HONG KONG

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3212, 26 September 1936, Page 5

HONG KONG

A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS MR R. B. CROKE ON TOUR An interesting word picture of Hong Kong and its inhabitants is provided by Mr R. B. Crolce, of Cambridge, who recently completed a three months trip to Japan. Mr Croke kept a diary on the voyage and this has pYoved of value in recalling incidents which occurred. “Approaching Hong Kong, the first sight of the China coast consists of a number of islands, with the jagged looking mainland behind,” stated Mr Croke. A large number of fishing junks are met. They are queer looking wooden boats with low bows and high sterns, and fitted with sails generally patched to the last degree. Although the boats looked clumsy they were handled with great skill in the heavy harbour traffic.

Hong Kong is situated on the island of the same name and is approached through a winding strait between high hills, which appear well provided w r ith fortifications. The town itself is built on the side of a high hill called the Peak, large buildings, residences and barracks ranging right to the top. This layout gives Hong King its famous night scene, with its thick clusters of lights rising tier on tier, a sight never forgotten. All the heavier shipping is accommodated on the mainland side, Kowloon, which is also under British rule, and for shopping is more interesting than Hong Kong. Many Chinese shops catered for the tourists with curios, inlaid ware and beautifully carved camphor wood boxes, while silk shops were also very much in evidence.

“A glorious view is obtained from the top of the Peak, after travelling up in the steep cable car,” said Mr Croke. “Over the last half mile of track and 200 ft of height one is carried in a sedan chair by two Chinese Coolies. These men, although small, are very strong and wiry and seem to be responsible for the bulk of the transport, and may he seen carrying all kinds of loads slung from a strong bamboo pole. “The women work very hard and may be seen propelling the junks in the harbour by means of long sweeps, and some actually "were engaged in bundling iron rods and carrying them off the wharf.”

The weather was* ycry hot, particularly to tourists, after being out at sea. Mr Croke fortunately missed a typhoon, a visitation of which was dreaded by the inhabitants. The weather bureau officials keep track of the movements of a typhoon and signals are hoisted from time to time, warning of the approach ol the disturbance, and should it strike Hong Kong all traffic is stopped and shipping securely, tied up. Not long after Mr Croke’s ship left Hong Kong on the return trip, a typhoon caused immense damage there and the loss of over 100 lives. Canton, the capital of Southern China, is about 90 miles by rail from Kowloon, but owing to the rather disturbed state Mr Croke did not visit it.

At Shanghai

Shanghai is about three days sail further north. The day before arrival the ship ran into water of a decidedly yellowish colour, caused by the large amount of silt carried in the water of the Yangtse Kiang River. This river is so large that had it not been for the current and the exceedingly dirty water, the ship might still have been at sea, for although within sight of one bank, the other was far over the horizon.

Shanghai is situated on Very flat country about 15 miles up a tributary of the Yangtse. At the mouth are the remains of the . Woosung forts, which the Japanese destroyed in 1932.

The port is extremely busy with international shipping and many large river boats, which trade up the Yangtse to the interior. The international concessions are well laid out in shady avenues and contain many fine residences. The main 'business centre is on the Bund or waterfront, while the main shopping street is the Hanking Road, which is elaborately lighted at night.

The surrounding countryside is well tilled and mainly under garden produce. The villages are not clean and the heat of summer intensifies the resultant smells.

The tourists were shown over a temple a few miles out of Shanghai, containing some particularly fiereelooking gods. It was noticeable that the Chinese did not appear to particularly revere their temples or gods. The guide did not remove his hat or cigarette, and dozens of beggars followed, pestering for coins.

Shanghai is policed by an international body and the members of the force are always armed, and have very frequently to shoot to defend themselves when trying to effect an arrest.

It is an experience for a New Zealander to walk into the Shanghai post office to buy a few stamps and find a Chinese soldier on guard inside with a fixed bayonet, said Mr Croke.

The climate is very hot and humid in the summer time, but frosts of up to 12 degrees are experienced in the winter.