Independent Transport Videos - Far East

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Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories are an absolute feast for the transport enthusiast. Buses of all shapes and sizes abound. Trams are ancient (Hong Kong Island) and modern (Tuen Mun).

So why not sit back and be transported to the part of Asia where the double decker rules the road and public transport is king.

This video, shot in 1995, takes you to Hong Kong Island to witness China Motor Bus working amongst the trams, Citybus and KMB on cross-harbour tunnel routes. Then sail on the Star Ferry to Kowloon where Kowloon Motor Bus is in abundance. Filmed on Nathan Road and Jordan Road we see all types of KMB vehicles working together with Citybus. A ride on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) back to Hong Kong Island for a day time ride to Happy Valley and back to Central to view peak time in Des Voeux Road.

We visit Stanley to see modern air-conditioned Citybus Olympians and Dennis Dragons alongside rebuilt CMB Guy Arabs.

Tuen Mun, in the New Territories, is home to the world's busiest Light Rail System. Experience a ride and view the complex cross-overs and junctions of the system after a ride by KMB Dennis Dragon along the spectacular Tuen Mun highway at Castle Peak Bay.

Night time is also spectacular in Hong Kong for transport. We travel from Kowloon in a tunnel bus, and then experience the excitement and lights of Wanchai as we travel through by tram.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: 1995
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 85-mins (1hr 25min)

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Citybus, or City Buses as it was called when the company was established in 1979, runs a large modern air-conditioned fleet on Hong Kong island and mainland. The company has grown in size since it first became Citybus in 1983 and ran ex. London DMS Fleetlines on a route to China. The company had connections in London running as Capital Citybus. In 1991 it ran its first franchised route, the 12A, and then in September 1993 took over 28 routes from the former China Motor Bus company, and marketed them as Network 26. Now the company is owned by the UK's Stagecoach group, and runs in a smart livery of yellow, red and blue.

This video, shot during November 2000 shows Citybus vehicles in service in many parts of Hong Kong island and running in the New Territories. We also make visits to depots at Ap Lei Chau and Fo Tan. At the former we get a sneak preview of the work being carried out on Dennis Dragon 701 as it is converted to a Trolleybus. These depots are very busy places, and are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, as there is always a 95% availability requirement for vehicles.

At Fo Tan we see a heavily converted former London Transport Routemaster, ex. West Yorkshire PTE Olympians, and the former National Express, ECW Olympian coach, now in opentop guise. 3-axle Dennis Dragons, Leyland and Volvo Olympians, as well as Dennis Tridents make up the current fleet. Look out for the unique M.A.N. with Volgren body number 2500.

Our camera captures the excitement of the late afternoon rush in Central, Hong Kong - to see Citybus running alongside New World First Bus and KMB. There are stills of Citybus vehicles photographed in 1995 combined with an action packed montage of Citybus today.

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Filmed by/when: 2000
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 55-mins (0hr 55min)

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Another visit by our cameras to this vibrant part of the world to see all the major bus operators in action. The video opens in Nathan Road, Kowloon with plenty of action from K.M.B. featuring the very latest Dennis Tridents, Volvo Super Olympians and M.A.N.s. There are still plenty of non-air con vehicles in the shape of Metrobuses, Dennis Dragons and Olympians - including some 2-axle examples. We move down to Salisbury Road and the Star Ferry Terminal. We then witness the action on Lai Chi Kok road and return to Nathan Road to see some night time running.

We make a comprehensive visit to Hong Kong island filming in Central, Shua Kei Wan, Chai Wan, Shek Tong Tsui and Sheung Wan. Then out to the countryside to film short 3- axle Dennis Tridents of New World First Bus on the picturesque routes 9 & 14 to Stanley via the Tai Tam Reservoir. Further action is recorded on Des Voeux Road West before we leave by bus to the New Territories and Kwun Tong - a Mecca for some of K.M.B.s older non-air con vehicles.

We visit the Fotan depot of Citybus and then to Shatin where there is lots of action. We then get exclusive access to the Tuen Mun K.M.B. depot and manufacturing plant. Here we see newly delivered Volgren bodied M.A.N.s and Neoplan Centroliners, not to mention new Tridents and Super Olympians with Alexander ALX500 bodies. The production lines are filmed as we see new vehicles taking shape. Tuen Mun is then visited with the busy streets and bus station providing the backdrop. Staying in the New Territories we visit Tsuen Wan and then onto busy Yuen Long that features the Light Rail system running through the city centre. Here we see K.M.B.’s Alexander bodied Mercedes, a type just recently withdrawn. So join us for over 2 hours of bus action!

