Pearl Island Hotel/Castle Peak Lodge

Thank you for your prompt reply. It's not the old house alas but it must be in similar location re the Pearl Island causeway background.. The place was on a hillside with a long flight of steps leading down to 2 car garage right on Castle Peak Rd at the 19 M/S. There were battlements and a spiral staircase going to upstairs room and 2 verandahs,the ground floor had checkerboard b/w marble tiling in the main room. There was a lawn with a paved path and a star fruit tree grove also. Down a graduated slope there was a flower garden that was tended to by a Mr Lei and family who had a house behind the main premises. They had a dog called Fook Sing and a monkey on a long chain that inhabited a nearby tree.

An amazing old place that was wonderful for a 13 year old lad to live in and play around. Was told that the Japanese occupying army once used it as a divisional HQ during the war. A carved plaque, from memory had the date 1926 (?), was emblazened on the main balcony facing the garden area. large stone blocks were used to construct the house and there were little windows in the spiral staircase tower overall giving,along with the battlements the appearance of a much older castle.

Further to this,over the busy then 2 lane Castle Peak Rd at 19 Milestone was the San Hui village that comprised p'haps 100 yards of street front shanty shops/fish sellers with a network of adjoined sampans on the water behind it. Oh, and there was a floating restaurant directly opposite the house. Apart from Aberdeen, I don't think that in 1972 there were  many of these in HK.

The old Dragon Inn, which I noticed ten years ago had been renovated into a fairly bland looking building replacing  the old place that had ponds and covered areas where people ate well and played mah jong loudly. I could walk there in a few minutes via an old stone path up the back of the house through bamboo grove and a small stream, where I once encountered a Chinese Cobra sunning itself on the path. Big fish tanks of garoupa, prawns and other seafood could be accessed by staff after one had selected their personal 'catch of the day' for cooking and eating!. A great place that incidentally featured briefly in a Bond film-Roger Moore and Britt Ekland in Live and Let Die I think.

Perhaps some of the aforementioned features may jog a memory or two. If I can get Mum to dig out an old photo album I may be able to post some pictures;if I can locate them.

Regards

Jeff

Hello and thank you for the photo and your interest.

That would have to be it! Not too many other castle-like residences in that neighbourhood!.

Strange how one's mind's eye works, although as we know, how quickly things can change in Honkers.Then and now.

 The Tai Pak is the restaurant alright,and the San Hui fishing village was to the right of it fronting onto the road (I remember wicker baskets of tiny hammerhead sharks on sale as well as other fish and a little shanty selling soy drinks and rice wine in old Coke bottles. Good Companion cigs and mischief making fireworks on sale cheaply too, which appealed to a 12 year old lad) yet the walkway wasn't there by 72 and the breakwater beyond also. The battlements would have to be part of the old house and it gladdens my heart to see this photo. I did think that the house was almost opposite the Tai Pak but upon reflection the stairs leading to the road were to the right of the house and they led past a swimming pool and bamboo grove and then down to the garage and gate right on Castle Peak Rd (19 m/s). Looks like it was a lovely day the day of the photo;I'm trying to imagine where on earth the photographer was perched when the photo was shot,but it was quite a steep hillside.

Thank you again for this and thanks too for the previous poster bothering to provide the map too.

Regards from Ballarat Vic Australia

Jeff Cuell

Hello and thank you for the links and photos/info. Quite exciting to see the old place pre 'Jeff occupation 72-74", As the Uni repository posits, these snaps do appear to be circa 30's ish as there a few architectural differences; but there's no doubt as to what and where it once was. Interestingly on the 1st floor balcony there was a crest with, if memory serves me, 1926 sculpted on it..

The other photograph on the facebook post showing the house from the sampans on the bay is also of note, because by the time we arrived there was a fishing village (San Hui village) that fronted for a hundred yards or so and around the bend, all along Castle Peak Rd (19 m/s). Fishermen selling wares directly onto the footpath and assorted shack/shops selling drinks,snacks,smokes, fire crackers (sometimes) and god knows what else. Vivid memories of tiny hammerhead sharks wiggling around on ice in wicker baskets tended by squatting old men o the sea with a Good Companion or Great Wall of China brand fag clamped tightly between teeth and ladies in ahmah type apparel ,complete with wicker hats lugging buckets of stuff at either end of bamboo poles across their shoulderrs-followed by scruffy little vagabond kiddies running along laughing and squabbling.. The sampans doubled as accom for locals and were reached by a network of planks connecting them on the water and accessed from the rear of the shanty town shacks along the road. another distinct memory is of soy milk being sold in the old 6 (or 7) oz bottles of Coke. Some also contained the local Chinese rice wine of dubious provenance and vintage-,that put my friend Henry in Sek Kong Camp hospital for a good stomach pump after a few decent slugs on a bottle of it. Ha! a bit too much for a tender 13 year old tummy.....