Kenneth Whiting (AV 14) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 53 text:

WE WENT SHOPPING Most ot the boys purchased qiits heie. Inere is no haqglmy over puces, liko in most shops, as this is an approved merchandise mart. The courteous, helpful and effi- cient policeman. They are reput- ed to be scmo of the v orld ' s best. He not only puts you in jail, he ' s also the prosecuting at- torney . . . and he seldom loses ■:i case. . ' . ' ALUABLE SERVICE— These voluntary workers, directed Dy Father Gilligan, steer a V hitmg sailor on the right and inexpensive track while in Hong Kcng AND LOOKED THE PLACE OVER , JPy ' M PEDDLERS — The women do the rowing and the men collect the money. THE T ' A ' O-DECKER TRAivi — You may iiae either first or second class ... no one seems to know the difference between the tv. ' o. tn i «» STREET SCENE — Black paiumas and the split dress are popular ladies ' at- tire. All Orientals are camera-shy. Note lady covering face. Selling mostly souvenirs. On arrival cf an American ship, dozens of such sam- pans surround ship.

Page 52 text:

On entering the mouth l i;.c vi..-....,c, are intrigued by the colorful lunks. men crowd the rail and - — — eJi gsf ♦--■ PEARL OF THE ORIENT — Victoria (loreground) and Kowloon (across the bay). These two make up Hong Kong, Red China is just 35 miles across the first mountain range. to be 125,000. These floating dwellings include not only big ocean-going junks but tiny sam- pans as well. Most of the genuine boat-people belong to one of two races — the Cantonese (or Tanka) and the Hokla, a tribe of sea-gypsies originating in the China province of Fukien. The Hoklo live almost entirely in sampans, which scurry like water beetles unafraid through the busy harbor. To watch them nego- tiate the traffic among the ocean liners, in what appears to be complete abandon, is often hair- raising indeed. The New York Harbor Commis- sioner would perhaps go amuck watching such nonchalance. But Hong Kong is one of the busiest harbors in the world, and with 70,000 fishermen within the Colony, they can ' t let any- thing like a few dozen ocean liners deter their haste toward a livelihood. Hong Kong ' s fishing fleet is probably the largest in the world. It is made up almost en- tirely of owner-operated wooden junks, mostly propelled by sail — and most colorful they are. The principal fishing harbors are at Aber- deen and Shau Ki Wan on Hong Kong island and on the outlying island of Cheung Chau. Aberdeen is a popular tourist attraction, its floating restaurants, in which the diner selects his own fish and has it cooked while he waits, affording a new gastronomic thrill. Hong Kong is quite homogeneous. Of the two and a half million residence, the over- whelming majority are Chinese. Semi-perma- nent Europeans and Americans, mainly British, total some 14,500. Temporary resident foreign- ers account for 2700 more, with a sprinkling of Portuguese, Indian and Eurasians. This 99 percent Chinese population are main- ly farmers and fishermen. There are 500,000 refugees in every sense of the word; 300,000 constituting a squatter problem. This means over-population. Only twenty years ago the figure was 800,000. More than a million have flocked in since the war. More are coming every day. ABERDEEN — Home of thousands of fishing junks. Junk City was one of the major attractions of the Whiting sailors. Thu celebrated junk. On vessels such ab lliiii, vviicle iair.i cire born and die, never knowing any other home. 48

Page 54 text:

REFUGEE HAVEN— Thousands of squatters live in these shacks dotting the hillside. They arrive by the hundreds every day, mostly from Communist China. Four of cur men and a friendly resident look over the city from Mount Victcria. On asking a typically Western question: How will the city care for any more new- comers? an English businessman of 25 years in China explained: The Chinese have a deep loyalty for each other — family ties are forever binding. Another hundred thousand or so will make little difference. The ones that are here will take them in and no one will be the wiser. And in summing up, he shrugged his shoulders and gestured: Hong Kong is like a lady with a big bosom. She can care for many more if the need arises. Whether overcrowded or not, wherever we walked new vistas of scenic loveliness or gran- deur were met at every turn. And here in one respect at least man has improved on the beauties of nature. For the lakes that lie folded in the valleys of the island did not exist one hundred years ago. They are man-made reser- voirs, built to supply water to the crowded cities. Hong Kong has few antiquities — the Pirate ' s Nest of 1841 could hardly be expected to rival the glories of Imperial Cathay in a hundred years! But its monasteries are authentic enough and the walled villages such as Kam Tin are microcosms of the life in vast areas of South China. Nor is Hong Kong without its own legends and traditions. Jardine ' s noonday gun, immor- talized by Noel Coward, is probably regarded by the majority as a much more reliable time- keeper than Radio Hong Kong ' s electrically actuated system. And there are few residents of the Colony but will point with pride to the rubbed and shiny paws of the bronze lions out- side the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank . . . rubbed smooth by countless thousands of Chi- nese who believe that to touch the lion ' s paws is a certain — well, almost certain — passport to prosperity. Exploring one of the many tombs that catecomb the hills outside Kcwlcon. .loyinq .j food at tlie plush Repulso Buy H. 50