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2002
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: DV

Running Time: 125-mins (2hr 5min)approx , Colour
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If you saw my last video, THE BUSES & TRAMS OF HONG KONG, you will be no stranger to the fact that HONG KONG, KOWLOON and the NEW TERRITORIES are packed with wall to wall buses and trams. Nearly all are of U.K. design and manufacture, they are immaculate in turn out and the service offered is second to none.

This video updates the previous one that I shot in 1995. Filmed in March 1999 we visit Central, Wanchai, Queensway and other parts of Hong Kong island, also Kowloon and the New Territories – to visit Tuen Mun to see the L.R.T.

Brand new vehicles abound, K.M.B., NEW WORLD FIRST BUS and CITYBUS are all operating 3 axle Dennis Tridents with either Alexander or Duple Metsec bodies. Dennis Darts with Plaxton bodies represent the single decker in an area where the double decker is king. Not forgetting the older non air-conditioned vehicles – there are still a number of front engine Leyland Victory’s running with N.W.F.B. (formally CHINA MOTOR BUS CO.), alongside Daimler Fleetlines, representing both long and short variants. Look out for the K.M.B. Dennis Jubilant a type soon to disappear.

So be prepared to be transported to a land where there appears to be more buses on the roads than cars!

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: 1999
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 115mins (1hr 55min)

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A special 4 hour, 10 years celebration video programme. Back in 1995 our cameras made our first transport video in Hong Kong. We thought it appropriate to return and make a birthday special and see how the bus and tram scene has changed over the past 10 years. Our cameras have been back to some of the same locations and visited many more.

Our journey starts in Kowloon on the busy Nathan Road moving through to Jordan bus station and down to the Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui. Sailing across to Hong Kong Island we first visit Wan Chai and move along to Queensway at Central. Spending some time on Connaught Road and Des Voeux Road you can get caught up in the atmosphere with the vehicles of the three main bus operators, namely Kowloon Motor Bus, New World First Bus and Citybus, not to mention the trams gracefully gliding down the centre of the busy streets.

Our cameras visit the busy Macau Ferry Terminal bus station where we get a glimpse of the New World First Ferries and other interesting shipping. As you can image the ‘rush hour’ is immense in Hong Kong. We record this near daily occurrence around the area of Hung Hom Railway station in Kowloon as the sun goes down.

We return to the Island on board a N.W.F.B. Dennis Condor to Aberdeen to observe the busy operations in this town, sampling the delights of the former C.M.B. multi-storey bus depot and the never ending stream of buses traversing the Ap Lei Chau bridge. From here we travel to North Point, Siu Sai Wan and Chi Wan.

A ride on a new Wrights bodied Volvo Super Olympian is taken to Tuen Mun where we see the Light Rail in action. Another large town in the New Territories is Yeun Long and we visit there by the L.R.T. We then travel on a K.M.B. Dennis Dragon along the Chinese border to Tai Po.

Back in Kowloon another Star Ferry sailing takes us over to Hong Kong again, this time to ride on route 15 to the Peak.

Our journey finishes appropriately enough at the new Hong Kong International Airport to witness the many ‘Airbuses’ that operate in this fascinating part of the world.

If you haven't visited Hong Kong before, this video will want to make you go! If you have, then relive your memories. If you live there.....

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2005
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 2 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 240-mins (4hrs 0min) approx , Colour
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Yet again the independent transport videos cameras returned to Hong Kong Island in 2012 to record the action of the buses and trams in this vibrant Asian city. A lot has changed since our last programme filmed in 2010. There are new bodies on the famous double deck tramcars, many new deliveries for the main bus operators, New World First Bus, Citybus and K.M.B., and farewell appearances of many well known types which are soon to be retired after a busy life serving the Island and New Territories. We have a look at the trams in greater detail in another title we filmed during this visit ‘Hong Kong – Tram Rides’ which is now available.

The filming on this programme starts in Sheung Wan, in the north west of the island. We then make our way along the northern coast to Siu Sai Wan in the north east before heading south to Aberdeen and concluding in Stanley, with a lot of action in between!

