Six of Hong Kong’s biggest transport achievements in the 115 years the South China Morning Post has been in publication
With the Post’s 115th anniversary hot on the heels of the express rail link and ‘mega bridge’ to Macau and Zhuhai opening, Post Magazine celebrates six major infrastructure milestones that demonstrate how dynamic Hong Kong has never been a city to sit still
Some landmark achievements in Hong Kong’s transport infrastructure made a splash even before the South China Morning Post rolled off the printing presses for the first time, on November 6, 1903. Chief among these would be the Star Ferry, which hoisted anchor and began sailing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in 1888, the same year that the Peak Tram began hauling the well-heeled up to more pleasant climes.
And with watershed developments seeming to land on these shores with accelerating speed through the decades, there is simply not enough space on these pages to include them all, so the airports at Kai Tak and Chek Lap Kok (opened in 1925 and 1998, respectively); Ocean Terminal (1966); Lion Rock Tunnel (1967) and many others will have to wait until future Post birthday celebrations. Bon voyage!
1904
Technologically advanced trams elicit wonder, and sneering
Colonial-era commentator downplays historic achievement, scoffs at bystanders
The November 6, 1903 issue of the Post announced that tracks had been laid between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, adding “it is highly probable that the rickshaw will be forsaken for the tramcar”.
Early Post journalists, eager to report on the coming comforts of home, found the Chinese response to such “civilised” technologies a little too amusing.
“Ah Sam, what ting belong dis? No makee pull, no makee pushee, how fashun can makee run” (pidgin for “What is it? Nothing pushes or pulls it, how does it run?”), began the July 4, 1904 coverage of the first trial run. The article detailed the bewilderment of Chinese spectators who “squatted on the ground after the car had passed and looked at the spark that flew out under the car, trying to solve the mystery”.
