For more than a century,
trams have plied their trade along the northern coast of Hong Kong
Island. During that time, they have witnessed the transformation of the
local economy from a colonial backwater to the massive financial centre
that is the modern city. The post-war years, from the 1960s onward,
have seen the radical redevelopment of much of the area along streets
such as Hennessy Road and Des Voeux Road, while the reclamation of land
along the seafront has seen the tramway, which once skirted the shore,
pushed further and further inland.
Today,
Hong Kong trams still provide a vital public service, carrying vast
numbers of passengers daily to and from their work or shops, and Hong
Kong is one of the few places in the world where it is still possible
to ride on the top deck of a double-deck tram. This album explores the
history of the tramways of Hong Kong Island through the 20th century.
Drawing upon a fascinating selection of photographs, most of which have
never been published before, it traces the evolution of the streetscape
over that period – giving readers a vivid reminder of a city that has
been radically altered over the past half-century.