So, from the trams and buses in Sheung Wan we make our way to Central Bus Station, by the Star Ferry to film the action. Just along from here is a major construction site where a road link will run from here to Wan Chai, which means that Man Yiu Street has been moved and this provides us with an excellent vantage point to film the buses running from the bus station. We then reach the next bus station in Central, located at Exchange Square. This bus station, that in the past was used by C.M.B., is now used mainly for Citybus services. Look out for Citybus’ unique two axle Wright bodied Volvo 7500. Which is one of only two produced for the Hong Kong market so far. From here we continue filming on the busy Connaught and Des Voeux Roads in Central where the buses mingle with the trams – most of them sporting very colourful advertising liveries. The newly rebodied trams can be identified by their electronic destination displays and smooth body lines. Wan Chai is our next location and then on to Causeway Bay and Tin Hau. From North Point we move along to Shau Kei Wan and on to Siu Sai Wan.

Now it is time to move to the south of the island. We head to Aberdeen bus station where our filming starts. We then move into the streets for more action, where you will see some of the older NWFB Dennis Condors in service and brand new Citybus Youngman single deckers which have just entered service. We then board Citybus Enviro 400, 7004 (PZ 5504), on service 973 to Stanley. Stanley Market is very popular with tourists so there are plenty of buses serving this small town on the south coast of the island. Here we see many Citybus Enviro 400s as well as some older short Dennis Dragons which will soon be retired from service. A picturesque location to end our filming on Hong Kong Island.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Denis Strange
First published on DVD: 2012
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: Digital DV

Running Time: 85-mins (1hr 25min) , Colour
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Independent Transport Videos welcome you to the first of two DVDs featuring the buses and trams of Hong Kong. This programme covers Hong Kong Island and the ever-developing island of Lantau situated to the west. Since our cameras last visit in 2015 much has changed with both the buses and trams. We begin on Hong Kong Island at the busy Central Ferry Pier bus terminus. Here we see the many new buses operating with the main bus operators, Citybus, New World First Bus (both owned by New World Services) and Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB). Most are Alexander Dennis Enviro400MMC and 500MMC ‘face-lift’ double-deckers as well as ADL200MMC single-deckers and Chinese-built Youngman single-deckers. New Wrightbus-bodied Volvo B9TL double-deckers are also seen with each operator. Since our last programmes of Hong Kong buses, KMB has introduced a new all-over red with silver trim livery with a new fleet name brand, all of which are featured on this programme. Our filming continues on Man Yiu Street, Harbour View Street, Central (Exchange Square) bus terminus, Connaught Road and Des Voeux Road Central. Look out for the Citybus Volvo Olympians on their last few months in service on the 88R resident’s service to Sha Tin, as all will be gone by March 2019.

We then move to the east and catch up with the bus and tram scene at Shau Kei Wan, starting with the bus terminus and then along the busy Shau Kei Wan Road. Here we see some of the NWFB Neoplan Centroliners, which will soon be at the end of their operational lives. A ride on the top deck of tram 70 takes us back to Central, filming as we travel along this busy route capturing the buses, trams and the busy scene associated with this part of Hong Kong. Our next location is to the southwest of the island – Aberdeen. Our cameras capture the action at the bus terminus and on Aberdeen Praya Road, Chengtu Road and Main Road. At the south of the island is Stanley. Famous for its market we see buses from Citybus and NWFB in action on Stanley Village Road and at the bus terminus. Sai Wan Ho (Grand Promenade) bus terminus is our next location. Here we see 3355 (KS 5587) one of the last low-height Dennis Tridents with Duple Metsec bodywork in service with NWFB, these strong powerful buses were used on services to The Peak and over the hills to Stanley. It obviously liked being filmed as it followed our cameras the following day to The Peak! We now travel on one of NWFB’s latest ADL Enviro500MMC 12.8 mtr. double-deckers to North Point. From North Point we film at Des Voeux Road Central by Western Market and see tram 88, which is the ‘Pilot Cooler Tram’ – the first air-conditioned tram. A short ride on the ‘Rickshaw’ open-top sightseeing bus brings us back to Central Ferry Pier to join NWFB, 3802 (UM 8146), an ADL 400MMC ‘face-lift’ 10.4 metre double–decker for a packed ride to see the views from The Peak concluding our visit to Hong Kong Island.

