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Hong Kong

Amazing footage of 1930s Hong Kong

By thomascrampton ⋅ December 4, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

A great travel video of Hong Kong from the 1930s. Amazing images.

Notable aspects: Large number of sedan chairs; Chinese-style clothing that has now been replaced by western dress; old HSBC building is the tallest in town (it would now be dwarfed); they refer to WWI as “the World War”; use of the word “oriental”

Anything else strike you?

Greg’s favorite at 1:50 : “Under tolerant and wise british rule, with willing oriental assistance…”

Popularity: 7% [?]

Hong Kong

Discussion

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Comments for “Amazing footage of 1930s Hong Kong”

  • Carrie
    Thank you for posting the video. Amazing footage! Being born in HK and educated overseas, I have never seen anything like it.

    We have come a long way! Things have changed so much.

    I really enjoyed watching the video - thanks again! :)
  • Sue D
    Hmmm...lots of running from the cameras by the locals..fear??
    Very cool video!
  • RPMC
    Wow, amazing, I was a child in the sixties and it did not change that much compared to the thirties, I went back in the ninties, and it changed alot. Have not been back since but I am thinking of moving back to HK. Everybody thought HK will go to hell in a hand basket when the British leave, but China actually did a fairly good job.
  • Thanks a lot for that video !

    Agree with PP, almost no any single building are still there (Wondering why..war ?) !
  • Amazing how much has changed, I think there is actually no single building in that video that is still there...
  • chanthomas
    The old Supreme Court Building is still here.
  • It's amazing how much of that commentary could come right out of a HKTDC promotional video today! They'd probably skip the "tolerant and wise British rule" bit....mind you, what is so funny about that? There must be some wisdom in wearing long shorts and pith helmets so outrageous that the local populace are unable to stir themselves to rebel because their sides ache so much from the laughing.
  • cs
    great evidence of why HSBC's capital ratio still allows it to self fund even today. also liked "Che Wing Gum"
  • gd
    that was at 1:50, btw...
  • gd
    "Under tolerant and wise british rule, with willing oriental assistance..."

    !!
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thomascramptonconf

Thomas Crampton was a correspondent for the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times for more than a decade, reporting from five continents, writing a column on Asia and covering Asian politics, economics and culture. Currently based in Hong Kong, he writes here about China, the Internet and New Media seen from Asia, while also advising companies on digital communication strategies. For more information click here...