Welcome

Gwulo.com is for everyone that is interested in old Hong Kong.

If it's your first visit, you might like to start with one of the popular articles listed on the right, or just scroll down to browse through recent articles.

I hope you'll join in too, and ask a question or share your knowledge. Most pages let you leave a comment, and there's always the Forum where you can post a new message.

Enjoy the site,

David

PS 'Gwu lo' is roughly how '古老' sounds in Cantonese. It means 'ancient' or 'old-fashioned'.

Jubilee Battery's third searchlight

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-05-04 18:28
in

Around 18 months ago I posted up some photos of Jubilee Battery's two searchlight positions. But a few weeks back Rob Weir surprised me by saying there was a third. That seemed strange, as the other times I've seen searchlights mentioned there are just two per battery.

Rob followed up by email with the details: Read more »

Marine Lot 111

Submitted by David on Tue, 2010-04-20 21:12
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Several times in the John Olson story there have been mentions of the family living at 98 Wanchai Road. It's not clear exactly where that number is today, but it should be somewhere near the junction with Johnston Road - point A on the map: Read more »

The Hongkong News (1941-5)

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-04-19 17:26
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This was the name of the English-language newspaper published during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. There are microfilm copies available for viewing at the HKPRO and the Public Library, but neither allows online viewing.

Fortunately reader Chris King has sent us scans of two issues, which you can read at the links below.

As you'd guess, the paper was an important source of news for prisoners in Hong Kong at the time, as long as you could filter out the facts from the propaganda: Read more »

c.1900 View over Sai Ying Pun

Submitted by David on Sun, 2010-04-11 21:06
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Image: 

A view over Sai Ying Pun, and the western harbour towards Stonecutters Island. The photo is showing its age, but as this view wasn't photographed as often as Central and Sheung Wan, it's stilll worth showing.

It's from the same set as the photo of Union Church, and has the same person's handwriting on the back. On this photo it says:

"Hong Kong + Harbor from the mountain" Read more »

Praya East Reclamation Railway

Submitted by David on Wed, 2010-03-24 23:10

Reader IDJ sent this interesting photo, showing a temporary railway laid along the western side of Bowrington Canal. He points out that these temporary railways were quite commonly seen at large construction sites. Read more »

c.1955 View of HK from harbour

Submitted by David on Mon, 2010-03-22 18:20
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Image: 

Over on the left are the white buildings of the old Vehicular Ferry Pier, with the pillbox visible on its western pier. The taller building behind it is the old Fire Station, where the Hang Seng HQ building stands today.

In the foreground of the photo we can see the wake from the boat that the photographer is standing on. It leads back in the direction of the pier, so there's a good chance the photographer was making use of a ferry ride to get this photo of the island. Read more »

May, Jun 1954 - Kai Tak saboteur

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2010-03-19 15:53

10 May 1954   -   I sail (for home) on July 25th, as yet the boat is unknown.

Read more »

Mount Davis Battery [1912- ]

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-03-18 22:34
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Denis Rollo's "The Guns & Gunners of Hong Kong" notes this was built to hold "5 x 9.2-inch BL Mark X guns".

It was completed in 1912, and though the gun emplacements can still be seen today, it's useful life as a British battery ended in 1941. The battery was damaged during the fighting with the Japanese, then blown up by its personnel on 25 Dec, just before the surrender. Read more »

Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Petersen

Submitted by David on Sat, 2010-03-13 17:07
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If you know the nationality of this gentleman, please could you leave a comment below?

He appears as in the history of John Olson. They must have been good friends, as Petersen was appointed as executor of Olson's will.

Historian Carl T Smith wrote about Petersen in his article "The German speaking community in Hong Kong 1846-1918". The first mention of Petersen is in the section "Taverns, Boarding Houses, Cafes and Hotels": Read more »

Dog-fights over Mid-levels

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-03-11 14:39

Which years saw the skies above Robinson Road turned into an aerial battlefield?

Try the 1960s...  Read more »

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