.php).

The construction looks a bit precarious, but maybe it's just the angle at which it was taken!

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2021-08-13 03:16.

Looking at the original photo again, I think the building  with the gabled roof (on the extreme right) is the Police Station. The matshed structure above the building may have been temporary quarters for the police contingent, pending the completion of the Police Station. 

Submitted by LizB on Fri, 2021-08-13 04:12.

That would make sense, Moddsey. 

Submitted by Klaus on Fri, 2021-08-13 05:48.

Hi Liz and moddsey,

I think your conclusions are correct, see this photo from 1905.

tai po police station and temporary buildings
tai po police station and temporary buildings, by Klaus

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2021-08-13 06:47.

Thank you for posting. Sketches and comments on the four matshed structures can be viewed here under " The New Territories Administration".  
 

 

Submitted by LizB on Fri, 2021-08-13 22:08.

The temporary police station at Tai Po is referred to on p.88 of Cheng Po-Hung's book, "A Century of New Territories Roads and Streets", which notes that it was rebuilt in 1900.

On p61 of the same book there is also a photo from 1930 showing the (permanent) Tai Po District Office and Police Station (located close together on the same hill) and the Police Inspector's Quarter on a nearby small hill.