!"#$ ===W=!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*!"#"$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'(#)*+%,!!"#$%&'()*+,-./0!" #$ The 15 th Hong Kong Products Expo was held in 1957, proposing Hong Kong people using Hong Kong products!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'(%)*+,!!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%& '()*+,-.!"#$%!"#$%&'( Night scene of Nathan Road in 1957 TR
Chapter 2 Section 2 Modernizing Electricity and Community Kowloon : Yau Tsim Mong!"#$%&'()* Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, in the 1960s Yau Tsim Mong, the oldest community in Kowloon, was the first on the peninsula to have electrification and to benefit from modernization. Dr. Ng Tor Tai of Tsim Sha Tsui Kaifong Association bought the Astor Theatre in 1939 when there was still no air conditioning equipment. When power supply reached his home, its use was simply for lighting. Later, the supply was extended to nearby areas. The entertainment industry was closely related to the development of Tsim Sha Tsui in the 1950s and the 1960s. One of the early examples was the Miramar Hotel. With a grand Broadway-style nightclub inside, the hotel represented the most modern and westernized entertainment place in the region. It also had a large electricity consumption everyday. Apart from this, the completion of the Ocean Terminal in the 1960s also symbolized the coming of grand and modernized shopping malls. Brightly lit at night, and with air conditioning in the whole complex, it was comfortable and convenient this further changed Hong Kong s commercial pattern.!"#$%&'()* Night scene of clock tower at Tsim Sha Tsui, 1958 TS
!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'(")*+&,-!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'() *+,-(!"#$%&'"()%*+",!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+), -!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%.!"#$%&'()*+ Night scene of Lung Fung Teahouse in Mong Kok, 1958 ====== ==========!! " "!!!! "! # # $ $ " " # % % # # $ & $ $ %!! ' % % &"! & & ' " ( " #! ) ' ' ( # $ " * (! )! $ % ) * " & + % ( *, + # & + ), $ ' ', * (!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&' Cable-laying work at Wesley Road, Ho Man Tin, 1955 (Wah Yan College, Kowloon on top left) TT
The development in Yau Ma Tei region was quite different. Mr. Ng Kong of the Yau Ma Tei Kaifong Association recalls that there was already electricity supply in pre-war times. But the charge was high and many people could not afford it. In the area around Temple Street nightlife was busy, but the stalls and shops usually closed early. There were few street lamps and no electricity meters at all. The street lamps were lit up by towngas and the major domestic fuel was kerosene both fuels can easily cause fire. In the 1950s the number of street lamps increased, but the power of the bulbs was still small. Mr. Lau Chi Man of the Mong Kok Kai Fong Association comments on the interesting scene of the lighting of street lamps at that time: Every evening at 5 or 6 pm workers used long bamboo poles to turn the lamps on. They came back the next morning to turn them off. Section 2 Chapter 2!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123 Activities of the Tsim Sha Tsui Kaifong Association celebrating the Queen s coronation, 1953 TU
!"#$#%&'()!"#$%& '()!"#$%&'()*!"#$%&'()*%+,!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'$()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#!$%&'()*+,-"!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-!"#$%&'()*+,-'!"#!"#$%&'()*+),'!"#$%&'()*+,-./!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#$%&'()*+,-.!"#E!"#$%&'#( F!"#$%&'()!"#$%&'()*+,-./0123 Mr. Kwok Yu Biu, the herbal doctor, working in dim lights with a small electric fan at the back!"!"#$%&'()*+!"# After receiving power supply, Women s Street (Tung Choi Street) at Mong Kok became a famous scenic spot for tourists!"#$%&'()*+ Night scene of King Wah Restaurant in Mong Kok, 1958 TV
!"#$%&'()* Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, in the 1960s In the 1950s, there were only dim electric lights on the stairs of Chinese-style flats, though this was better than the total darkness in the past. Domestic electrical appliances were becoming common. Many people also started to use second-hand electrical appliances, especially electric fans. However, there were still people living in harsh conditions, with eight family members sharing a single bed, and just using a dim 5W electric bulb. Since the electricity charges were paid individually, people all installed the switches in their own rooms. As for the shops, electricity was also used stringently. Mr. Kwok Keung, the Chinese herbal doctor of the Sun Hang Lam herbal Drug Store in Yau Ma Tei, recalled the years when he was learning the profession from his father Mr. Kwok Yu Biu. The store was quite spacious, yet the light was rather dim. The only bright area was around the place where the patients were examined and treated. Section 2 Chapter 2 In the 1970s, domestic illumination advanced rapidly. Modernization of entertainment places can be found in the open plaza at Temple Street. The large gas lamps once popular were now replaced by electric lamps. The fortunetellers usually seen in the street no longer needed to rely on dim lights. Their way of illumination in the past, nicknamed shining the frogs, was becoming history. The term shining the frogs originated from farmers holding up lamps in the fields to catch the frogs. UM