Visiting Hong Kong 50 years ago

[@tmchan3491]

Sad to learn Michael has passed away, RIP

[@Mangelemerde]

AWWW no really?! Im so sad to hear that. His channel was my source for so much of my knowledge about what Asia looked like back then. May he rest in peace ❤

[@elainelee3549]

Our whole family left HK in 1968 😢 went back visit in 1978. It was so different !! We love this video 👍 🙏 Thank you Michael for sharing the true Hong Kong 🤝🏻 🤗

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks and for more nostalgia see my other 160 old Hong Kong clips by searching with 'michael rogge hong kong' !

[@pinalloy6505]

MichaelRogge thanks

[@kayeechan4255]

thank you Michael for uploading it to the youtube so many others can know better the history of hong kong.

[@clkbrian]

Thank-you sir! May God Bless you!

[@Akarinaish]

Thank you!

[@raymondkkng]

Good selection of the Cantonese Song in the second half, Michael. The lyrics "光陰永不回頭" which means "Time never goes back" is a perfect match for this video

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks. I had no idea that even the title matched the subject !

[@raymondkkng]

MichaelRogge I think it's been more than 2 years since I last talked to you, Michael. So happy to "see" you！I have no idea of the title of the song since it's not a hot song then. Yet a friend Alex here did tell out the title of the Cantonese song. Superb！The song title is not about Time but the lyrics do contains a sentence saying "Time never goes back"

[@Tdawg1978]

+raymondkkng Do you know the name of the ( funky town song)? when he's on the tram?

[@raymondkkng]

+Ted “TdawgVapes” Reeder Sorry. I have no idea about the name of the Chinese version of Funky Town. I even ddid't know there was a Chinese version then. It's natural that people would rather listen to the original version.

[@lucashuang1320]

raymondkkng What's the song name? Anyone?

[@jessemiranda326]

Hong Kong is a special place. I've been there four or five times, and each time is magical . This place is very close to my heart. Hong Kong is alive in me for the rest of my life.

[@andrewcklam]

Another great clip of Hong Kong! However it should be filmed in the year 1981. Evidences came from the scenes in Central (Des Voeux Road Central) with a double decker bus (appeared 02:49, reg number CL1026 which first registered in Hong Kong on 28 January 1981) so it must be filmed after 28 January 1981. Later on the same road (03:22) showed the old HSBC Main Building which still with its flag raised, meaning it was still in use. This old HSBC Main Building was closed on July 1981 and demolished later that year, which means that the movie must be filmed sometime between January to July 1981. As people on the street were wearing clothes with long sleeves but not with thick jackets, it should be around March and April. The commentary further describes that the weather was a bit humid, which matches the weather of March and April in Hong Kong. Starting from May weather becomes hot in Hong Kong and it's not possible to wear long-sleeves anymore.

[@andrewcklam]

FYI, sources of my evidences: 1. The double-decker bus: www.1005.idv.hk/info.php?id=452910 2. HSBC Main Building History (Chinese version describes the day of decommission exactly as July 1981 while English just 1981) : zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E6%BB%99%E8%B1%90%E7%B8%BD%E8%A1%8C%E5%A4%A7%E5%BB%88

[@alexbarison1460]

This observation is indeed very accurate and correct. There are also blue and cream buses too which are former London Transport Daimler Fleetline DMS class vehicles which were being sold to Hong Kong CMB from 1980 onwards.

[@fisterwilson6528]

Andrew Lam What about that terrific cover of the song Funkytown. The original was recorded in 1979 and released in 1980. Is that song part of the original recording?

[@kenlee9874]

Also I think 1981 Nissan blue bird and 81 Honda accord in film clip. Thanks.

[@brianlam257]

wow you are quite a Sherlock! No wonder the street scenes look much more "modern" than what I expect

[@tomalex6062]

The background song was Hong Kong of Korman record company published in 1981 by Mr Cui Zhiwei 崔志偉 song name "春花飛滿樓Chun Hua Fei Man Lou" only a personal Cantonese album. How time flies ! Thanks Mr Rogge

[@Thak121]

Michael provides us with the fond memories of old Hong Kong in pictures which is now faded away but still remembered by many aged people who experienced Hong Kong lives in that era. Thank u Michael. If people want to recall people and lives in HK in the fifties I recommend this book by Martin Booth who passed away a couple of years back," Gweilo" was published just before his death. He spent about a decade in HK as a child going native and said he could not forget HK. If people want to recall the old Hong Kong in the fifties I recommend

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks. I read that book 'Gweilo' and would recommend it to anyone interested in life in olden days in Kowloon. See also my photobook 'Hong Kong fifties' .

