Philip Harding Klimanek (1883-1965) was born in the Czech Republic, at the time his place of birth was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In ca. 1905 he started to work for Holland-China Trading Company, in Hong Kong.
In 1939, when Charles Gesner van der Voort arrived in Shanghai to work for the company, he was Charles' superior. In a letter home he wrote: "Played chess with Klimanek in the French Club" [translation Pieter Lommerse, the French Club was Le Cercle Sportif Français, a fashionable place to be in the 1930s and it still exists today]. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
Philip Harding Klimanek (1883-1965) was born in the Czech Republic, at the time his place of birth was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In ca. 1905 he started to work for Holland-China Trading Company, in Hong Kong.
In 1939, when Charles Gesner van der Voort arrived in Shanghai to work for the company, he was Charles' senior manager. In a letter home he wrote: "Played chess with Klimanek in the French Club" [translation Pieter Lommerse, the French Club was Le Cercle Sportif Français, a fashionable place to be in the 1930s and it still exists today]. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) has been a member of NRCV (Nederlandse Reünisten Vereniging China (NRVC, Dutch Reunists Association China), as well as most of his former colleagues at Holland-China Trading Company.
NRVC evolved from Nederlandsch-Chineesche Vereeniging which was founded in 1923, by people who had an interest in China. Most of them had worked there, or studied Chinese and Chinese culture. Its magazine "China" had its editors' address at Leidsestraat 82-84 in Amsterdam, where Netherlands Harbour Works had its head office. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
Charles Gesner van der Voort had started his career in Rotterdam, at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC). In 1938, he went to Shanghai for the firm. The Japanese interned him, and most other Dutch nationals, from 1943-45. In camp, he met his wife Nancy and they married after the war. After a leave in The Netherlands, they returned to the Orient, where Charles continued to work for HCHC in Hong Kong.
This photo wrapper was found in the company archives, held by Stadsarchief Rotterdam. It contains photos from the period 1950-1957. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
Charles Gesner van der Voort had started his career in Rotterdam, at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC). In 1938, he went to Shanghai for the firm. The Japanese interned him, and most other Dutch nationals, from 1943-45. In camp, he met his wife Nancy and they married after the war. After a leave in The Netherlands, they returned to the Orient, where Charles continued to work for HCHC in Hong Kong.
This photo wrapper was found in the company archives, held by Stadsarchief Rotterdam. It contains photos from the period 1950-1957. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
harryhktc, I saw your comment on another topic and just wanted to follow up with you on it. That previous topic you commented on will likely be deleted.
I too had heard a rumour about a former corporate executive taking plans of his company residence with him upon retirement. I didn't think I would see it mentioned again some 40-years later.
Difficult question, but do you remember where you heard the rumour? I seem to recall reading it in an old issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review, though my memory of that is unclear at best. <Read more ...>
Submitted by L.S.Hemshall on Sun, 2014-08-17 17:02
Could anyone identify the house in the photo and share some information about it?
The house is located off Fui Yiu Lane at the end of Sai Kung old town and is surrounded by other small old houses that seem to date from a similar time to the main house - unusual given most of SK 'old town' is now made up of post-war buildings. <Read more ...>
