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Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr stands with the US flag on the lunar surface during the Apollo 12 mission, in 1969. Photo: Nasa/Handout
Old Hong Kong

That time Hong Kong almost caught its first live telecast from Apollo 12

The event drew the largest viewing audience in the city yet, but the sound was indistinct, the screen motionless: nothing happened.

Disney

On This Day | Hong Kong inks deal to build Disney theme park in 1999 – SCMP archive

Hong Kong International Airport

On This Day | Hong Kong outlines plans for new international airport – from the SCMP archive

SCMP

When former Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau made a pioneering trip to China

In 1973, Trudeau became the second Western leader to visit China in a month – then went on a whirlwind personal visit to Hong Kong with his wife and son, current Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau arrives at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport in 1973. Photo: SCMP Archives
Hong Kong

Was Wah Fu Estate the first self-sustaining housing complex in Hong Kong?

The estate in Pok Fu Lam was valued at HK$3.8 million when it was announced in 1965, comprising a restaurant, department store, bowling alley and community hall

MTR Corporation

On This Day | ‘Chaos and kinks’ as Hong Kong’s MTR opens to public in 1979 – SCMP archive

Running from Shek Kip Mei to Kwun Tong station, the MTR map’s green-coloured railway line opened to the public 45 years ago.

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China-UK relations

On This Day | Historic pact over future of Hong Kong gets first signing – from SCMP archive

Four decades ago, Britain and China initialled a draft of the joint declaration on Hong Kong’s future status.

Richard Evans (left), the British ambassador to China, and Zhou Nan (right), chairman of the Chinese negotiating team, exchange documents at the initialling of the Sino-British draft agreement on September 26, 1984. Photo: P. Y. Tang
Serena Williams

That time Serena Williams was an hour late after a Hong Kong shopping spree

‘I can’t stay long enough,’ the American tennis superstar once said on her 3rd visit to Hong Kong, adding, ‘The people are very nice and welcoming and I feel it is a very warm place to be’

Crime in Hong Kong

Highly embarrassing: that time the police commissioner’s Peak residence was robbed

In 1990, a duo of robbers threatened commissioner Li Kwan-ha’s wife and tied up their maid before fleeing the couple’s luxury home atop The Peak with HK$50,000 in Rolex watches, jewellery and cash

SCMP

Then & Now | Behold PostMag, the latest evolution of SCMP’s weekend supplement

Change is nothing new here – launched back in 1989, the Post’s iconic Sunday magazine has morphed again and again to meet the needs of an evolving readership.

The cover of the September 22 relaunch issue of SCMP’s new-look PostMag. Photo: PostMag
History

Then & Now | Columnist Jason Wordie on 25 years of writing for the Post

No, he isn’t told what to write about, says Wordie, in answer to the most common question he gets, as he looks back on a quarter century documenting the region’s huge changes

Jason Wordie at work, his pet parrot watching on, as he looks back over 25 years of covering the history and culture of Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy of Jason Wordie
Hong Kong weather

On This Day | Typhoon York kills 2, injures hundreds in Hong Kong in 1999 – SCMP archive

The ‘erratic behaviour’ of the strongest typhoon to hit Hong Kong in 16 years catches forecasters by surprise

David Tang

‘Foreign Tiger not so powerful as local worm’: how Shanghai Tang was born

When cigar importer David Tang raised US$20 million to birth a global brand from Hong Kong’s Pedder Building

Greater Bay Area

Troubled waters: when the Post dove into deadly cross-border abductions from Hong Kong

In September and October 1970, the Post reported on abductions from the Deep Bay oyster beds and the ensuing investigation and arrests in mainland China

The oyster fishery in Deep Bay as seen in 2023. Back in 1970 this peaceful setting was the scene for the abduction of eight men, three of whom were later murdered. Photo: SCMP
Hong Kong

Heated argument: 1 dead and 2 injured as a barbecue boils over

Remembering the night when groups of picnickers fought with forks to the deadly end

The night in 1982 when a barbecue boiled over, with two groups attacking each other leaving one man dead and two injured. Illustration: Wai Yee
Hong Kong sports

On This Day | Hong Kong athletes wins city’s second-ever Olympic medal in 2004 – SCMP archive

Two decades ago, table tennis players Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching win silver in Athens and receive a heroes’ welcome upon their return to Hong Kong.

