mount austin barracks

This is almost certainly one half of a stereo image. Having a local Chinese stand in the foreground like this was very common for 3D images of Hong Kong. 

I wish I could find the original stereo view. It would look amazing.

The 1937 date claimed for this photo has been like an itch that needs scratching but just can't be reached, until now. As David has already noted elsewhere on the site, the actual date taken should be much earlier.

Peak Hospital, Formosa, Ligoniel and Glenshiel were all built at the turn of the 1900's and are all present. Of these, the year of completion for Formosa has been nailed down the tightest - 1901. So the photo was taken in or after 1901.

Todays Mount Austin Road is seen running from the middle of the photo towards its left edge. Just above it are the vacant, although already flattened, lots where Edgehill and Ewo Mess would stand. Edgehill was completed by 25 February 1910, Ewo Mess in 1913. So the photo was taken in or before 1910.

That gives the photo a date range of 1901 to 1910. Phew, that feels better!

A good resource for stereo cards is the Library of Congress. A similar view at: https://loc.getarchive.net/media/palatial-homes-of-the-nobility-as-seen…

Appears to be taken around the same time and dated to 1906.