I love those tram rides . I would go at night and ride from Causeway Bay all the way to North Point and back , this was back in the sixties. What a great memory.
artamerican This short film is indeed dated from around the late 1960's.I can recognise the old taxi cabs and some of them were the old Mercedes Benz.The second tow compartment was introduced around late 1967 since I was one of the very first one to ride on the tow compartment when I was a seven year old boy in 1967.I have also a photo taken around that time showing the second tow compartment of the tram when there was a riot in October that same year.Tough times in those days.
1967. Ah ! I think this is the year when HKTVB started broadcasting in competition with Rediffusion.I can still remember the program Enjoy Yourself Tonight started at 9:30 in the evening.Connie Chan was my idol in these years.
0:22 - Intersection of Hennessy Rd/Wanchai Rd 1:00 - Queensway/Admiralty (was navy garrisons, now a shopping mall) 1:15 - Hilton Hotel (left, demolished) & old Bank of China (middle, still there!) 1:22 - old HSBC (left), old Mandarin (right) Oriental Hotel (all demolished) 2:41 - Sheung Wan HK-Macau Ferry Pier (see the hydrofoil there?)
Just got back from Hong Kong, modern double decker buses, modern cars, some amazing new buildings, with the same old double decker trams!!! It's still in heavy use and cheap ($2 HK) 26 cents per ride. Good way to see HK Island.
Great film - at 1:15 that's Queens Road, old Bank of China bldg ahead with the Hilton Hotel on the left where CK Center now is. Then the tram turns towards Legco and up towards the Landmark
A lot of good old automobiles are present: - The ubiquitous Mercedes taxis -180D, 190D, 200D and some brand new 250S/SE. Also visible are the Austin Cambridge/Morris Oxford diesel taxis - A red Jaguar EKE drophead, Wanchai Texaco gas station - An Australian-assembled 1962 Valiant, old HK Bank building, Central - A blue Morris/Austin van moving out, Des Voeux Rd Central - CMB's Guy single- and double-deckers I guess this film was made sometime (May-July) before the notorious 1967 Riot
But HK showed more of the traditional Chinese lifestyle in those days. When I arrived there in 1972 (5 years after this film) traders still used the abacus in the shops - a few years later calculators were everywhere. The people just stopped using abacus to do calculations. But it was quick as the calculator!
What a great tram ride.Was this footage taken before the riot in October in the same year ? I was only 7 years old at that time. Even at that young age I can never forget the riot of 1967.A welknown radio broadcaster / commentator was burnt to death inside his car with his brother.I think his name is Lam Bun.
I saw Daimaru大丸百貨 on the tram at around 2:25! There were 大元(North Point)﹠大丸(Causeway Bay)...remember? The red taxi looks like a rolls Royce at 2:31!! "HK, pls don't change so fast, I'm afraid I won't recognize you anymore!"
well, I don't think so in the year of 1967, because of before 1974, Hong Kong taxis did not specify the color. In 1974, the red and silver roof was specified.
This clip is truly incredible, amazing, the same tram route that I still ride on everyday, the admiralty part is cut short, is it possible to get back this part of the ride ? One other question is this short film may be dated in early 1970s because I saw the tram at the turn of the western market tow a second compartment which seem to be available only in the 70s. Could anyone clarify that ?
Thanks for clarifying. When the shot turns to bank of China building it is still the same as it is today and those colonial buildings along the des Voeux road, it is nostalgia.
This is absolutely amazing!! I am thinking about doing the exactly same thing at this very moment in Hong Kong (Google Map/Street has done similar thing like that, but they are not video). It would become a very interesting contrast. Nevertheless, there are some shots which I have no idea about where they are now, e.g. 1:00, 2:09, 2:15, 2:51.
I see many Mercedes-Benz taxis on Hong Kong streets during the 60 & 70 era. High time they deploy modern generation models there again ! Am sick & tired with all those Toyota (rather like toilet instead) Crown junk of a taxi being used there in more recent times. In this aspect, Singapore is well ahead of HK by re-introducing Mercedes-Benz taxis some 20 years ago circa 1997 & continues the tradition with the present W212 series 1st world standard diesel model. I expect HK to do just as well even if they can't do better !
to hongkong506: Yeah u r right. When I was 3 or 4, mom & I often took the tram & she'd showed me "this is xxx bldg..." We often ride from Wanchai to Central, also occasionally in the Sheung Wan section. I guess we seldom ride across Central because of some unknown reason, hence I cant remember anyth' about the old CPO.
Since the tram running into Central I thought it was London. Apart from the tramway, it looked 85% London, the buildings, the outlook etc. The Hong Kong government could have done better to preserve all these such as leaving the Hong Kong Island of British characteristics and the rest of HongKong of the otherwise.
Because increasing number of HongKong people are furious about how our government demolishes all valuable buildings or sites of great historic characteristics. This is really unfair for people after the 80's and so on like myself that we don't get a chance to enjoy all these.
Hello, I am an assistant of director of a coming music concert in Hong Kong. Our video designer would like to use your video as part of the video projection. Would you mind to give us the copyright of this video for the production. Please kindly reply. Many Thanks.
Hi Donald. Sorry I haven't replied before but have just returned from a holiday in Singapore. I don't mind you using my film Hong Kong Tram Ride 1967 for your video presentation but do not wish to pass over the copyright which I wish to retain provided you give me due credit for my contribution. I would love a copy of your video when complete so I can show it to my family and friends. Chris King, Yardley Gobion, Northants, UK
The tram was traveling from Wan Chai area towards Kennedy Town. The Wan Chai section is Hennessy Rd, passing through Admiralty Rd then turn into Des Voeux Rd at the corner of Bank of China. To the left you can see the old Hilton hotel opposite the Bank of China.
1:01 is the old Queen's Road East. This section of Queen's Road East went through the naval dockyard (Admiralty) area, connecting Wanchai and Central. It used to curve as you can see at 1:01. In 1968 it got replaced by a straightened new road after the barracks in dockyard were reconfigured. The new road is nowadays Queensway.