The governor's residence, located at 1, Battery Path, Central, was built in 1842-43. The present three-story building that housed the French Mission and later the Court of Final Appeal was built in 1917.
Featured Photo
Ella Zoyara (b.1840-d.1879) was the star trick-rider of the Great World Circus, the first circus to ever come to town in Hong Kong. Six shows were given by the circus from March 27, 1868 before it left for its next destination - Manila. Unbeknown to the circus-goers in Hong Kong, the St. Louis born Zoyara was in fact a man named Omar Kingsley and that he was even married - to a woman named Sallie Stickney. Zoyara's "true" gender was discovered in Manila and as a result both she (he) and the circus master Adolf Gonsalez were thrown into jail.
This is one of the over 600 fun facts about Hong Kong, as far as the first of its kind events go, that are included in the Welcome page under Who's Who and What's What.
From Rudi Butt
rudibutt@hotmail.com
Hong Kong
I am taking the rest of the summer off and will reply to your email/comments when I am back. Thank you for your patience and I hope you too will have an enjoyable summer. (6/24/2016)
Showing posts with label B. Show all posts
Showing posts with label B. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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By:
rudi butt
Hot Place to Break in
A burglar(s) broke in to the the residence of the first governor, Henry Pottinger, on April 26, 1843. A year later on July 16, the residence was again broken in to, but this time, the occupant was John Francis Davis, the second governor. Records did not show what were stolen; or whether it was the same people who committed these 2 burglaries a year apart, …
Monday, August 31, 2009
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By:
rudi butt
Bank and Banknotes
Updated (partial) on 9/4/2012
The Oriental Bank Corporation 東藩滙理銀行 was the first bank to have opened in Hong Kong; it was also the first note issuing bank.
The bank was established in 1842 in Bombay under the name of Bank of Western India. In 1845, the bank moved its headquarters to London and have its name changed to Oriental Bank corporation. The Hong Kong operation also commenced in that year. The bank, by now the largest exchange bank in Asia, succeeded in getting chartered in 1851 to allow competition with the East India Company's opium billing monopoly that was unpopular in the U.K. during that time.
In 1860s, the bank held a dominant position in India and China. However, it suffered much from the 'coffee disease' in Ceylon, which devastated the coffee plantations in that area, in which the company had invested heavily. In 1884, the bank ran into severe difficulties and was reconstituted as New Oriental Bank Corporation. With the growth of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank, the new bank failed to survive and closed down in 1892.
The bank was the first of many to issue banknotes in Hong Kong in denominations of $5 and under, but were not acceptable as legal tender although they were well-circulated. Banknote issuance was regulated in 1895, with the promulgation of Ordinance #2 of 1895, titled “An Ordinance to Regulate the Issue of Bank Notes”, dated March 20 of that year. The ordinance made lawful all banknotes which were in circulation on March 20, 1895; all issuing banks were to file written applications with the Colonial Treasury; however, these 'lawful' banknotes were still not acceptable as payments to the Colonial Treasury.
In 1911, the Mercantile Bank of India 有利銀行 was made an issuing bank, hence on banknotes became a legal tender in Hong Kong. The banknotes were in denominations of $5 and higher ones that can be divided by 5. The Ordinance #65 of 1911, dated December 29, was titled The Mercantile Bank Note Issue Ordinance.
The average amount of bank notes in circulation in Hong Kong during the month ending January 31, 1884:
Unfortunately I was unable to read the numbers written for HSBC.
References:
The London and China Telegraph, March 25, 1884
The Oriental Bank Corporation 東藩滙理銀行 was the first bank to have opened in Hong Kong; it was also the first note issuing bank.
In 1860s, the bank held a dominant position in India and China. However, it suffered much from the 'coffee disease' in Ceylon, which devastated the coffee plantations in that area, in which the company had invested heavily. In 1884, the bank ran into severe difficulties and was reconstituted as New Oriental Bank Corporation. With the growth of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Standard Chartered Bank, the new bank failed to survive and closed down in 1892.
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| $5 bill issued in 1866 |
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| $5 bill; issue date: July 1, 1936 |
The average amount of bank notes in circulation in Hong Kong during the month ending January 31, 1884:
| Bank | Average Amount | Specie in Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Oriental Bank Corporation | $915,696 | $320,000 |
| Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China | 1,267,696 | $430,000 |
| Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China | $1,004,327 | $400,000 |
| Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation |
Unfortunately I was unable to read the numbers written for HSBC.
References:
The London and China Telegraph, March 25, 1884
- TO BE COMPLETED -
Friday, August 14, 2009
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By:
rudi butt
