Einstein's brief visit and words to Hong Kong (1922)

Unlike in Singapore, Einstein did not give any public appearance in Hong Kong 102 years ago. He

  ... had resolutely "washed out" all public engagements and merely wanted to come ashore.. [1]

  ... he also made the jaunt much appreciated

  by tourists - round Victoria Peak by way 

  of the new Lugard Road, which affords

  an "aeroplace view" of Hongkong, the

  harbour and Kowloon; returning by

  Harlech Road which gives such delightful

  vistas of the islands. [2]

In fact, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize on 9 Nov. 1922, while he set foot on Hong Kong for the first time. [3]

It is said that he received the telegram about the Nobel Prize for Physics (1921) on his arrival in Shanghai three days later (on their way to Japan).

Short interview by Hongkong Telgraph :  [4]

 

  PROFESSOR EINSTEIN 

                ARRIVES.

                     ____

  Charmed with Hongkong

                 Scenery.

......

  A representative of the Hong- 

kong Telegraph succeeded in 

gaining short interview with 

the Professor this morning. 

Language difficulties presented 

themselves, the Professor speak- 

ing German and also broken 

French. Mrs. Einstein, however, 

is able to speak English and it 

was through her courtesy that 

the interview was possible. 

......

  Speaking of Hongkong, the 

Professor stated that he was

immensely impressed by what he

had already seen. The scenery 

reminded him very much of 

Switzerland, and he was extreme- 

ly pleased to come into cooler 

weather, for tbe heat of the South 

had been very trying. He 

had been very interested to 

learn of the Hongkong Univer- 

sity, where the British were 

instructing the Chinese, and 

thought that such an institution 

should have a great future. He 

regretted that he could not give a 

lecture here, but he was feeling 

in need of a rest. For that 

reason he had asked the 

local Jewish community to 

forego the reception they had 

wished to give him. In Japan he 

expected to give some lectures at 

the Imperial University, after 

which he would probably visit 

China and then return to Europe 

by way of Palestine. He did not 

intend visiting America this trip. 

  This morning Professor and

Mrs. Einstein were given a trip 

round the Island, calling at the 

Repulse Bay Hotel, and later 

they visited the Peak and enjoyed 

a rickshaw ride along the Lugard 

Road. They leave early to-morrow 

morning on the Kitano Maru.  

   [1] China Mail 1922-11-9

   [2] Hong Kong Daily Press  1922-11-10

   [3] Albert Einstein website, Germany

   [4] Hong Kong Telegraph  1922-11-9

p.s. incidentally, his words about HKU are seconded in some way just few months later on the history timeline by another visitor to HK. The two did not know each other personally, I think. 

       (to be continued)