https://www.scmp.com/rss/521354/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Lustrous silks and satins, brocades, velvets and diaphanous chiffons will be among the fabrics fashioned into the season’s latest styles for the ball scene in the Hongkong Debutante show to be held in the Diocesan Girls’ School on Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m,” reported the South China Morning Post on November 1, 1959. “Ladies of the Diocesan Old Girl’s Association are sponsoring the show in aid of school charities. Although details of some of the exclusive creations made specially and... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331071/when-hong-kongs-young-women-made-headlines-their-looks-debutante-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3331071/when-hong-kongs-young-women-made-headlines-their-looks-debutante-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:00:44 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Enormous work pressure and his moody nature were blamed for singer Danny Chan Pak-keung being admitted to Queen Mary Hospital’s intensive care unit yesterday […] His aunt said the 33-year-old singer/composer had been very busy lately,” reported the South China Morning Post on May 20, 1992. “Chan fainted on Monday night in his home on MacDonnell Road, Mid-Levels, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. His agent, Ms Katie Chan, said yesterday he was merely ‘drunk’ and had subsequently... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329243/when-cantopop-star-danny-chan-collapsed-and-went-coma-1992-then-died-year-later?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3329243/when-cantopop-star-danny-chan-collapsed-and-went-coma-1992-then-died-year-later?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Senior officials of the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club are investigating the possibility of holding night race meetings at Happy Valley […] another step on the professional road which will eventually lead to year-round racing,” reported the South China Morning Post on March 30, 1972. “A leading Hongkong architect has been engaged to draw up the plans for the installation of a floodlighting system […] In the words of one senior steward of the club: ‘We have only one major worry. The state of the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3328353/when-hong-kongs-happy-valley-got-night-racing-and-running-1973?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3328353/when-hong-kongs-happy-valley-got-night-racing-and-running-1973?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:15:13 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Plans to hold a fireworks display during the Mid-Autumn Festival in September are expected to fizzle out because of Government concern over crowd control,” reported the South China Morning Post on July 12, 1983. “The Urban Council says that unless the Government gives the go-ahead this week, the display might be abandoned. And various council officials do not really expect to hear from the Executive Council until the end of the month. “Police sources have warned that there could be ‘complete... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3327600/when-hong-kongs-mid-autumn-festival-fireworks-display-nearly-fizzled-out-1983?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3327600/when-hong-kongs-mid-autumn-festival-fireworks-display-nearly-fizzled-out-1983?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:15:13 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “When the world-renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra leaves London on September 11 to commence a 25,000-mile Far East tour, it will be receiving financial support from Investors Overseas Services and the OIS Foundation,” reported the South China Morning Post on August 30, 1969. “This was confirmed by Mr Malcolm Fox, IOS Regional Vice-President Far East, in a joint statement with the Hongkong impresario, Mr Harry Odell.” “The tour, which takes the Orchestra first to Singapore and on to... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326629/when-london-philharmonic-orchestra-toured-hong-kong-and-asia-1969?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3326629/when-london-philharmonic-orchestra-toured-hong-kong-and-asia-1969?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “A playground of massive, brightly coloured sculptures, for the children of Hongkong, which is being designed and made by an American sculptor, Paul Selinger, will be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia,” reported the South China Morning Post on October 29, 1967. “Instead of the usual steel pipe swings and slides embedded in a concrete or bitumened area, children will be able to play on the sculptures, made of coloured concrete and terrazzo set in turf. “Mr Selinger is planning eight to 10... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3325198/when-sculptor-designed-first-its-kind-playground-hong-kong-kids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3325198/when-sculptor-designed-first-its-kind-playground-hong-kong-kids?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Hongkong will stage an official exhibit at the Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany, in September,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 29, 1956. “This is in line with the Hongkong Government policy to bring the Colony’s manufactured goods to the attention of prospective buyers in as many countries as possible. Arrangements are being made for Hongkong to take over part of a pavilion. This will give it 200 square metres of space in which to stage its exhibit which will be more than twice... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324313/when-hong-kong-impressed-business-visitors-trade-fair-germany?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324313/when-hong-kong-impressed-business-visitors-trade-fair-germany?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “An advanced test for AIDS, the deadly acquired immune deficiency syndrome, could be available in Hongkong by May,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 19, 1985. “American researchers have developed a commercial kit to detect the disease and hope to receive an official go-ahead to begin production this month. “The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to license the test within the next two weeks, paving the way for its export abroad. The Australian Government has... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324310/when-hong-kong-got-breakthrough-aids-tests-screen-blood-donors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324310/when-hong-kong-got-breakthrough-aids-tests-screen-blood-donors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Long queues lined up at the Government health centres to receive anti-cholera inoculations yesterday when two suspected cases of cholera – a 12-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl – were reported,” the South China Morning Post stated on August 17, 1961. “A Government spokesman said bacteriological tests for the two cases – which were classified as gastroenteritis – were being carried out and should be completed by this morning.” “The boy was brought in dead to the Kowloon Public Mortuary from... