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Here you'll find over 50,000 pages about old Hong Kong to explore, including over 30,000 photos. The content is added by a friendly community of people who enjoy sharing what we know about Hong Kong's history, and you are very welcome to join us.

Kind regards, David

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Video: Historical development of the Central District

Submitted by David on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 22:42

Last Saturday, Dr. Patrick Hase gave a very interesting talk on this subject. I managed to catch most of it on my digital camera, and Dr Hase has kindly allowed me to put it up on the internet for all to see. (The presentation slides are available for download too)

It's really worth watching - he obviously knows a huge amount about the subject, and is a very good speaker too (though he was suffering from a heavy cold on this day).

William Ewart TINGLE (aka Billy) [1900-1977]

Submitted by David on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 14:30

These last few months I keep bumping into the name 'Billy Tingle'. Ok so it's an easy name to remember, but I'm also struck by how positive everybody's memories of him are.

Furama Hotel [1973-2001]

Submitted by David on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:59

1, Connaught Road.

Can anyone confirm the opening date for the Furama? The Emporis website says 1977. But the left edge of this photo dated 1972 shows the building almost finished, so it seems unlikely it would have sat empty for 4-5 years. [Update: opening date set to 1973, see comments below].

Wikipedia says it "closed in November, and was demolished in December 2001."

Marina House [1935-1980]

Submitted by David on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 12:11

15-19, Queen's Road Central.

Some notes I've found about this building:

1935. The 3rd Dec edition of the HK Telegraph reports that Marina House is complete:

"With every modern convenience and imposing in design, the new building next to the Hongkong Hotel in Queen's Road Central, to be called "Marina House", is now completed and will be ready for tenants to move in on January 1, 1936.