[@michaelijsbrand]

You are welcome to view my other 150 clips on old HK by searching with 'michael rogge hong kong'

[@louisemann3306]

This is how I like to remember Hong Kong. Thanks for the all the amazing Video Mr Rogge!

[@chrisleon27]

Yes this is the Hong Kong ,this is the true Hong Kong

[@advantagerealty]

Thank you very much for sharing this. Memories flood back. I walked on these streets. The Hong Kong as we knew it is no more. Bittersweet memories.

[@kenlee-97]

Sir ,but the streets still look the same if not identical.

[@bluebird0003]

Our history , our memories ! Thank You so much !!

[@Catnip2011]

Those clips are valuable, thanks for uploading.

[@kenlee9874]

Best videos ever. Thanks

[@rascalhusky8129]

Nothing like Hong Kong, even in those days . Unforgettable times . Great footage . I was in Hong Kong 25 years ago and I have returned many times . It's best place to stop over on your Asian travels. I also liked the Cantonese music , very much .

[@hanscwlindberg]

The much shorter building immediately to the right of Jardine House (12:19) is World Wide House which was built on the site of the Old Post Office when it was demolished in 1976. The construction of World Wide House was completed in 1980. This excellent little film must have been shot in the early 80's. Many thanks for another highly entertaining piece of Hong Kong history Mr Rogge!

[@Karisrisss]

Binging these videos of my hometown. Thank you Michael for sharing all these with us. So vivid and lively. Time travels!

[@armsmanlam5724]

Thank you for giving me my childhood memories😄

[@parkerfar]

Million thanks for the valuable clips! AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE PLACE WE LIVE.

[@kaimingcheung7160]

You bring me back to my child age........many thanks

[@fukbu]

Thank you Mr. Rogge, i was born in 1981 so this will give me an idea what Hong Kong was like when i was born!

[@chungtatshum6581]

i was born in 1953

[@alexlammk]

You can see at about 14:30, The Admiralty Centre with MTR logo is completed. Search the Wikipedia 海富中心 "Admiralty Centre in Chinese word . The building completed in 1980.As ckretasianman said,HSBC new HQ started in 1983, I think the video was taken between 1980 and 1983. The background is very local to Hong Kong people grown up in 80s. Michael, great job!

[@geraintroberts565]

Thanks for the upload. I was stationed there with the RAF from 1976-1978, and have just found our old 8mm silent film of Hong Kong and it put on dvd. The highrise building on the island at 10.40 was nicknamed the "house of the thousand arseholes" We are going back for the first in November.

[@toddu4067]

So nice to know when I time travel back to the 70-80's HK will still be basically my HK. Greatest city on earth

[@artamerican]

This is definitely shot in the late seventies, could be around 1977 or 1978 when you can see the tram still carried a trailer which was withdrawn in the 1980s, the second sign to make certain the date was the sun hung kai centre at 6:05 (one of the tallest bldg then) was not fully completed until 1980/1981. This film is rare and valuable since it's hard to find footage of this type taken in the 70s, it's so enjoyable to watch and with a sense of nostalgia, my deepest appreciation to Mr Rogge !

[@HphpHphp-rx1sz]

it was 1981

[@kenjikenji113]

Thanks for the valuable clips! great memory I was still a little kid/baby that time and I've been to UK now so much thanks, it's utterly fantastic!

[@LLee-oe8nz]

Our good old days...I was only 6 years old at that time, thank you so much for this priceless clip!

[@andylam73]

thx michael for posting this interesting video. it brings me back to my childhood, to the place i was raised.

[@mtwg9307]

This is good for replay memory sometimes, but it will be too excessive and even dangerous to look back frequently. Everyone has to look forward for future.

[@SeismicCWave]

I am looking back because there isn't much to look forward to right now.

[@kenlee-97]

Very true sir ,- are you saying looking back too often can causecone to be depressed about the future due to the past ? Thanks Sincerely.

[@maxflight777]

As we get older, we become more engaged with these old films ! I’m 58 but I find the “look at life “ series from the U.K. compelling !