The final part of this programme sees us on Lantau island at the Sunny Bay Station bus terminus. Here we see the buses from the Discovery Bay fleet in their eye-catching purple and white livery. Brand new MAN double and single-deck buses are filmed alongside new Citybus ADL Enviro 500MMC double-deckers that are on route to the ‘HZMB Hong Kong Port’ – which is the passenger clearing centre for the new bridge and tunnel to Macau. The bus terminus at HZMB is our penultimate filming location on this programme. Here we see the buses from the New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Ltd. that included brand new ADL Enviro 400MMC and new MAN Gemilang double-deckers in their smart green and white livery. The Citybus ‘Cityflyer’ services are now diverted through this interchange giving plenty of variety for bus enthusiasts! We conclude this programme with a visit to the bus terminus at Hong Kong’s International Airport. We arrive on AD03 (VP 9994), a New Lantao Bus Company ADL Enviro 400MMC. Here we see many Long Win Bus Co. (LWB) buses in service. LWB is part of KMB and has recently introduced an eye-catching orange, dark grey and white livery with a stylised LWB logo. Their current fleet is made up almost entirely of Enviro500 double deckers in all three body variations. With plenty of action to enjoy, this is a fitting end to this programme. We look forward to seeing you on our next DVD covering Kowloon and the New Territories.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Denis Strange
First published on DVD: 2018
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: Digital DV

Running Time: 105-mins (1hr 45min) , Colour
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Independent Transport Videos welcome you to the second of two DVDs featuring the buses and trams of Hong Kong. This programme covers Kowloon and the New Territories. As was the case with the first part of this DVD feature, and since our cameras last visited in 2015 much has changed with the buses of the major operators - Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), Long Win Bus (LWB), New World First Bus (NWFB), Citybus, Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and New Lantao Bus Company. KMB have a new livery of all-over red with silver trim and a new interior featuring cream and brown e-leather seats, Wi-Fi and all the things now expected on modern buses. We begin this programme in Kowloon, filming on the busy thoroughfare of Nathan Road. Here we see buses from the fleets of KMB, NWFB and Citybus in operation, all presenting the latest products from Alexander Dennis (ADL) and Volvo with bodywork by ADL and Wrightbus respectively. Older buses in the KMB fleet are Alexander ALX500s on Dennis Trident or Volvo Super Olympian (B10TL) chassis. Some Super Olympians have Volgren bodies and they are also seen on this programme. However the ADL Enviro500 in its three styles rule the road with the Wrightbus Volvo B9TL coming a close second! From Nathan Road our cameras move to Salisbury Road and the famous Star Ferry and bus terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui. The next location is the very busy town of Mei Foo where the buses run along Cheung Sha Wan Road and Lai Chi Kok Road, which are each side of the bus terminus. Some interesting additional buses seen here are the Gemilang bodied MAN A95 double-deckers operated by KMB. Jordan Road is our next location and a visit to the new Jordan West Kowloon Station Bus Terminus on Hoi Wang Road. We then see the buses turning at the also new ‘Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station’ where the latest high-speed trains leave for mainland China. Filming in Kowloon concludes with an evening to night-time view of the action along various sections of Nathan Road.

Our journey to the New Territories begins on board KMB, 3ATENU74 (UE 5963), an ADL Enviro500MMC ‘facelift’ 12.8-metre double-decker on route 60X from Nathan Road, Kowloon to Tuen Mun. On arrival at Tuen Mun Central our cameras film on Heung Sze Wui Road and at the bus terminus. Here we see vehicles from LWB and the MTR fleets in action alongside KMB and some Citybus services. We then travel by MTR Light Rail tram number 1122 to Tuen Mun Ferry Pier where we film on Wu Chui Road and Wu King Road. Our next location is the busy town of Yuen Long where we see the Light Rail trams running through the centre of the town on Castle Peak Road alongside a good selection of KMB, LWB and New Lantao buses adding variety to our film. Kwong Fuk Road in the town of Tai Po is our next location for you to enjoy before we reach our final location at Sha Tin. Beginning at City One Sha Tin we see the new KMB recruits taking to the road for the first time from the nearby driver training school using Volvo B7RLE, MCV bodied saloons dating from 2010. City One is also the terminus for the Citybus 88R service. This non-franchised route serves the residents of the area with a direct service to Central on Hong Kong Island. Using cascaded Dennis Tridents mostly from the NWFB fleet and elderly Citybus Volvo Olympians this is where the oldest buses in service can be found in Hong Kong. Since our filming the Olympians have now been retired. We then visit the busy Sha Tin Central (Town Plaza) bus terminus and see in action KMB, AYM2 (TS 3640), one of the Youngman ‘Supercapacitor Zero Emission’ single–deckers. Further filming takes place at the terminus and at the Sha Tin MTR Station bus terminus, which completes our 2018 visit to Hong Kong. We hope you have enjoyed this visit as much as we did filming it for you!

