Rev. George Leslie Mackay is the prominent Canadian Presbyterian missionary who had founded many churches, and schools and a hospital, in Taiwan by 1880s.
These influences have lasted even until today. Refer to wikipedia for details. (link)
updated : 8 Jan. 2026
[winter, 1871]
Before Mackay's mission started in Taiwan, he had set foot on Hong Kong twice on his way.
Here is how Mackay described his first impressions of Hong Kong, as of Dec. 1871 1 :
Leaving Yokohama, we sailed along the coast of China until we entered a narrow strait, and, following its serpentine course,
were soon in the spacious harbor of Hong Kong. Magnificent view ! - houses ranged tier after tier far up the steep sides of
granite hills; and high over all waved the flag of "a thousand years." I had scarcely got rid of the coolies, who in their
eagerness for the job of carrying my baggage had been pounding one another with bamboo poles, when a Saxon accent
greeted my ears: "Are you MacKay from Canada ?" That night I was the guest of Dr. Eitel. Next day I took the
steamer for Canton. There on the pier I was hailed by McChesney, a Princeton fellow-student...
From Mackay's diary 2, he actually passed through Hong Kong as a port for transit.
5 Dec. 1871
Very early in the morning entered between land on each side. Winding Serpent-like and at 8.A.M. saw the British flag away up on the top of a Peak.
Soon entered a broad sheet of water surrounded by hills. Also houses rising in rows above each other on the side of a high hill. Hong-Kong at last.
Went below and thanked God for His care and goodness. Went ashore. Met a man Dr. Eitel who asked “Are you MacKay?”
8 Dec. 1871
Left at 9 a.m. and at 3 p.m. arrived in Hong Kong. Went to the German Mission. Saw 40 girls who sang “There is a happy.”
(next day left for Swatow)
From Swatow, Amoy to Tamsui.
An up-the-coast steamer carried me to Amoy, and there I got a British schooner, "Kin-lin," (^) and crossed the channel to
Formosa. I had no plans, but invisible cords were drawing me to the "Beautiful Isle." The channel passage was the
last and worst of the entire voyage from Canada. It was a night of thick darkness, howling blasts, and a plunging sea.
We landed at Ta-kow, on the south of the island. Here I was met by a noble young physician, Dr. Manson, who took
me ashore in a sampan. On the following Sabbath morning, in a British hong (warehouse) at Ta-kow 3, to a congregation
of captains, officers, engineers, and merchants, I preached the gospel of a crucified Saviour. It was the last day of the year 1871, ...On March 7, 1872, Mr. Ritchie and I set out to explore the field chosen for my future work. We took passage to
Tamsui, a seaport on the north of the island. ... The "Hailoong" rolled and pitched for two days, and then we
steamed into the mouth of the Tamsui River and anchored there. 1
(^)金陵號
[winter, 1900]
Rev. Mackay stayed in Hong Kong for some two months. He lived in the 'Connaught Hotel', which is near Landmark of today.
Some selected entries from his diary as below.
From these entries, it appears that Rev. Mackay is quite familiar with places and people in Hong Kong. 'Georgie' is his son, as seen in entries up to 1896.
For the decades in between, Rev. Mackay had been in Hong Kong several times in 1880s-1890s.
It is pretty sure that Rev. Mackay had more connections with Hong Kong than commonly known, yet to be discovered as chances allow.
Many of the persons and places he associated are also known and perusable, as few quoted in this post (put in italics mine).
Nov 1 At 9 P.M. with Chheng gī and Káu-á went on the “Formosa.”
— Dr. Wilkinson on board — 4
Nov 6 At 11 A.M. came to Hong Kong. “Connaught Hotel.” Met Mr. Gauld — How Providential!
Dr. Wilkinson went with me to Dr. Stedmans. 5
Nov 11 Went with George to Union Church 6 P.M.
Nov 13 George came and we went along “Kennedy Road.”. Then I saw him on the way to School room, his home. 6
Nov 17 Then took Rickshaw to Happy Vall(e)y — The 3 of us and George walked back by Kennedy Road
Nov 18 6:30 P.M. The 3 of us and George went to Union Church — Rev. Williams spoke well on Isai(ah): “Come now let us reason” etc.
Nov 26 The 3 of us went along Caine Road for a walk
Nov 28 We went along the sea-side — harbor — and back by Caine Road
Nov 29 Chhenggi and I went for a walk along Kennedy Road
Dec 3 Went for walk along Kennedy Road
The 3 of us went by Rickshaws to Happy Valley.
Dec 4 We took a walk along Kennedy Road
Dec 10 Clear, cool weather — Chhenggī & I went along Caine Road for a walk.
Dec 11 Went to Gardens for a walk.
Dec 12 Usual work — Saw Dr. Stedman at 4
Dec 14 Went along Kennedy road for a walk
Dec 17 George came and I talked with him for the first time about what course of studies he should pursue — Attend what College ? 6
Dec 18 Clear and cool — We all went to the Gardens
Dec 19 Fine day — We all went by “Bowen” Road — and came back by Rickshaws
Dec 20 We all went by Tramway to the “Peak” Walked around and came back the same way
Dec 21 Went to Kowloon.
Dec 25 Christmas — George came early and remained till 9 P.M. We all went to Happy Valley Cemetery.
1901
Jan 1 We all went to Macao — and spent the day there.
Jan 6 Read the Psalms for hours
(left HK, Jan. 8 daylight) 7
Jan 11 Came back to Tamsui. A steam launch went out to meet us . . .
sources and notes
1. From Far Formosa, The Island, its People and Missions (1895)
2. archive on sinica.edu.tw (the indexing and manuscript images are in English, so is readable and searchable by readers worldwide)
3. Ta-kow (打狗), present day name is Kaohsiung; this part of trip Swatow - Amoy - Ta-kow is around Dec. 9 - Dec. 29, as his diary
4. Dr Wilkinson is the doctor who accompanied Rev. Mackay to Hong Kong for medical treatments. Two other Chinese coworkers also on board.
a Wilkinson, A. Norris, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., is medical practitioner in Tamsui and Kelung, as the directory of 1898 to 1902.
5. There is a F.O. Stedman, M.D., B.S. LON., M.R.C.S., L.S.A., who was also Surgeon Captain in Volunteer Corps and JP, as Directory and Chronicles 1900
6. George W. Mackay is his son. He had studied in some Victoria College(?) from 1896.
Some reference of the name of the school was found after the original posting and clarified.
From the Oxford local examination in HK results published, under Preliminary, Over age :- *NB George was about age 18 then
there is a Mackay, G.W. from Victoria English School (Daily Press, 1900-12-11 p.3)
Its address is on Craigengower, Caine Road then.
So it is likely not a coincidence that in the Dec 17 diary Rev. Mackay recorded talking the future study with his son then.
After 1901, G.W. Mackay returned to Canada, studied in St. Andrew College in Toronto.
7. cf Daily Press, 1901-1-7 p.4