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Alexander Mak

From the 1970s to the 2010s, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour saw its fair share of sailing ships arriving from across the globe. Here’s how South China Morning Post photographers captured the arrival of these classic vessels.















In 1946, Hong Kong’s governor Sir Mark Young returns after WWII – SCMP archive

A look back on Queen Elizabeth II’s life, 100 years since her birth – from the SCMP archive

In pictures: Hong Kong’s groundbreaking Wah Fu public housing estate

In pictures: Hong Kong’s watchmaking industry through the decades

From our archives

In Pictures: majestic sailing ships that made Hong Kong a port of call

Ship ahoy ... the Sail Training Association of Japan’s full-masted brigantine, the Kaisei, visits Hong Kong to drum up support for an Asian society of novice sailors, in 1994. Photo: SCMP Archives

A Portuguese training ship, the Sagres, stops over in Hong Kong in 1979 during its world tour. Photo: SCMP Archives

The deck of the Sagres on its 1979 world tour. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Golden Hinde (left), a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship, sails alongside a Chinese junk in 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Sohar, an 88-foot-long vessel from Oman, is towed into the British Royal Navy base HMS Tamar in Hong Kong after completing its historic journey from Oman to Guangzhou, in 1981. The vessel has made the 6,000-mile (9,656km) trip to repeat the legendary voyage of Sinbad the Sailor as recorded in A Thousand and One Nights. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Gloria, a three-masted training ship for the Colombian Navy, arrives in Hong Kong on a four-day courtesy visit in 1983. Photo: SCMP Archives

A 200-tonne wooden junk, The Macau, raised anchor in Macau in 1988 to retrace the 1543 voyage by a Portuguese ship to Japan, which resulted in the introduction of Western firearms to the island nation. Photo: SCMP Archives

A seaman aboard the Pallada, a training vessel for the Soviet Union in Hong Kong in 1990. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Spirit of Hennessy, a clipper owned by brandy producer Hennessy, sails across Victoria Harbour to celebrate 120 years of cognac shipments to Asia in 1992. Photo: SCMP Archives

Crew members of the Kaisei, a 180-tonne full-masted brigantine owned by the Sail Training Association of Japan, climb one of the ship’s masts in Hong Kong in 1994. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Kaisei in Hong Kong in 1994. Photo: SCMP Archives

A replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon, the Galeón Andalucía, arrives in Hong Kong in anticipation of the China National Day in 2010. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Sedov, a 91-year-old sailing ship, sails into Victoria Harbour in 2013. Photo: SCMP Archives

The 98-year-old fully rigged Sorlandet arrives at Central Pier in 2016. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: cruise liners sailing into Hong Kong in the 1970s and 80s

The liners Canberra (left) and Norwegian Sagafjord berthed at Ocean Terminal, in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 1979. Photo: SCMP Archives

Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, in 1970. Photo: SCMP Archives

Luxury cruiser Canberra sails into Victoria Harbour, in 1972. Photo: SCMP Archives

Passengers from the cruise ship Kungsholm wait for transport at Ocean Terminal, in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

Some of the more than 600 passengers who sailed into Hong Kong aboard the Queen Elizabeth II at the KCR railway station in Hung Hom, in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Cruise liner Sea Princess berths at Ocean Terminal, in 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

Dinnertime on the Royal Viking Star, in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

Young passengers on board the luxury liner Canberra wave to reporters, in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

Captain John Young of the luxury liner the Royal Princess in Victoria Harbour, in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Ocean Pearl cruise ship pays a visit in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

With flags and streamers flying, the Canberra pulls away from Ocean Terminal in 1989. On board were 16 civil servants and their families, who, under a contractual commitment from the government, were entitled to a four-week voyage. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: Hong Kong swimmers braving the cold on New Year’s Day, from the 1970s to 2000s

Young participants in the 1978 New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championships organised by the Hong Kong Life Guard Club, now called the Hong Kong Life Saving Society. Photo: SCMP Archives

Swimmers take the plunge in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives

Cheung Wai-chi celebrates winning the men’s section of the race in 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

Contestants brave the cold at the 1980 New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championships. Photo: SCMP Archives

Making a dash for the cold waters in 1990, at the 14th New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championships. Photo: SCMP Archives