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Denis Strange
First published on DVD: 2018
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: Digital DV

Running Time: 92-mins (1hr 32min) , Colour
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In this volume we review the current ‘electric’ scene in Hong Kong. It features the traditional trams on Hong Kong island, the Light Rail System at Tuen Mun in the New Territories and we get a tantalising glimpse of the newly converted Dennis Dragon of Citybus - into a Trolleybus.

Starting with the Hong Kong trams we see them in operation in Central, Happy Valley and Shau Kei Wan. There are rides on the trams, and we also sample a ride on one of three new trams that are starting to enter service.

There is a brief visit to Whitty Street depot, where we get a view of the new air conditioned tram that has recently taken part in trials on the system.

Our cameras then move onto Tuen Mun in the New Territories to film the modern trams on the Light Rail System. This is the busiest LRT system in the world, and it is easy to see how popular these clean and efficient trams are as we travel on them and follow them to various points on the system. One such place is Yuen Long, a very busy town - where the trams run on a reserved track through the centre of the main street, surrounded by buses! The buses are covered in detail on another video ‘HONG KONG BUSES UPDATE 2002’.

The third aspect of this video is the new trolleybus that is being developed by Citybus. We were able to film the vehicle, a converted Duple Metsec 10.3 metre Dennis Dragon 701 (GD 1492), on its special ‘track’ at Ocean Park.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2003
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: DV

Running Time: 50-mins (0hr 50min) , Colour
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Bus operations on Hong Kong island are dominated by the two main companies of NEW WORLD FIRST BUS and CITYBUS (NWFB & CTB). Towards the end of 2003 both operators were brought together under a common management structure, but both operate in separate liveries and fleet numbering schemes, at least for the present. This film charts the operations of both fleets in many of their busy operating areas, and was filmed during November 2003, before and during some of the more visible changes.

We open in Wan Chai bus station, used by both operators and then move into the main street where NWFB and CTB vehicles run in tandem. The mainstay of the CTB fleet are Alexander bodied Olympians and newer Dennis Tridents with both Alexander and Metsec bodies. NWFB again have similar Tridents, Olympians and Dennis Condors, the older vehicles inherited from CHINA MOTOR BUS (CMB) in 1998. Our next stop is the new bus station at the Island Resort Mall in Siu Sai Wan, were we see Super Olympians and Centroliners of NWFB with some KMB vehicles for good measure. The streets and bus station of Chai Wan is next were we see the 1200 series of ALX500 Tridents of NWFB which were transferred to CTB soon after they were filmed.

Shau Kei Wan bus station is visited with a good cross section of vehicles including some Enviro 500s’ from KMB.

We take the tram to Causeway Bay to see a procession of NWFB and CTB vehicles in normal service. Also caught on camera is a festival using many of the Hong Kong open toppers - including a Dennis Dominator, former National Express Olympian, a NWFB ‘DM’ and a Routemaster!

A visit is made to the CTB depot at Fo Tan where we see 105 - now preserved in the U.K., NWFB ‘DC’ class transferring to CTB and some of the CTB Olympians now in the U.K. with Megabus.

A visit to Ocean Park parking area completes the picture. Central bus station is our next venue before a ride on a CTB Dennis Dragon to Stanley to observe operations there. From here we travel to the busy bus station at North Point. CMB CX5, a Dennis Dart is seen in special contract service. Central is always a busy place and our cameras record the action both day and night time here. Finally we visit Aberdeen, another busy exchange and take a sneak view at the gems parked on top of the former CMB bus depot!

