Honk Kong – end of an era

“When I was there, we were told the beaches were so polluted, that it was not recommended to swim in the sea there…”

Correct, certain areas were infamous for their ‘debris’. The smell of the Nullah which you could almost taste through passenger aircraft ventilation at Kai Tak was one never to be forgotten, certainly in my time. ‘Fragrant Harbour’ it was not!

This is not neccesarily a reflection of local hygene efforts. In fact, for a city of many millions of people in such a small area, Hong Kong does pretty well. The sheer scale of the engineering projects out there were to marvel at, especially when viewed from the air. I remember when someone wondered in to the crewroom one day to tell us ‘Stonecutters Island…isn’t an island anymore’.

Banupa: Pup G-AWEC. In 1971 it flew UK-HKG! Now a GIA.
http://chinbrothers.netfirms.com/Refurbish%20beagle%20pup.htm

Glad it’s still in use, albeit not in the air. You never know, 20 years on, perhaps someone will get it back where it belongs.

We then went past the old Sek Kong airfield – and I discreetly photographed a Puma/Cougar in the circuit……. 😮

Ken

Let’s see it then Ken?

I did take a pic of St Stephens beach where we used to go swimming…..

Ken

When I was there, we were told the beaches were so polluted, that it was not recommended to swim in the sea there. Instead we used to go to the swimming pool on Stonecutters Island or hire a motorised Junk and take it out to a remote island where the water was unpolluted.

Waghorn 41, quite possibly we do know each other. 91-95, crewman, big nose and a bit of a spotter. PM to reveal my identity 🙂 Post those pics!

No, we won’t know each other as I was at Kai Tak 1975-7 :). I was an aircraft engine mech with some flying ‘duties’. I’m in the process of scanning all my negs of Kai Tak and putting the better ones, civil and military, on the forums here. Now to find those 28 Squadron photos…

Surprised you got away with that photo Ken. Isn’t Sek Kong now a PLAAF base with Chinese-built Dauphins based there? Where were the guards?

It is from Sek Kong ‘village’ – not Sek Kong airfield/camp (which housed 1st Royal Tank Regiment when I was there IIRC)

The village is now PLA but the TWISK road runs right through it – there is even a bus stop just off the photo.

We did see a guard as our minibus drove through the village – but it was all a bit relaxed…….

We then went past the old Sek Kong airfield – and I discreetly photographed a Puma/Cougar in the circuit……. 😮

We also went to Stanley village market on the island – I would have loved to have gone up the road to Stanley Barracks where we were in 1960.

Now that is PLA proper AFAIK – but I thought that would be pushing my luck a bit – besides I didn’t have the time.

I did take a pic of St Stephens beach where we used to go swimming…..

Our Hong Kong guide told us that although the PLA were in the old British forces barracks all over Hong Kong they kept a discreet presence so as not to upset the locals too much.

Sorry to hijack the thread with my reminiscences……

Ken

Hmmm Wessex Porn!

Some lovely pics there, a few from me (Shawbury not Honkers):

At Chivenor:

Banupa: Pup G-AWEC. In 1971 it flew UK-HKG! Now a GIA.
http://chinbrothers.netfirms.com/Refurbish%20beagle%20pup.htm

I was in HK recently – and found the married quarter where we used to live in Sek Kong – still there 50 years later !!!

Happy Days…….. 😮

My photos of the whole China/Hong Kong trip are here.

Ken

Surprised you got away with that photo Ken. Isn’t Sek Kong now a PLAAF base with Chinese-built Dauphins based there? Where were the guards?

BTW I was in Hong Kong during 1979-81 as a JATC Ops.Controller based in the Police HQ on Hong Kong Island. Have many happy memories of flying in 28th Squadron Wessexes, Army Scouts and RHKAAF aircraft. As you say, Happy Days!

I used to play at Kai Tak – in 1957/58 !! 😮

I was then 10/11 years old – and living about half a mile from there – my old man was in the army and was posted to HK from 1957 to 1960.

I can remember mooching around the HK Flying Club hangars – and helping to push as Auster out of the hangar.

Watching DC-7’s and Constellations come right over our flat – and a Sunderland up from Singapore and US Navy Martin Marlins landing in the bay.

We later moved to Sek Kong and then Stanley on the island.

I was in HK recently – and found the married quarter where we used to live in Sek Kong – still there 50 years later !!!

Happy Days…….. 😮

My photos of the whole China/Hong Kong trip are here.

Ken

Kai Tak

I visited a friend in 1999 who worked at the then closed Kai Tak and was surprised to find a Beagle Pup in the HK Flying Club’s hangar. It was complete, but needed various mods to render it airworthy. At the time, it wasn’t thought to be financially viable and was effectively scrap waiting to happen. I wonder if it did escape to fly again?

It’s a fair cop. Well spotted 382! I was going to insert a cheekey pic of a Lanc & 2 B17s in formation, but somehow the control columns seemed more fitting.

Waghorn 41, quite possibly we do know each other. 91-95, crewman, big nose and a bit of a spotter. PM to reveal my identity 🙂 Post those pics!

Seeing we are talking Walter Wessex, here are some real ones in their natural environment…….. Salisbury bloody Plain :p;)

I will say this only once hunterxf382

It is called “humour”

BTW this is a Wessex one, have erm 3 of them, one brand new LOL

Am I missing something here? :confused: Last photo of “control columns” are from a Horsa according to the caption, the rest show Wessex?

seafuryfan – I see some of those were from the left seat ! and most during the latter era in Sek Kong. Question is were you at Kai Tak and do I know you?
I’ve got a bunch of air-air from the left seat when I can find the negs.

28 Rule!

The last one are the control columns from the cockpit. As you can see, they’re quite big!