A collection of serious, interesting and amusing stories of an Englishman's life with Voluntary Service Overseas in Sarawak from 1965 to 1966 and in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force from 1967 to 1997. These "Interesting Times" included the Cultural Revolution inspired 1967 Disturbances, floods, typhoons, disasters, riots, refugees and rescues with catching a few crooks thrown in for good measure.
Author of The Accidental Prawn: "Interesting Times" - Policing 20th Century Hong Kong and other stories and The Little Red Swear Book: A guide to Cantonese vulgarity and slang for Gweilos - Not for the Puritanical!
The Accidental Prawn (2nd Edition) is still available from the author - contact dingao999@gmail.com
I am trying to find information about my grandfather Alexander Kinnear. This is what I know:
He was born in Dundee in 1898
His full name was Alexander Kinnear
He was known as Sandy
He joined the Hong Kong Police Force in c. 1927
He was interred at Stanley Camp
After the war he returned to Dundee and remained there until his death in 1954.
100 years ago on Monday five policemen, at least 2 members of the public and two bandits lost their lives in a shoot out that quickly became known as the Gresson Street Affray. A month before the catastrophic Race Course fire, Hong Kong had been receiving daily news of the fighting in Europe for the past four years. This unprecedented massacre of policemen in the course of their very ordinary duty shocked Hong Kong. Two days later it was said that half the colony - some 250,000 people - were on the streets to see the funeral procession that resulted.
Chief Detective inspector Albert Collett front and centre:
