Excessive executions, a Red Army blacklist and a house on The Peak for ‘only’ HK$4 million: headlines from four decades ago
A journey back through time to look at significant news and events reported by the South China Morning Post from this week in history
Before Hong Kong’s property prices went through the roof, a house on The Peak cost less than HK$4 million, according to news reports from four decades ago this week. Meanwhile, the issue of Hong Kong returning to Chinese rule was brushed aside as insignificant when it was raised by the local business community. Over in mainland China, authorities warned against the imprudent handing out of the death penalty in provinces across the country.
November 27, 1977
• A senior Chinese official in Hong Kong was reported to have, yet again, relegated to insignificance the question of the New Territories lease, which was due to expire in 20 years. It was reported that China had given explicit reassurances that it wanted the colony to maintain its status quo, regardless of the lease.
• Jockeys who rode at the previous day’s Happy Valley race meeting complained to the stewards of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club about the dangerous state of the track. Hong Kong champion jockey Australian Gary Moore and world-famous English rider Joe Mercer took nasty falls when their horses tumbled in two separate races. The animals were later destroyed.
November 28, 1977