Book Description

Through excerpts from the earliest English language newspapers in Hong Kong, accompanied by Solomon Bard's insightful comments, Voices From the Past provides unique glimpses into Hong Kong's history. Illustrated with interesting photographs, chiefly from the Hong Kong Museum of History's photographic library, the pages bring Hong Kong's colonial past vividly to life. The newspaper excerpts, in chronological order, are faithful to the original text, reproducing its quaint prose and spelling and even occasional errors. Focusing mainly on Hong Kong, the excerpts also touch on Macao, mainland China and the rest of the world. They reflect the changes over the years in language, style of writing, even in humour. Of special interest are the public responses to the many inventions which today we take for granted, such as electric lighting, the motor car, or the first attempts at flying. Most importantly, they reveal the gradual changes in Hong Kong's colonial attitudes as these slowly adjust to the new contemporary values and social and political changes.