[@1pasupaty]

Yeah it's so true but minds r so free now with back then

[@danny99ho]

Thank you for bring back my good old memory. I just love those years.

[@Mandykobebritney]

I am glad that you share these in youtube, I am from Hong Kong, and I love my home

[@Onbehaard]

This film takes me right back to my childhood. I recognised all the places and this is exactly how I remember HK. We left in 1978. I know the song, too and haven't heard it in decades. Don't know if it was chosen deliberately, but it talks about time passes and will never returns; life is but a dream and who would understand your personal problems. Listening to the song and watching the film made me very nostalgic and quite emotional.

[@Kirbeetaf]

Thanks for the posting. You did a great job for us to learn more of Hong Kong when we were young. God bless you.

[@smallma20001]

Thank You. 35 years ago,I was a primary student. 70'S to 80'S Hong Kong was the most beautiful Hong Kong.

[@TheInnerParty]

This is fantastic history. I taught one semester there as a visiting Prof in 1998. Sure has changed since.

[@Finguz39]

Thanks for sharing Michael! I lived there in the late 70's and early 80's just up the road from Stanley with my parents and spotted a lot of sights in the film that I remember.

[@AverageGuy916]

Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories of HK. 2021!

[@crazycats6354]

I always enjoy watching your videos. Thank's for sharing. Missing the good old days.

[@ezyroller]

My first 7 years of life were in HK in the 70s. Strange memories brought back by this footage. Great stuff. Thank you.

[@H0Varlet]

Michael, My wife and I spent two weeks in Kong Kong in 1977 and your fascinating look back seems to be just about from that time, maybe a year or so earlier. No particular reason, just the Flash Back Effect your film had on us. We made a return visit in 2011 and stayed in the very same hotel on Kowloon - The Marco Polo Hong Kong, called simply The Hong Kong Hotel in 1977 . Loved your video Drew

[@hamidachan7392]

Thank you for this footage. Hong Kong changes so much before. Good to see. Like the song in Cantonese. Love from England. X

[@wasabiveryhottubeyou]

Thank you for recording history! Awesome

[@4june9140]

Oh how the skyline has changed. Even some of those 80s buildings have long since gone. Its like a theatre set, always being renewed.

[@Juninavi]

Just awesome ! It brings me back all the good good memories while I was in HKG from 1975 to 1990 as a BRITISH GURKHA ARMY ! Thank u so much for the uploading this ! So good so far !

[@kookokooko-xg5uo]

machickney

[@Rogapol]

Thanks again Michael for your film of old HK. My first trip to HK was 1973 followed by 75, 77, 84, 85 ,87 and so up until my last trip in 2011. I obviously have very fond memories however I don't have the fine footage you captured.

[@homr2470]

真是值得回味的珍貴紀錄片，多謝提供人仕。

[@alcampbell7396]

The HK Hilton would have been a perfectly good building still standing in any other city today, but Li Ka$hing knocked it down in 1994 or 1995 to build the Cheung Kong Ctr. Interesting to see all the normal cars, instead of the luxury car showroom has become today. Victoria Harbour was huge before they went reclamation mad.

[@hktramsculture]

Some Leyland KMB buses with licence plates "CL" were seen, given that they were registered in early 1981. Moreover, the adverts on the trailers was demolished so likely at their last period. Also the trams still have their hopper vents on the top deck.

[@ianwong1559]

Michael, it's amazing and thank you so much for sharing. It's a treasure for hk.

[@kairutkowski7010]

Great footage. Thank you M. Rogge.

[@gungfuriceboy1]

thanks for sharing Michael!! brings back many memories! i still remember the sights , sounds & smells when my family visited in 1969. i was age 7 at the time....

[@BeyondBedlam70]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Grew up in HK between 1976 and 1988 so this was smack bang in the middle of some of the most wonderful years of my life ❤. Must have been filmed in 1981 or later as the planetarium was visible and that was finished in late 1980.

[@cindylam32]

this is a very preious video! that time, that space, that feeling of the city, will never be again, but bcos of you, it last forever! thank you Mr Roggie🌹🙇‍♀️

[@meijisign]

this is exactly the years I grew up in HK especially the street and the stores that I know everyday when i walk by. Those were just in my dream of the old days when I closed my eyes and standing last year in central... (same street corners but different stores now)... thanks for keeping that in the video so that I can refresh my childhood memories.

