Albert E Kane‘s photograph of Hong Kong Harbor (1932-1937) depicts the city’s skyline before the building boom which is a major aspect of Hong Kong’s identity today. In the image, not only did the absence of buildings intrigue me, but I was also interested in the multiple ships billowing smoke in the waterway. This made me question how the island grew from being “a barren, almost uninhabited rock when it was acquired by the British in 1841” to holding the title of the tallest city in the world today (“Hong Kong…”) Additionally, I wondered what kind of factor the iconic Victoria Harbor played in Hong Kong’s growth from an undeveloped colony to an iconic megacity. Hong Kong’s valuable sheltered deep water harbor was one of the main qualities of the city that attracted its growth over the past two centuries and transformed the island into the metropolis we see today.
Hong Kong lacked most resources necessary for the creation of a large city including tillable land and a reliable water supply (“Hong Kong…”). Despite this, the harbor was transformed from a small fishing village into a port under British rule of the Island starting in the 1840s (Kestell and Meinheit). During this time, Hong Kong played an essential role in transporting hopeful Chinese emigrants to The United States and Australia during the countries’ gold rushes. The wealth gained by the Chinese was brought back to Hong Kong when miners returned which used to stimulate and grow the economy there (Peters). Additionally, due to war and violence in China, where ports dominated the region, the Chinese economy was weakened and their centers of trade were damaged. Due to the location of Hong Kong as a strong replacement for the lost economic activity in China, the island’s port was able to attract an increase in trade internationally as violence impeded China into the 20th century. In the following years, the British in rule increased the size of their occupied land from China in order to keep up with the expanding industry (“History…”).
In 1935, just around the time the photo was taken, the HSBC building was completed and was named the first skyscraper erected in Hong Kong and the tallest building in the Far East (Xue). This was a key moment in Hong Kong’s history as it began an era of revolutionary vertical growth that characterizes the city today. Building and economic growth exploded in Hong Kong during the 1950s and 60s though as a result of the manufacturing revolution that took over the region’s economy. Due to an increase in refugees in need of jobs from mainland China, these manufacturing industries grew greatly. Additionally, many Western nations had trade embargos with China during the Korean War which moved capital and talent from China to Hong Kong. “As a result, shipping and shipbuilding entered a new golden age, with the number of vessels entering the port growing threefold from 1949 to 1966” (“History…”). The increase in population fueled by the trade industry has meant that Hong Kong faces a lack of housing which has been a key factor in the city’s rapid vertical growth.
Today, Hong Kong is the tallest city in the world with over 8,000 high rises and more people living on the 15th floor or higher compared to anywhere else in the world. At the same time, historically, the Port of Hong Kong has ranked as the busiest container port in the world. Today, despite the port’s rank of 5th most active globally, over 19 million containers pass through Victoria Harbor annually (Keegan).
Looking back on Hong Kong’s history, it is important to note the impact the British colonial rule has left on the island. Despite the British Empire’s record of mistreatment and relentless expansion, they planted many of the seeds that helped Hong Kong to achieve its record-breaking heights. Based on what we learned about the colonization of Asia in class, I think it is interesting to compare the different British colonies in the region. One similarity I notice is that when looking at the British’s exit of Hong Kong and the partition of India, today, both places struggle with defining which nation owns what land. Today in Hong Kong, while the effects of colonization can be seen in the massive buildings and bustling seaports, they can also be seen in the island’s growing tension with the People’s Republic of China.
Ultimately, this photo sheds light on a key part of Hong Kong’s history. In the early years of Hong Kong’s growth, the export and shipping industries were essential aspects of the island’s economy. The comparison between Hong Kong’s skyline today and the historic photo shows how much growth has occurred in a short period of time. Today, the harbor holds immense significance as an aspect of Hong Kong’s identity, as a historic national symbol, and as an economic epicenter.
“History of the Port of Hong Kong: Part 1.” The Shipyard, 5 Apr. 2023, https://www.theshipyardblog.com/history-of-the-port-of-hong-kong-part-1/.
“Hong Kong–A Success Story: First National City Bank.” FEE Freeman Article, Foundation for Economic Education, 1 Mar. 1960, https://fee.org/articles/hong-kong-a-success-story/.
Keegan, Matthew. “How Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour Came to Define the City.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 29 Dec. 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/how-hong-kongs-victoria-harbour-came-to-define-the-city/.
Meinheit, Harold, and Judy Kestell. “Hong Kong from Fishing Village to Financial Center.” Hong Kong (August 1997) – Library of Congress Information Bulletin, https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9708/hongkong.html.
Peters, Ed. “The History of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour .” Cathay Pacific, https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_US/inspiration/hong-kong/history-of-hong-kongs-victoria-harbour.html.
Xue, Charlie. (2016). From Commercial to Global. 10.1007/978-981-10-1004-0_7.