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323041/when-129-people-were-infected-and-15-people-died-cholera-outbreak-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323041/when-129-people-were-infected-and-15-people-died-cholera-outbreak-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “The remote New Territories village of Ho Sheung Heung was silent yesterday – except for the weeping of seven young orphans and five fatherless children,” reported the South China Morning Post on August 8, 1981. “Only hours before, Chan Ping (14) and his younger sister Chan-ho had been busy catching frogs and playing around the pond area where the villagers cultivate worms to make their living. “But Chan-ho returned alone and distressed to her parents’ home, telling her mother that Chan Ping... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3322007/when-4-people-were-killed-after-boy-fell-remote-hong-kong-village-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3322007/when-4-people-were-killed-after-boy-fell-remote-hong-kong-village-well?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “The Hongkong Kidney Foundation will soon have its own treatment centre in Kowloon for patients with kidney diseases,” reported the South China Morning Post on September 23, 1980. “The centre will be in Prince Building, Prince Edward Road. It will be the colony’s first kidney diseases treatment centre. The centre, which will also serve as the foundation’s headquarters, has been made possible by various donations. “Earlier in the year, the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club donated $2 million towards... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3321585/when-hong-kong-got-its-first-kidney-dialysis-treatment-centre-1981?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3321585/when-hong-kong-got-its-first-kidney-dialysis-treatment-centre-1981?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “A wealthy businessman who killed a young student with chloroform after luring her to a hotel to film a pornographic video had made explicit videos of three of his employees,” reported the South China Morning Post on August 12, 1994. “Luk Yee-ling, 21, died after she was drugged and subjected to a sex attack by property agent Hon Leung-fong and his lover, Phoebe Wong Yim-ping. “After stripping the Baptist College student, Hon filmed her lying naked on the floor and left the camera running as he... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3320228/when-university-student-drugged-and-sexually-assaulted-her-boss-ended-dead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3320228/when-university-student-drugged-and-sexually-assaulted-her-boss-ended-dead?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 20:00:09 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “A driver was arrested yesterday after a bus ploughed into a huge crowd at North Point killing four people and injuring 46,” reported the South China Morning Post on July 23, 1979. “The man, Ling Sum-ha (57), has been charged with dangerous driving causing death. He was released on $5,000 bail and is required to report to Traffic headquarters, Island, tomorrow. “The accident happened at North Point bus terminus shortly before 9am when it was packed with about 1,000 people – hundreds of whom... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3318716/when-5-people-were-killed-and-50-hurt-runaway-hong-kong-bus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3318716/when-5-people-were-killed-and-50-hurt-runaway-hong-kong-bus?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 04:45:09 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Police have started an investigation into the dramatic escape yesterday of a 23-year-old Chiu Chow woman from the Sheung Shui Police Station after she was arrested in connection with a $1 million heroin seizure,” reported the South China Morning Post on July 14, 1974. “The escape, which took place only one hour after the woman, Yeung Yiu-hung [sic], was taken into police custody, seems to have been well-planned. “She is believed to have intimate knowledge of the Chiu Chow-dominated drug gang... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3317848/when-hong-kong-drug-queen-fled-police-station-could-not-escape-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3317848/when-hong-kong-drug-queen-fled-police-station-could-not-escape-law?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “A home for mentally defective children will be built in the New Territories at a cost of about $3,800,000,” reported the South China Morning Post on February 18, 1968. “First of its kind, the home will be located at Siu Lam near the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. It will be known as the Siu Lam Hospital for the Mentally Handicapped. Work on the formation of the site is expected to start in April this year. “The home will consist of two hospital blocks two storeys high, an administration and kitchen... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3316927/when-hong-kong-got-its-first-care-home-mentally-ill-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3316927/when-hong-kong-got-its-first-care-home-mentally-ill-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Little Michael Paine was the victim of one of the most extraordinary outrages ever witnessed in Hongkong, when, yesterday afternoon, an apparently demented Chinese seized five European children (three girls and two boys) and threw them into the nullah adjoining Murray Barracks,” reported the South China Morning Post on June 23, 1934. “The deceased child was swept through the nullah into the harbour near the Victoria Recreation Club, where he was rescued in an unconscious condition by Private... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315056/when-five-children-were-flung-hong-kong-drain-mentally-unsound-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315056/when-five-children-were-flung-hong-kong-drain-mentally-unsound-man?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Dave Besseling Dave Besseling “Executives of the Hilton Hotel chain said today that they would visit Hongkong for the express purpose of discussing plans for a new luxury hotel there,” reported the South China Morning Post on January 11, 1956. “Mr John Houser, executive vice-president of Hilton Hotels International, and Mr Rug Purpus, publicity director for the new hotel chain, will leave New York on January 20 on a tour through Asia and the Middle East which will take them to Hongkong, Honolulu, Tokyo, Manila, Sydney,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3314282/when-hilton-hotel-chain-came-hong-kong-1960s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3314282/when-hilton-hotel-chain-came-hong-kong-1960s?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 22:15:08 +0000