HK English language newspapers 1930s - Item

Submitted by gjks on Thu, 11/03/2022 - 06:22

I was wondering if anyone had any information (text, pictures?) on a transient visitor to Hong Kong in the 1930s?  I refer to the visit (by ship, I believe) of Wheeler Dryden, the half-brother to the early film star Charlie Chaplin. 

I ask because my late mother had a newspaper cutting with a photo and some text on Wheeler Dryden’s visit as she was photographed along with him. 

I’m not sure in which paper the article appeared, but it was certainly an English Language HK paper.  The period would have been 1933-39.

Quick google: Wheeler Dryden was in Hong Kong from Saturday 4th April 1936 to Monday 6th April 1936 on board the RMS Franconia

Text on page 1. On page 12 where the story continues, Wheeler Dryden is mentioned: 

Source: The China Mail, page 1 and page 12, 4th April 1936

Text just on RMS Franconia but no mention of Dryden:

Source: The Hong Kong Telegraph, page 5, 4th April 1936

Text mentioning Dryden - also page 16 on the Pictorial Sunday Section or digital image 24

Source: Hong Kong Sunday Herald, page 9, 5th April 1936

For best chance of local social photos of the prior week, I'd try looking at the Saturday and Sunday edition of papers - ie on 11th and 12th April 1936