Can you add any information about the Equine Sports Club? It was opened with some fanfare in the Shatin district in 1935, but we're not sure of the exact location or how long it lasted.
I've passed the half-way point of my three-week quarantine - not too much longer to go!
In theory I view the items for sale at a postcard fair with a cool, analytical gaze, only choosing pictures I can use in new books, prints, and talks.
In practice there are all sorts that catch my eye, and I often end up buying scenes that add more detail to an older story that I'd enjoyed. Here are a few examples, the fourth and final batch of postcards and photos I bought at the Woking fair.
Sailing junk
Photos of sailing junks are always worth a look, and I especially like photos of junks with tattered sails.
A question from David: If you're reading this as an email message, please could you reply and let me know if you can see the photos displayed below in the Photos section? When I read the last few newsletter emails on my PC it just shows blue text links to the photos not the actual photos. But when I look at the same emails on my mobile phone I can see the photos fine. I'm wondering if this is just a problem with my PC, or if it is affecting other people too.
A new wartime diary, The Diary of Mrs Grace Smith - the blind lady of Stanley Internment Camp has been added: Introduction, pages
For the third batch, we'll look at views of the city from various angles.
1. Almost a panorama: Hong Kong from the harbour
The first postcard has an arrow showing the owner's house - but unfortunately it must have been sent with a long-lost letter, as there isn't any more information about the owner on the back of the card.
In any case I was more interested in the three little arrows, as the next card I looked at has them too. <Read more ...>
Returning to the Woking postcard fair, here are the other pictures I bought showing people around Hong Kong.
1. "Chinese barber, Hong Kong"
That's the title the seller wrote on the back, but looking at the roof on the right I think this was taken in mainland China rather than in Hong Kong. And though the standing man may be a barber, I believe the service he is providing is to clean his customer's ears, digging out ear wax, etc.
If you look at the magnifying glass below (you might want to <Read more ...>
Hello people, I lived in H.K 1965-68 at Hilltop Mansions, Tin Hau Temple Rd Nth Point and at Castle Peak Lodge, 19 Milestone Castle Peak Rd N.T 1971-74.
Prior to moving to Castle Peak Lodge (unfortunately no longer existent I discovered on a trip back in 2010) we stayed at Pearl Island Hotel. Located at the end of a causeway from the mainland on a little 'island'.at approx 17/18 Milestone Castle Peak Rd (Near Barbecue Gardens). At the mainland end of the road on a rocky bluff was an old ,I think, gun emplacement that we'd play in and around. this looked out over the Pearl River. <Read more ...>
Two weeks ago today I visited Cambridge for the first time. I was only there for a few hours, but it was a lovely sunny day, and I enjoyed a stroll through the streets, admiring all the beautiful old buildings.
Hong Kong's buildings seem to have a typical lifespan of just 60-70 years, so you won't find any similar scenes here. There are still plenty of traces of Hong Kong's history to be found though, we just have to look a little harder.
Approaching the world with a curious eye, then sharing discoveries and questions is what Gwulo is all about. This newsletter starts with an example from Mak Ho-yin, moves on to list a bunch of readers' discoveries, then gives some tips on how you can share your own...
An outstanding Nathan Road
by Mak Ho-yin
At the Newsletter of 2021 week 24, the title “Roman Tam and the Four Steps” leads me to the article “Purple Onion Discotheque”, and the photo “Bars Kowloon mid-1970s” catch my eyes. It shows the <Read more ...>
When I visit the UK I try to match it with the dates of a postcard fair or two, to see if I can find any Hong Kong scenes. In last month's visit I went along to a fair at Woking, and as I walked around I heard lots of buyers and sellers say this was the first event they'd attended since lockdown. I was lucky!
On one stand I found these three postcards for sale:
1. "Hongkong - A portable groceteria" - though I think he's <Read more ...>
