Hong Kong Maritime Scene February 2020.

Just returned from a five day trip to Hong Kong, where I was able to spend the best part of four days capturing the maritime scene from the decks of local ferries. Was hoping for better weather than my last visit in May 2019 and although it didn't rain as much, the light was, shall we say...challenging!

https://johnleyland.smugmug.com/Hong-Kong-Maritime-Scene-February-2020/

Captions will follow in due course!

 

Were the flights empty?

 

Flew KLM both ways. Standard economy was fairly full on both, but 'economy comfort,' which I'd booked, was almost empty. Very few in the posh seats up front too. HK airport was weirdly quiet.

 

In spite if the conditions you managed to get some nice shots there.

 

Thanks, I am left wondering if the sky is ever blue there lol

 

Did you have to wear a mask?

 

I agonised over going for a few weeks. But as the FCO excluded HK from their China travel advice and the travel insurance company confirmed in writing that my cover was still valid I decided to go. Took plenty of masks and hand gel. I didn't feel uncomfortable with any of it whilst I was there.

 

I can confirm that there is blue sky there, or there was in 1986 when I was last there. Somewhere I have photographic evidence as well.

 

October-November is generally considered the best time, as it has cooled down a bit, the typhoon season is over, and it is a fairly dry season. Chinese New Year / February is often cold and grey.

 

Thanks for that...I'll give it a go! The trouble with HK is that it's addictive and returning numerous times is definitely not out of the question for me!

 

Yes I can confirm October the best time to visit ,my daughter lived there for about ten years, I first went in a September ,to dam hot for me ,said I wouldn't set foot in the place again. October ,just about bearable. My several visits were from 2002 to 09.
A bit to see on the railway scene ,a few photos attached. I st / Siemens Euro Runners, same as Austrian 2016 class. 2nd /KCR 61 a EMD type G266 , ,3rd/ ,a class of two, same as the Swiss RE460. 4TH Hong Kong Railway Museum.2ft gauge ex Sha Lok Railway. WB 2227 .Plenty of Chinese Electrics on passenger trains .And trams to see as well

 

I can confirm that there can be blue skies there too.

As well as that those blue skies make the heat even more intense.


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Yes its the humidity as well.There are photo's of WD 2-10-0 S working in the area in about 1950. Don't know how the driver and fireman stuck it .Maybe cooler in the cab than outside.!!

 

2-8-0s actually (oil fired). Phased out 1957-63.

 

On climate, my limited (3 days) experience in Hong Kong was that the heat and humidity were manageable (sort of!), but when the sun was fully out, it became seriously tough.

 

Just to push the boat out as they say ,a few more. The first is a Chinese diesel DF 11 025 at University , on a train to Mainland China, all electric I believe now. The last is a junk being unloaded at Mui Wo Lantau Island, they had started unloading before the boat had been tied up. The trams someone told me have wooden frames.

 

The tram bodies have evolved over the years but they still sit on what I think are the original trucks. The body is built on a steel base frame and bulkheads but the side frames are I think still wood, with aluminium panelling. Being 3'6" gauge and with not much overhang, they are quite small and get very crowded, so if you want to just enjoy a ride, it pays to choose your tram. Only tram 120 remains in (a slightly ersatz) original condition, with rattan seats.

 

Returning to the maritime theme, here is an image of the China Airlines (Taiwan) 747-400 (then very new) which went off the end of the runway at Kai Tak in bad weather in November 1993. It did prove a 747 can float, and provided us with a temporary tourist attraction. This image could only be taken for a short time (I think this was the day following the incident) as they dynamited the tail fin off which, the aircraft being just at the end of the runway, was deemed to be a potential hazard to other aircraft.