Yangtze Gun Boat replica built in Hong Kong

Mon, 09/22/2014 - 23:38

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

i

Date picture taken
15 Jun 1965

Comments

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.

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. 

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

Cheoy Lee Shipyards
Cheoy Lee Shipyards, by tngan