The San Pablo was built at east Kowloon (Kwun Tong)? shipyards for the film The Sand Pebbles in the mid-1960s. A video of its construction and some of the filming around Hong Kong waters can be seen here
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Date picture taken
15 Jun 1965
Gallery
Comments
It is made in Cheoy Lee Shipyard
It is made in Cheoy Lee Shipyard as it is shown in the said footage in YouTube. Cheoh Lee Shipyard had been operated until the 80's in Lai Chi Kok near the existing Mei Fo Sun Chuen.
The Sand Pebbles
It started filming in HK in March 1966.
Sand Pebbles vessel
The video of the construction of this vessel shows it being built at a builder's yard opposite the Kai Tak runway and with the Hok Yuen Power Station in the distance belching out smoke. i.e. 25 seconds from the start. Neither of these locations suggest Choi Lee's slipways at Lai Chi Kok. Choi Lee was at Kwung Tong when the vessel was built as can be seen by the company's name on the roof of an adjacent building.
Launch of the vessel
I remember being taken by my father, who was a ship surveyor in the Marine Department, to the launching of this vessel. I was 14 years old, but, unfortunately, can't remember the location.
It was lovely to see the video of the building of the boat and I was quite surprised, and thrilled, when I spotted my mother, father, sister and myself, all there, standing on the dock. It was a boiling hot day, and I also remember my mother remarking that although it seemed even worse for the adult ladies to wear long white gloves, it did prevent lots of sweaty palms and handshakes.
For anyone interested we can be seen at 2:18 on the video: my sister is standing in front of me, wearing green; I am behind, with short dark hair, wearing a pink colour; our Mother is in front, wearing sunglasses and carrying a light handbag (no hat), and our father, at the back, further to our right, hand on hip.
Location of Choy Lee Shipyard
Hi there,
There was a book (香港製造，製造香港) mentioning Choy Lee shipyard first started in Ngau Chi Wan in 1950's. When the government began to develop Ngau Chi Wan, the shipyard was moved to Chuk Ko Wan (where Disneyland is today) in Lantau.
T
J.H Vaughan
According to a nice article over on Hugh's Industrial History site, the boat for the Sand Pebbles was manufactured by j.H.Vaughan. Link here: http://industrialhistoryhk.org/j-h-vaughan-an-american-shipbuilder-in-h…
Re: Cheoy Lee
Hi There,
While going to the Lai Chi Kok Water Selling Kiosk I walked by Cheoy Lee Shipyards. Looks like they moved back to West Kowloon along other smaller shipyards.
I guess at their main entrance, they have misquoted Moby Dick..... The small words on the right hand side reads "It is not on any maps, true places never are...."
T
The opening photo of the San…
The opening photo of the San Pablo was not photographed on 15th June 1965. Simply because the ship was launched by the 1965 Miss Hong Kong Joy Drake, as seen in the video of its construction from 2min 11 sec onwards to 2 min 33 seconds. The 1965 Miss Hong Kong pageant took place on 20th June 1965 at the Hong Kong Hilton Hotel - so it has to be after that date.