Description
For more than a century, trams have plied their trade along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island. During that time, they have witnessed the transformation of the local economy from a colonial backwater to the massive financial centre that is the modern city. The post-war years, from the 1960s onward, have seen the radical redevelopment of much of the area along streets such as Hennessy Road and Des Voeux Road, while the reclamation of land along the seafront has seen the tramway, which once skirted the shore, pushed further and further inland.
Today, Hong Kong trams still provide a vital public service, carrying vast numbers of passengers daily to and from their work or shops, and Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where it is still possible to ride on the top deck of a double-deck tram. This album explores the history of the tramways of Hong Kong Island through the 20th century. Drawing upon a fascinating selection of photographs, most of which have never been published before, it traces the evolution of the streetscape over that period – giving readers a vivid reminder of a city that has been radically altered over the past half-century.
About the author
Brought up in Bradford, Peter Waller grew up as the city’s trolleybus network gradually declined.
Following a history degree at Oxford, he took a master’s degree in industrial archaeology at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s Institute of Industrial Archaeology (part of the University of Birmingham).
In 1986, Peter commenced a career in publishing, working for a number of years as Ian Allan Ltd’s Publisher (Books), where he oversaw the commissioning and publication of a wide range of titles. The first book that he wrote was “British and Irish Tramway Systems since 1945” in 1992. Since then he has written a number of books on transport subjects; these include the critically acclaimed “German Trams in Colour 1955-1975”, which was published in both English and German during 2017.
He first visited Hong Kong in 1992 when his mother was working there for the British Council and took the opportunity during his visits to travel extensively around both Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. Moving to Shropshire in 2007, Peter is now a full-time author and editor. He is also a director and secretary of the Online Transport Archive, a director of Shrewsbury Dial-a-Ride, chairman of the West Shropshire Talking Newspaper, a committee member of the National Railway Heritage Awards and a past president of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury.