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks. They are also part of my own fond memories 1

[@edmundcarrington4719]

+Meiji Sign ....I have the exact same memories and feelings - larger harbour, noisy chaotic Kai Tak across the water, Walled City still standing. Went back in 2008 after growing up there in the seventies, and although so much (maybe too much) has changed, HK still has a real magic about it.

[@kenlee-97]

Same as me ,went back to H.K last year and was trying to do the same thing as YOU, trying to remember which stores was in that street corner as well, I was born in 79 ' in H.K..

[@epemsley3787]

Brings back happy memories. I was 7 years old in 1975 and living in Stanley Fort. I can still picture the green and white 'Cathay Pacific' 707's as I watched them begin their approach to Ki-Tak airport.

[@kwokwing]

Good old days. Long gone and thanks for your posting.

[@pinalloy6505]

Thanks 🙏 I born in late 80s, miss the old days, simple and beautiful.

[@louielkf]

Thanks for your videos of old Hong Kong. You let me know how Hong Kong looks when I was born and childhood. :)

[@technicmoney1466]

Sir, thanks for filming and sharing them on KZbin.

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks for the info. Buildings often provide a clue as to the age of films, often not mentioned by amateurs.

[@ucanhly2783]

MichaelRogge I like the song in this clip, can I ask for the song name

[@VWYL900802]

My mom and dad’s HK. They haven’t met yet in the 70s but mom worked in happy valley for ticket holders then an assistant for HK’s DA in Central. Dad just swam from China and started to do jobs here and there and met a nice fellow that became a mentor for him during that time, just like a lot of people there during that time. People were generally a lot more genuine and honest that time.

[@maxbash9991]

thank you so much Michael! man, i grew up in hong kong. i went to Peak school and now i go to boarding school in Sydney. Thanks for giving me so much insite to the old hong kong. You are by far the best on youtube! im doing my school art assignment and your films have influenced me quite a lot. Im taking photos of hong kong and trying to capture a mixture of contrast and nostaligia in my images. Anyway, thanks again man. ill buy your photobook when im back in hong kong and ill site it in my art diary as a huge influence in my work. :)

[@kenlee-97]

Hi max , where you born in H.K. by any chance ,I was born in H.K, but moved to Syd with parents years ago. Also are you British by ancestry?-cheers.

[@lgrigg5439]

Thankyou for the beautiful memories which I will keep in my heart for ever.

[@blademasterhk]

Thank you for the uploader. I'm HKese but we hard to find Good-O-Days videos like this. :)

[@richardl3809]

Thanks for share. It reminded me the days Hong Kong which my dad taxis and other public transportation.

[@aa55claa55cl]

Michael, come and visit HK once more time............ its interesting to see that now as a 22 year old person........ things doesnt change a lots when I watch ur tram running on road surprisingly ....

[@michaelijsbrand]

Thanks. But alas, I'm 87 years young and too old to travel !

[@aa55claa55cl]

wait..... maybe u can try Google map street view to look around.... u will feel that things don't change that much, esp knowloon, sham shui poo district. .... as a local... we really appreciate ur effort in preserving our local culture. ... thxxxx man

[@edchan888]

This should be taken at around 1979-80. See Sun Hung Kai Centre at 13:07. The building was still under construction. It was complete d in 1980.

[@tripprawlings9284]

1:35: Shell House on the corner. My father worked in that building and drank his lunches at Jimmy's Kitchen or Lindy's across the street. Ah, memories.

[@MickGatting]

The bus in seconds 11 to 16 right at the beginning is a freshly painted ex London Transport DMS Daimler Fleetline of China Motor Bus, none of which arrived in HongKong until early 1980, the 1st import being registered CD2093 which is a 1980 plate so this film is from 1980-82 period when they were being delivered from UK

[@clkbrian]

Thanks for sharing your videos. God Bless!

[@pt100]

This film possibly took on 1979-1980, cause the Space Museum was built between 1977-1980, and it seems almost completed in the film. Anyway thanks a lot for keep these treasure for our sweet memory, I born at HK on 60"s

[@amahmood4267]

Its make my day . I was in hongkong from 1983 . I was complate primary over there.. i was golden day ....