To finish our visit we see some cine footage from 1984 of Citybus vehicles. This video is essential if you are a fan of the Hong Kong bus.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2003
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R

Running Time: 120-mins (2hr 0min) approx , Colour
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In October 1984 Malcolm King made a three week visit to the Far East. Using a Super 8 sound cine camera he recorded the buses of Hong Kong, Lantau and Macau.

“Kowloon Motor Bus (1933) Ltd. in 1984, operated a large batch of Daimler CVG6s and AEC Regent V’s. Some of these being built to 34ft in length and a wheelbase of 21ft, carrying 120 passengers, several are seen wearing the 50th anniversary lettering from the previous year when KMB celebrated 50 years of service. Other KMB vehicles worthy of note are the ‘L’ class Albions. We take a brief look at the learner fleet with on board footage, and the rare Guy Victory ‘J’ class withdrawn. The new KMB overhaul centre and bus body construction depot was opened on 30th March 1984 at Tuen Mun - we look at the facilities some 7 months later. The new vehicles under construction are the 12 metre Leyland Olympians. These vehicles have recently been withdrawn, and some have been exported to the UK.

The “Britain Today” British Transport Exhibition at the New World Plaza was visited. We see AEC Routemaster RM1873 operating a service to the exhibition and RM1288 is seen having been converted to right-hand platform. MCW were exhibiting the new Metrobus.

China Motor Bus is well represented on the film in the shape of Guy Arabs, Daimler Fleetlines and new Metrobuses. A large number of ex- London Transport DMS Fleetlines were still in service. The Guys are in original condition as well as ones rebodied by Alexander.

The buses of the New Lantau Bus Co. 1973 are in their bright yellow and red livery, and feature the Leyland (Guy) Victory, which were quite new when we visited.

Macau features buses of British origin. Those seen in October 1984 are an ex. United Counties Bristol LD5G and various Bristol ‘L’ types, ‘LS’ and Bedford SB’s - the single deckers being heavily rebuilt. Ten years earlier in 1974 the Macau City to Taipa bridge was opened to link the island by road. On the bridge we see an ex. Chesterfield Daimler CVG, as well as an ex. Bolton CVG running in service”.

All the sound on this video programme is original.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Malcolm King,October 1984
Sound: Super 8 sound
First published on DVD: 2004
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: Super 8 cine-film

Running Time: 50-mins (1hr 50min) , Colour
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In October 1984 Malcolm King made a three week visit to the Far East. Using a Super 8 sound cine camera he recorded the trams, Peak railway, some trains and visited the Royal Hong Kong Police driver training school.

“Hong Kong Tramways operate 163 trams between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, the fare a mere 60c, any distance along the 10 mile route. Boarding at the back and paying upon alighting at the front the coins being deposited into a box at the departure gate. In 1984 most trams had advertising liveries which were usually hand painted for 12 month contracts, bringing a kaleidoscope of colour to the routes trundling through the smokey grey smog that embraces Hong Kong island on some days.

The tramway opened on the 30th July 1904, and during the past 80 years many changes have taken place, conductors and trailers alas had gone before my visit. The film shows track repairs / replacement along the coast line close to Kennedy Town, the coastline being viewed has now long since gone as land reclamation is ongoing for the ever increasing population.

Hong Kong’s famous ‘Star Ferries’ plies between Hong Kong island and the Kowloon Peninsula from 0630hrs to 2330hrs and carry approx. 110,000 passengers a day. There are 10 ferries in total - they weave their way across Victoria harbour with cool breezes where passengers can view the ever changing skyline. The ferries are known as double enders which means they are capable of being operated from either end by two separate wheelhouses each controlling separate rudders.

The Victoria Peak funicular railway carries some 3,000 passengers a day up to the view of the harbour, the island and Kowloon and the New Territories and beyond. The funicular serves five stations as it climbs the 1,809ft to the summit.

The Kowloon and Canton Railway Company (KCRC) is filmed showing the British built trains in service. There is on board footage together with views of goods trains in action.

To finish our 1984 visit to Hong Kong we pay a brief visit to the police training ground, and see the vehicles used, which includes a couple of buses!”

All the sound on this video programme is original, for added interest we have edited in views of the Star Ferry and the Peak tramway from footage we shot in 2003.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Malcolm King,October 1984
Sound: Super 8 sound
First published on DVD: 2004
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Media Format: DVD-R
Origination: Super 8 cine-film

Running Time: 64-mins (1hr 4min) , Colour
.

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