Everything tagged: General

I have found it almost impossible to find information about probable sea routes  to Hong Kong from London in 1867 for a middle class woman travelling alone, going out to marry.

Then.... when her husband died in 1879 she travelled back to London with her 3 children.

I know that Suez was not an option in 1867.

Does anyone know the preferred routes for the average traveller in both these years or the most common routes and ports of call and how long the journey would take in 1867 and then in 1879?

The Strathmore left Southampton on 3 March and arrived in Hong Kong on 2 April 1947 after stops in Port Said, Colombo and Singapore. A list of passengers including returnees appears 

28 Dec 2022 UPDATE: We've got a full house, so reservations are now closed. Thanks to everyone who has signed up - see you tomorrow!

If you're free next Thursday evening, 29 December, I'll be giving a talk at the Lion's Ink Bookstore in Wanchai.

I'm trying something new, talking about some of the hidden work that goes into preparing the photos for my books: where & how I buy them, scanning and editing them to make them look their best, and a look at the new AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools I used to enhance images in the latest reprint.

Hong Kong Telegraph 1 March 1930

The successful negotiation of Lugard and Harlech Roads, recently accomplished by Mons. Lecor, (the husband of Mlle Odette Darthys, Prima Donna of the Opera Comique, Paris) in a Delage car which was claimed as a feat in an article sent in to the SCMP by an interested party, had an unexpected sequel today, when the Frenchman was summoned by the Traffic Department for driving on prohibited roads (namely Lugard Road and Harlech Road) without written permission of the Inspector-General of Police.

China Mail 30 January 1937

A hat, unaccompanied by its owner, has just made an aerial journey in stages completely round the world. The hat belongs to Mr. A. E. Wickey, a Railway Express employee in St. Louis, USA. It seems that he put his hat aboard an airliner one day with the remark: "As it doesn't look as if I'm ever to be able to travel round the world myself, please take my hat."

The air officials entered into the spirit of things and it was sent on its aerial way with special instructions.

Hong Kong Telegraph 3 February 1930

During the recent motorcycle trial, Messrs Gilman & Co. Ltd arranged for a supply of Findlater's whisky to be available at the A. P. F. Filling Stations enroute. This was served free to those competitors who desired to refresh themselves with the popular stimulant. 

 Colin McEwan's diary entry for 9 Dec 1941 mentions these two places, but I don't recognise the names:

Other four, Teesdale, Holmes, Day and Gardner were to accompany us as far as Half Hour Pass, thence to Nam Fung Tao to collect the remainder of the gear including the radio.

Setting off just at dusk, we made good time down the trail to a point just below Half Hour Pass where we split ways – the others moving off to Nam Fung Tao.

I just saw this and think it’s a very good idea.

I am trying to establish when Lt Gen Sugden visited Macau in 1955.  My father, Lt Col L H Dismore was the British Consul in Macau from 1954 to early 1956, I have many photos of his official visit but cannot establish the exact date - I know it was in the Summer of that year on account of all officials wearing summer uniform. I would also like to know how he arrived. Was it on HMS CARDIGAN BAY, the resident Hong Kong Guardship?

Any help would be much appreciated

Martin Dismore (Son of the above)

I am the granddaughter of a first-generation Chinese immigrant who moved from Hong Kong (Tai Po) to the UK in the mid-60s. I am currently writing a novel about the life of Chinese immigrants in Glasgow from the 1960s onwards. I would love to hear any relevant details/ anecdotes that people have or have knowledge of life during this time period and location. I am trying to get a more rounded picture of Chinese-immigrant life in Scotland in the 60s/70s.