To add confusion to this saga, the book by well-known HK architect Eric Cumine, titled 'Hong Kong Ways & Byways' published in 1981, claims that the pagoda lost its top two storeys in a 1954 typhoon which at least gives a date for ardent newspaper researchers to have a look through. Other three storey images of the pagoda in the 1950s would appear to refute this date.
The year dates for the other two pagodas construction are of general interest.
Date picture taken
15 Jun 1981
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Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda - Ping shan
Hi IDJ
Interesting article. I did a search of typhoons and came up with this one in 1954 - written about in an Australian paper, also in the Singapore Press:
Three ships broke from their moorings this afternoon as heavy winds lashed Hong Kong harbour into a mass of foam. Two of the vessels ran aground on Stonecutters' Island and the third got steam up and kept out of trouble.
The grounded vessels are being battered by savage waves. Many vessels put to sea to ride out the storm when the wind rose this morning and the Port Authorities hoisted the "typhoon imminent" signal. The typhoon "Ida," which yesterday lashed Southern Formosa, was reported to have veered close to Hong Kong. It is expected to pass 50 miles south of the colony. three ships that ran aground are the British freighter Rosita (709 tons), the Panamanian freighter Northern Phoenix (1,129 tons) and the Philippines vessel Ami Banker (5,026 tons).The ship adrift is also a Philippines vessel, Dona Lourdes. tonnage unknown.. The Port Authorities said nothing could be done about the ships until the typhoon had passed.
Warships: The 8,000 ton British cruises Newfoundland was among three warships which hurriedly left port today to meet the storm at sea. Other vessels which left were the American 13,600 ton cruiser Bremerton and an American transport. The precautionary measures followed reports that the typhoon was moving .north west at 16 knots. All- harbour services were suspended early today and all small ships made for shelter.
ALSO:
Re: Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda
I also did some checking previously and Typhoon Ida would be a stong candidate for damage, if any, to the Pagoda. Unfortunately, no inofrmation appears to be available online or from the China Mail via the HKPL. I note from the book 'Hong Kong Revisited' that Typhoon Ida had caused damage to Sek Kong Camp as viewed online here It would appear that the 1954 date of typhoon damage to the Pagoda that is also mentioned in the HK Memory Project may have come from Cumine's book.
TSUI SING LAU - PING SHAN PAGODA AND TYPHOONS
I've just been re-reading the saga on this pagoda - and as we seem to have agreed that the pagoda had 3-levels in 2 June 1949, according to the 3 corbels proturding in its long shadow on the aerial photo of that date, I searched for typhoons betwween Feb 1948 and June 1949 and found the following:
HONG KONG, July 28 ( A.A.P.-Reuters) . — At least 20 people are known to have lost their lives last night when a typhoon hit the city and surrounding area.. A much higher casualty list feared when full details are known. Large numbers are missing and many homeless. Several houses collapsed under the combined force of the wind and torrential rain, burying an undetermined number of Chinese occupants. Many junks and sampans were sunk, and a number of small steamers were washed ashore in Hong Kong Harbour. The British India Company's 10,000 ton ship Sangola broke away from a buoy, but the anchor held. A 90ft landslide has cut the Kowloon-Canton railway, and services are dislocated. A tidal wave is reported to have struck Cheung chow Island 20 miles east of Hong Kong sinking about 50 boats of all types. The typhoon was originally expected to pass 150 miles to the east. But it- suddenly switched direction yesterday and headed for the colony. The city was hurriedly battened down, thousands rushed for home by the ferries, while small craft sought shelter.
Suziepie