Crime in Hong Kong

The great escape: when 3 prisoners broke out of a Hong Kong jail

After 2 months of planning their escape from Chi Ma Wan open prison, the prisoners were recaptured within a couple of days

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Hong Kong transport

On This Day | Hong Kong MTR’s Eastern Harbour Crossing opens in 1989 – SCMP archive

On this day 35 years ago, the Eastern Harbour Crossing linking Quarry Bay to Kowloon East was opened to the public.

A train enters the new MTR cross harbour tunnel on the Kowloon side heading for Quarry Bay station. Photo: Sam Chan
Bruce Lee

Why did Bruce Lee’s widow auction off his private possessions?

When Linda Lee put 150 personal items belonging to the late Hong Kong icon up for auction, for ‘people who might find great value in it’

Old Hong Kong

How a triple murder in 1958 led to the attacker’s hanging in Hong Kong

Three men were chopped to death while sleeping in the street, but their assailant was caught within days and hung for the crime later in the year

Old Hong Kong

On This Day | A visual tour of Hong Kong’s iconic ‘ding ding’ trams through the decades

On the 120th anniversary of the day Hong Kong Tramways began operation, we take a look at the iconic vehicles that trundle through the city’s streets.

Affectionately known as “ding dings”, the trams are one of the earliest forms of public transport in Hong Kong, with a history stretching back 119 years. Photo: Ricky Chung
Accidents and personal safety

When 6 Hong Kong construction workers died after a lift cable snapped

The tragic accident happened at Telford Gardens, then under construction, when the workers took the lift rated for 20 people up to the roof and the motor malfunctioned, causing the cable to snap

Telford Gardens, under construction in this picture taken on January 4, 1979, was the scene of a terrible accident in July of that year, when six workers were killed when the cable of their lift failed. Photo: SCMP Archives
Accidents and personal safety

On This Day | Landslip in Hong Kong’s Kennedy Town kills 3 people in 1994 – SCMP archive

On this day 30 years ago, heavy rain washed away a slope in Hong Kong, killing three people and forcing 2,000 families to evacuate.

History

When a Hongkonger was accused of dealing more opium than the global medical supply

In 1958, an Indian merchant appeared in court accused of possessing nearly 500kg of opium – enough to make more than 45kg of heroin

Crime in Hong Kong

When an armed robber killed two security guards in Hong Kong jewellery raid

Two security guards were shot and killed in a struggle during an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 1983.

Police investigate at the King Fook Gold and Jewellery Company in Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Shui, Hong Kong, in 1983, after a robbery in which two security guards were killed. Photo: SCMP
Crime

When a death sentence was upheld for murder of Hong Kong triad leader’s boy

In 1988, a man killed the son of a triad leader in Hong Kong because he hated his father. A year later, he was convicted for the murder and sentenced to death. He lost his appeal to overturn it in 1990.

A suspect held in connection with what a judge called a “gruesome revenge attack” on a triad leader’s 14-year-old son is escorted to the scene of the crime in June 1988. Fung Kam-keung was convicted of murder for the killing, and in 1990 lost an appeal against his sentence. Photo: SCMP
HSBC

‘Lazy cow’: HSBC executive sued dance instructors for fees after 2004 insult

When a dance instructor insulted his pupil, wealthy bank executive Mimi Wong, in public in 2004, she took him and his partner to court to demand the return of US$8 million in prepaid fees.

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Fame and celebrity

On This Day | 1964: Hong Kong comes together as The Beatles arrive in city – SCMP archive

On this day 60 years ago, the Liverpudlians touched down in Hong Kong to screaming crowds. We look back at the Post’s coverage.

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From our archives
How the South China Morning Post covered occasions, news, happenings and events big and small since its founding in 1903
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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