Through Grandfather's Looking Glass: The Life and Times of Society in Hong Kong in the 1920s - 1930s with Andrew E. Tse

Since his retirement from the aviation industry in 2006, Andrew E. Tse has spent much of his time researching the history of his family, a Eurasian family which has played a prominent role in Hong Kong society since the mid 1800s. In documenting the family’s collection of personal photos, he came across an amazing collection of photos and film clips taken by his grandfather about to be sent to the trash man! Recognizing that this was a rare and invaluable historical record of the life and times in Hong Kong during a most tumultuous period in Chinese history, Andrew made it his personal mission to not only compile and categorize his grandfather’s old photos and film clips, but to conserve them for future generations.

When Andrew’s grandfather, Simon Tse Ka-po took up photography and cinematography in the early part of the 20th Century, it was considered to be an exceptional hobby. Movie films could not be developed locally and had to be sent all the way to San Francisco for processing. Accompanied by his camera, Tse Ka-po took it upon himself to record a variety of persons and events, including those considered significant such as the inauguration of the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, as well as more usual family occasions such as tennis at the Kowloon Cricket Club and Sir Robert Ho Tung and his wife, Margaret’s 50th wedding anniversary party at the Peninsula Hotel.

Before his retirement, Andrew E. Tse was CEO of Macau’s East Asia Airlines, Hong Kong’s Heli Express and founder of Hong Kong Express Airways. He received both his university and post-graduate degrees in Canada. In sharing with us his compilation of his grandfather’s film clips and photos, Andrew will present a most fascinating overview of the life and times of Hong Kong in the 1920s and 1930s, essentially giving us a better understanding of the political and social sentiments of that era. As the Helena May was evident as the backdrop in many of the photos, it was only appropriate that Andrew’s presentation should also take place at the Helena May.

Let us go back in time to a more genteel era and have the pleasure of indulging in a cocktail and canapé reception at the elegant Blue Room of the Helena May!