Source: University of Edinburgh 0066618
Date given as 1863, however I think 1864-65 is more likely due to construction of Blue Buildings in foreground - land was only purchased in 1864 to build these buildings and the almost complete Married Inspectors Quarters in the Victoria Gaol complex. The Blue building on Old Peak Road is also under construction.
There is a large matshed in Central which I initially though was the City Hall/HSBC under construction but now I think its possibly a temporary theatre - the sides are enclosed whereas matsheds for construction is normally left open.
Date picture taken
1 Jan 1864
Gallery
Shows place(s)
Comments
Detail from the Panorama
When I was looking at the photo, I saw two ships on the right, a three-masted steamer and a white paddle-steamer behind the masts.
I usually ask Stephen Skentwell from Steamer Ship-owning Companies | Oldchinaships.com. Here are his answers:
The paddle-steamer is very likely FEI WAN/FI WAN. The ship was built by Hugh McDougall & Co., Hong Kong. 10/62 reg. at Hong Kong to Hugh McDougall. It is a very early vessel, fully enclosed from stem to stern, and of low tonnage. Stephen has no details of the vessel's movements in this period (1863-65).
About the three-masted steamer he writes:
The colour touching up very deliberately seems to show this vessel to be a three masted steamer of the British China coast company Dent & Co., which did not engage in the opium trade.[....] However the quarters of the flag are wrongly reversed. According to Wikipedia, Dent & Co. faced a financial crisis in 1866 and collapsed in 1867. It is possible, I suppose, that the houseflag was flown upside down in 1866 in the standard indication of distress.[...].
He (and I) think that this is a hand-coloured version of an older photo. The steamer is moored at the Spring Garden Lane Pier [c.1870-c.1905]. I don't know who built or owned this pier, has possibly something to do with Dent&Co. Any further information is welcome.
Regarding dating (1874) of this photo these informations fit.