Christine Thomas's Blog (12)

A few years ago it was my good fortune to be the winning bidder for an old photograph album for sale on eBay.  Research showed that it featured Louis Gordon McIntyre and his wife Tryphena nee Hanney from around 1915 when they lived and worked on the Rangamati Tea Garden in Assam.  Their story and some of their photos can be…

175 years ago today Inspector Charles MAY along with Sergeants Thomas SMITHERS and Hugh McGREGOR resigned from the Metropolitan Police Force in London and began their 5 month journey to Hong Kong in order to establish the Hong Kong Police Force.  As the…

A night's drinking led to a constable's dismissal from the Bristol Constabulary in 1882  but opened the door for recruitment to the Hong Kong Police.  For the story of HK Police Sergeant Daniel Hall (later in life Licensee of the Brewers' Arms in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire)…

In the 19th. century constables for the European contingent of the Hong Kong Police were recruited from the UK.  Most came from London's Metropolitan Police, Scottish Constabularies or the Royal Irish Constabulary but in 1882 the south-west of England was targetted with…

Obtaining Hong Kong death certificates for anyone who died in the 19th. century is difficult, if not impossible.  However, all is not lost if the individual was a British soldier - or was the wife or child of a British soldier.  The answer lies in the Army…

Hong Kong is a small island off the coast of South China. It’s northern shore is separated from the mainland by a sheltered stretch of water known as Hong Kong Harbour. The Star Ferry which crosses the harbour has been in operation since the late 1880s and their green and white steamers are now famous throughout the world. No trip to Hong Kong would be complete without a ride across the harbour – top deck or bottom deck the…

Research into my latest Hong Kong Police Constable came to a dead end in 1908 when he suddenly seemed to disappear. No longer could he be found within Hong Kong. Searches of the 1911 UK census failed to show that he…

Following the leasing of the HK New Territories to Britain in 1898 the Hong Kong Police needed to expand.  Two large intakes of recruits at this time came from the Royal Marines – 12 men in 1899 and 40 men in 1900.  Political correctness was unknown at this time and Hong Kong Society loved…

2014 is the 170th. Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Police.

The Governor of Hong Kong wanted experienced men and 3 officers from the East End of London were recruited  from the Metropolitan Police in 1844.  Their story - plus other 19th.…

Annual population statistics were provided in Hong Kong throughout the 19^th. and early 20^th. century.  Unfortunately, these do not provide the detailed information sought by today's genealogists.…

Do not give up hope if you ancestors were born in Hong Kong.  Certificates are available although there are gaps in the records due to losses in the second world war.  This link will give you further details:  HK Birth, Marriage, Death…

The former Colonial Cemetery in Happy Valley…