Lecture Series on “The Golden Mile of Nathan Road”
(金光大道彌敦道講座系列)

5, 12, 19 & 26 December 2020   |   Zoom

Speakers

Welcome Speech

Dr Victor Zheng
Associate Director (Executive), HKIAPS

City Rhythm: The Built Environment and Extraordinary People

Prof. Siu-lun Wong, SBS, JP
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, HKIAPS

Dr Wai-ling Wong
PhD in Sociology, The University of Hong Kong

Dr Ching Hui
Research Director, Hong Kong Zhi Ming Institute

Gazing All Around: Human Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Mr Chi-ming Shun
Former Director of the Hong Kong Observatory

Prof. Chi-yung Jim
Research Chair Professor of Geography & Environmental Science,
Department of Social Sciences, The Education University of Hong Kong

Dr Frederick H. M. Cheung
Adjunct Associate Professor (Honorary), Department of History, CUHK

Anecdotes: In Our Daily Lives

Mr Koon-yiu Ma
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong

Dr Victor Zheng
Associate Director (Executive), HKIAPS

Dr Man-kong Chow
Associate Director, Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute, Lingnan University

Footprints of the Past: Stories Around the Street Corner

Dr Joseph S. P. Ting
Adjunct Professor, Department of History, CUHK

Ms Stella S. Y. See
Head of Records and Heritage Office, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals

Dr Lee-man Choy
Director, Fermiland Music Centre

Closing Remark

Prof. Siu-lun Wong, SBS, JP
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, HKIAPS

Organizers

HKIAPS, CUHK
Pan Sutong Shanghai-Hong Kong Economic Policy Research Institute and China Economic Research Programme, Lingnan University

Supporting Unit

Hong Kong Museum of History

Riding on the success of a previous lecture series on Hollywood Road and Bonham Road, for the first time the theme of the lecture series shifted from the streets on Hong Kong Island to a street on Kowloon. The series consisted of four lectures on different topics. Twelve scholars and experts from different fields elaborated on the historical buildings and elements once found on Nathan Road and those that still exist, thus providing a glimpse of Hong Kong’s history over the past centuries.

The first lecture introduced famous people who obtained long-standing property or who had once laid their footprint on Nathan Road. The lecture series was opened by Prof. Siu-lun Wong, who examined the quest of Sir Robert Ho Tung’s brother (Walter Bosman) as seen from the Tung Ying Building; Dr Wai-ling Wong explained the development of the New World Centre and the property development business of Cheng Yu-tung; Dr Ching Hui offered new insights on Nathan Road by introducing Raymond Wong and the Chinese Liaison Office, which was once located there.

The second lecture showed aspects of the vital human landscape and cultural heritage sites located on or around Nathan Road. Mr Chi-ming Shun shared the experience of how the former Observatory’s Directors handled the typhoons that they encountered; Prof. Chi-yung Jim discussed the history of veteran banyans on Nathan Road and highlighted their importance as natural-cum-cultural heritage; Dr Frederick H. M. Cheung talked about the centennial history of St. Mary’s Canossian College.

The third lecture was about public transport and famous stores that had been set up on Nathan Road. Mr Koon-yiu Ma showed us his study on the Kowloon-Canton Railway and Hong Kong tourism during the pre-war period; Dr Victor Zheng told us the story of how Parsee merchant Dorabjee rose from selling “Stars” to founding the Star ferry; Dr Man-kong Chow introduced the well-known Yue Hwa Chinese products store and the family history of the company’s founder, Bik-yau Yu.

The last lecture provided another viewpoint on the daily lives of people who lived on Nathan Road. Dr Joseph S. P. Ting explained the history of the street’s name and the development of the Yau Tsim Mong District; Ms Stella S. Y. See elaborated on how to retrieve the history of Kwong Wah Hospital through the archives; Dr Lee-man Choy discussed the inquiry on air raid precautions that occurred in 1941.

A total of around 900 people attended the lecture series. ■