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Alexander Mak

Long before the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal – long before airliners started landing at Kai Tak Airport, even – leisure passengers would arrive in Hong Kong by ship in their thousands.
After arriving in the city, some would continue by train to Guangdong province, and explore deeper into mainland China.
Here, we present South China Morning Post photographs from the decks of those giant cruise liners – and from the shore.












Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund launches in 2000 – from the SCMP archive

Princess Diana admits adultery in blow to monarchy in 1995 – from the SCMP archive

In pictures: when textiles drove the golden age of ‘Made in Hong Kong’

Hong Kong discontinues trial all-night tram service in 1990 – from the SCMP archive

From our archives

In pictures: cruise liners sailing into Hong Kong in the 1970s and 80s

The liners Canberra (left) and Norwegian Sagafjord berthed at Ocean Terminal, in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 1979. Photo: SCMP Archives

Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, in 1970. Photo: SCMP Archives

Luxury cruiser Canberra sails into Victoria Harbour, in 1972. Photo: SCMP Archives

Passengers from the cruise ship Kungsholm wait for transport at Ocean Terminal, in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

Some of the more than 600 passengers who sailed into Hong Kong aboard the Queen Elizabeth II at the KCR railway station in Hung Hom, in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

Cruise liner Sea Princess berths at Ocean Terminal, in 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

Dinnertime on the Royal Viking Star, in 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives

Young passengers on board the luxury liner Canberra wave to reporters, in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

Captain John Young of the luxury liner the Royal Princess in Victoria Harbour, in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

The Ocean Pearl cruise ship pays a visit in 1988. Photo: SCMP Archives

With flags and streamers flying, the Canberra pulls away from Ocean Terminal in 1989. On board were 16 civil servants and their families, who, under a contractual commitment from the government, were entitled to a four-week voyage. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: in streets or salons, Hong Kong barbers make the cut

A street barber serves Western customers in Central, in 1994. Photo: SCMP Archives

A young boy gets a trim at a Hong Kong barber shop in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

A traditional Hong Kong barber shop in 1976. Photo: SCMP Archives

A barber sets up shop on a Hong Kong pavement in 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives

A street barber and his client on Nam Long Shan Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, in 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives

A stylist takes part in a hairdressing demonstration organised by salon chain Vidal Sassoon in 1979. Photo: SCMP Archives

Celebrity Hong Kong hairstylist Kim Robinson works on a model in 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

A barber gets to work outdoors in Nga Tsin Wai village in San Po Kong, Kowloon, in 1995. Photo: Martin Chan

A barber shaves a client outside the Tin Hau Temple on Temple Street, in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, in 2003. Photo: Robert Ng

Customers chat with hairdresser Lee Kwok-shun at the Shanghai New Men Wah Hair-dressing Company, an old Shanghai-style traditional barber’s on Hong Kong’s Wellington Street. The establishment closed in 2008. Photo: Felix Wong

When Hong Kong got its first kidney dialysis treatment centre in 1981

From left: chairman of the Kidney Foundation Lee Quo-wei, Hong Kong acting governor Sir Jack Cater, and director of medical and health services Thong Kah-leong at the opening ceremony of a new kidney dialysis centre run by the Hong Kong Kidney Foundation in 1981. Photo: SCMP Archives

The South China Morning Post’s report on the new kidney treatment centre, on September 23, 1980. Photo: SCMP Archives

Sir Jack Cater, Hong Kong acting governor, speaks at the opening ceremony of a new kidney dialysis centre. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: when Hong Kong was the centre of toy manufacturing

Doll heads are sorted at the Kader factory in 1973. Photo: SCMP Archives

A young woman assembling toys at Elm Tool and Machinery’s factory in Quarry Bay in 1967. Photo: SCMP Archives

A worker at Kader’s toy factory in Hong Kong in 1971. The company was founded in 1948. Photo: SCMP Archives

Workers in a toy factory in 1972. Photo: SCMP Archives

Prince Charles (third right) tries a remote-controlled toy car at Sun Chung Precision Metal Factory in San Po Kong in 1979. Photo: SCMP Archives

Paul Kwan, joint managing director of toymaker Playmates Holdings, with the company’s biggest hit, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toys, in 1989. Photo: SCMP Archives

How the legacy of beloved Hong Kong comic strip Old Master Q lives on

Old Master Q – Rock ’n’ Roll (1964), by Alfonso Wong, was inspired by Elvis Presley films. Photo: Sotheby’s

Old Master Q comic strips on display at an exhibition at Comix Home Base, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, in 2017. Photo: Robert Ng

A comic strip introduces a Hong Kong Arts Centre exhibition of Old Master Q works at Comix Home Base in 2016. Photo: Handout

An original Alfonso Wong comic strip featured in the 2014 Sotheby’s exhibition titled “Old Master Q: What The @#$% Is Going On?” Photo: courtesy Alfonso Wong

Alfonso Wong, creator of the Old Master Q iconic comic strip, at work. Photo: courtesy OMQ Zmedia 

A vintage Old Master Q comic book. Photo: Handout

A scene from Old Master Q 2001, a part-live-action, part-CGI film starring a computer-generated Old Master Q and Big Potato alongside actors Cecilia Cheung (pictured) and Nicholas Tse. Photo: courtesy Hong Kong Film Archives

Joseph Wong, the second-generation Old Master Q cartoonist, signs his handprint at the Avenue of Comic Stars, in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 2012. Photo: May Tse 

An artwork in the “Old Master Q ‘Side C’” exhibition at Quiet Gallery, in Central, Hong Kong, in 2023. Photo: courtesy Quiet Gallery

An exhibition dedicated to Old Master Q in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 2017. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong’s Restart! Beyond Gaming Exhibition is a joyful trip down memory lane

The Little Fighter Series Zone reveals original manuscripts by the game’s creator Marti Wong. Photo: Restart! Beyond Gaming Exhibition

The Restart! Beyond Gaming Exhibition showcases old games consoles. Photo: Restart! Beyond Gaming Exhibition

Restart!’s second zone showcases 300 Nintendo game cartridges from the 1980s and 90s. Photo: Restart! Beyond Gaming Exhibition

A 25th-anniversary edition of Little Fighter 2 featuring an Airside-exclusive scene of Kowloon Walled City. Photo: Handout

In pictures: cruise liners sailing into Hong Kong in the 1970s and 80s

Hong Kong has long been a popular port of call for leisure travellers