2023/03/06

Hello everyone!

This issue of "Old Hong Kong in Colour" focuses on the Central Waterfront.

LEI Column "Hong Kong as seen by great peopleWhen the great Japanese figures featured in the novel visited Hong Kong, they were all amazed by the view from Victoria Harbour.

Tekkan Yosano, who arrived in port in 1911, said,夜ToInputView from the boatHong KongThe light of the lanterns fills the entire mountain with crystalPalaceAnd it is said that he wrote five-colored gems on it.謂It was a spectacular sight." ("Hong Kong" by Hiroshi Yosano and Akiko Yosano)"From Paris"(Aozora Bunko), based on the original text: From Paris, Kaneo Bun'endō, 1913).

It is clear that its beauty has remained constant and captivates people's hearts for over 100 years.

Yosano Akiko, who followed her husband Yosano Tekkan to Europe, also looked out over the Hong Kong waterfront from the ship returning home.

The night lights of Hong Kong are like gems, as you have said before, but when we entered this port, it was past dusk, and when I went out onto the deck, my eyes were almost blurred by the brightness.MrFaintlyImportThe slope of the mountainThuBuilt in the darkMansionto the childrenpointBlue fire, yellow fire, purple fire, and on the nearby coastdeep redThe reflection of the bonfires on the wavesHow manyImagine that上RiWaitingShould be.夜The morning view of this mountain town is just as good as the one I saw.嬉To somethingWaitingzoom out.

(From the Hirano Maru to my husband (3) by Hiroshi Yosano and Akiko Yosano)"From Paris"(Aozora Bunko), based on "From Paris" by Kaneo Bun'endō, 1913)

Although the Yosanos saw the sights of Hong Kong separately, they shared their impressions of its beauty and the scenery through letters to each other.

Now let's take a look at some old photos from "Old HK in Colour".

This is a photo of the Central Ferry Pier during a typhoon in August 1913. As you can see by comparing it with a modern photo, the ferry pier before the land was reclaimed was closer to Victoria Peak.

 

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This is a panoramic view of Hong Kong around 1900. There are no long, narrow buildings like there are today, but there are rows of buildings along the waterfront. At night, the lights of these buildings reflected on the water must have been a beautiful sight.

 

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This is the view of Central Tak Voeuf Road in 1912. It was around the time when Tekkan Yosano arrived. There are many Western-style buildings, and the atmosphere is different from modern Hong Kong. You can see the trams running.

 

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