A contestant is all smiles during the 1999 race. Photo: SCMP Archives

More than 2,000 swimmers took part in the 2003 race. Photo: SCMP Archives

The 2007 race attracted 2,300 participants, a record at the time. Photo: SCMP Archives

Participants are helped out of the water during the 2008 event. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: how Hong Kong celebrated Christmas from the 1970s to 90s

Christmas decorations in Landmark in Central, Hong Kong, in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

Japanese department store Daimaru in Causeway Bay during the 1976 Christmas season. Photo: SCMP Archives

Throngs of Christmas shoppers in the Daimaru department store in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Matsuzakaya store in Causeway Bay in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

School girls pick out Christmas cards at the Matsuzakaya store in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Island School students admire the latest Christmas card designs in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

Workers sort mail at the General Post Office in Central in December 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

The old HSBC Building decorated for Christmas in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Chater Road in Central is lit up on Christmas Day in 1981. Photo: SCMP Archives

Crowds gather to see the Christmas lights in Tsim Sha Tsui East in 1985. Photo: SCMP Archives

Lan Kwai Fong in 1995. Photo: SCMP Archives

Furama Hotel chef Roland Sager prepares a Christmas turkey in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

The San Francisco Steak House in Tsim Sha Tsui serves festive feasts in 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives

Kwok Ping-kwan, pastry chef at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, displays the hotel’s treats in 1964. Photo: SCMP Archives

Pierre-Alexis Dumas, then Hong Kong-based regional marketing director of Hermès and now the French label’s artistic director, whips up a Christmas feast in 1996. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties in Hong Kong from the 1970s to 90s

Staff members of trading firm FocalPoint International enjoying themselves in a special Christmas party held at the skating rink in Cityplaza in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Archives

Underprivileged children enjoy a Christmas party at The Excelsior hotel in Causeway Bay in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Participants in the 1978 New Year Run pose for a group picture after the event, organised by the Kowloon Hash House Harriers. Photo: SCMP Archives

A folk dancing show is staged during a Christmas party held at the MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives

Santa Claus distributes presents from charitable organisations to children during a Christmas party at the Hilton hotel in Central in 1979. Photo: SCMP Archives

Carolyn Newbigging (centre) – the wife of the chairman of Jardine Matheson, David Newbigging – dances with guests at the New Year celebration at the Noonday Gun in Causeway Bay in 1983. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Santa Express Party at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives

Staff of trading firm FocalPoint International attempt to ice skate during a Christmas party held at the skating rink in Cityplaza, in Taikoo Shing, in 1991. Photo: SCMP Archives

A Scottish dance is performed at the Hilton hotel’s New Year’s Eve ball in 1991. Photo: SCMP Archives

James Smith (centre), general manager of the Hilton hotel, celebrates after his successful bid for two first-class air tickets to London, donated by British Airways. The prize was part of an Operation Santa Claus charity auction in 1991. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: summer fun on the beach of Hong Kong’s Repulse Bay

Water skiing skills on display in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives

Soaking up the sun as temperatures in Hong Kong hit the mid-30s in May 2002. Photo: SCMP Archives

A warning over polluted seawater leaves the beach unusually quiet in August 1994. At the time the Post reported heavy rains were blamed for flushing pollutants into Hong Kong’s waters. Photo: SCMP Archives

A sunny Hong Kong Sunday in June 1994 sees beachgoers pack the foreshore to soak up the rays. Photo: SCMP Archives

A young woman gets a friend to act as her diving board as they have fun in the sea off Repulse Bay’s beach in August 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

It’s standing room only as crowds cool off in the summer of 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

PostMag

Culture

Hong Kong waters have long attracted some of the world’s most impressive sailing boats, harking back to the days when wind power ruled the waves


Hong Kong waters have long attracted some of the world’s most impressive sailing boats, harking back to the days when wind power ruled the waves.


In Pictures: majestic sailing ships that made Hong Kong a port of call

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong waters have long attracted some of the world’s most impressive sailing boats, harking back to the days when wind power ruled the waves

Hong Kong waters have long attracted some of the world’s most impressive sailing boats, harking back to the days when wind power ruled the waves