[@chunkwonglau2273]

Most precious film of 40 yrs ago HK, I also very like the song

[@ewostyria]

So apt the music at the beginning. Yes, Hong Kong was a funky town.

[@bigbear88888]

being a transport fan, based upon the type of buses and cars in your brilliant movie, i can be sure to say its not the late 70s but no later than 82. In a short segment you had trams pulling trailers, this practise ended in 1982.

[@philyip4432]

Thank you for a great film. I can't call it a video because this was filmed before video was invented.

[@pcesc]

Thank you very much. I saw my first working place at Wanchai

[@fanfan907]

Oh..how i miss the old hk! This is such a precious footage, thanks to the original poster!

[@james168yeah]

Very fond memories indeed as a child that lived on Queen's Central Road during 1981... what a time that was.

[@douglasmiller4351]

Marvellous memories. I came to HK in October 1973 (over 49 years ago)

[@madcay]

Thank you so much for posting this. You should come again and take a video at the same place

[@jennprata8222]

estimate 1981/2. i went in the HKSB bank in july 1981 to cash a cheque and it was still working (no signs of the wreckers although we knew it was coming down imminently)

[@HHmp5]

Great video. I was born in hk in 1979. This video basically captured all the memories of my first exposure to the world. I now resides in Toronto Canada.

[@orangefield2308]

why did you move?

[@kenlee-97]

Hi man-,I'm born in H.K in 79' as well ,moved to Syd (Australia) in 82'- we were very early to move away from H.K.

[@swiper1818]

You can also help date it using the tram with a trailer as they got rid of these shortly after this film was made. Great video! Also you can see the site formation works and Flagstaff House (still in HK Park, now the Teaware Museum) shortly before or at the time Victoria barracks was demolished and subsequently Hong Kong Park and Pacific Place (and later on in the video, Exchange Square) were built. I also miss the car ferries, as even after the first two tunnels were built on occasion it was a lovely, leisurely and scenic way to cross the harbour.

[@perhaps188]

Thank u so much🤝

[@Monaco666-o1o]

He has passed away unfortunately. Let's wish him rest in peace and all the best in heaven.

[@perhaps188]

@@Monaco666-o1o 🙏

[@neilsailing]

Thanks for this Michael........I lived there in the mid-70s for a few years....wonder if I can spot myself going to work....

[@bongotang]

Another great video from you ! love it and thanks Michael !

[@kevinvu227]

I was born around the recording of this video in Hong Kong. Thank you for sharing.

[@hongkongmrkang]

I am Korean live in Hong Kong now. Thank you for video. And I don't hope to Beijing touch Hong Kong.

[@jennalia8952]

Wow! Love this clips I have been started posting video about HONG KONG now I am working here as DH and I LOVE HONG KONG and its History and culture

[@kosmeticman]

golden days of hong kong...now totally different...thanks again for all your priceless video!!

[@gabriel.hongkong]

Priceless footage. I salute you good sir.

[@hauntedhose]

I lived in HK from 84-87....I was 7 yrs old and remember all of it. Great video

[@victoria131]

Looks like late seventies or very early eighties rather than nineties. Great footage! So much has changed.

[@vindrus955]

Thank you so much for these videos! I just started watching your channel and this particular video I really like because I got to see the Hilton hotel. It was where I stayed on my first trip to HK in the early 90s. Brings back so many memories! It’s now gone but I especially enjoyed seeing it before the huge bank of China tower was built next to it. Looking forward to watching all of your videos.

[@EmperorChiCheung]

I am now 34 years old in 2013, so this was a year before my birth. So nostagic...

[@BuyTheChicken]

You are now 39-40, time flies.

[@nVolodimer]

Thanks for posting this, I'm gonna move and live in HK in 6 months, that's really interesting to get a picture of what was HK few years ago, my wife always talks about the pre-handover era!

[@abbyt6136]

Thanks a lot for this. It’s very interesting to look at the Hong Kong before I was born :) I have read in a museum in Stanley that The Murray House used to be located in Central. It’s nice to see it again in Central in your video!! The tram ride was very good too!

[@hktramsculture]

Very nice, recalling old shots on HK trams (commonly call "Ding Ding"). The trailers are no longer exist. From 3:20 that's tram 120, which is different to the standard ones and today we have a "new" 120 in place. Sadly only one and the present fleet have been replacing to the new-metal bodies.

[@KingKhan-vo9og]

Thanks for the upload!