Ship And Harbour: Past and Present

Few nineteenth century photos capture both the facts and feeling of Victoria Harbour better than this John Thomson view of its water, ships, city and mountains: Hong Kong as it was then; and as it remains today, even though vastly changed. About mid-harbour, and on a line roughly between today’s Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier and Central, the Thomson portrayal looks about west-southwest – as does the 2015 image. The dominating vessel is of the transitional sail-to-power era, with sails on its yard-arms and paddle wheels on its hull. Merchant vessels never moor in the central harbour today, but container barges regularly pass through. Are the nineteenth century ship’s masts half the height of the IFC? Or is this a trick of perspective?