While many might prefer to keep their age under wraps, I am proud to share that I made my way to Hong Kong back in 1979, and anything related to Hong Kong's history holds a very special place in my heart .
So, upon learning that David Bellis received a British Empire Medal from King Charles III for his dedication to archiving and preserving Hong Kong's historic photographs, oral accounts, and stories, I knew right away that Bookazine's editorial team had to reach out to him for an interview and feature him in our upcoming spotlight segment.
David Bellis, a passionate chronicler of Old Hong Kong, has published a series of books showcasing some of his favorite photographs. However, these are not just ordinary photo books; they are carefully curated collections that draw readers in, encouraging them to explore the intricate details behind each image and uncover fascinating stories.
Did you know that David Bellis has created an online archive boasting over 30,000 photographs and 50,000 stories from Old Hong Kong, with the earliest image dating back to 1840? But let's not delay any further, it's time for you to meet David Bellis.
David, you moved to Hong Kong in 1989, what is one of your first memories of Hong Kong?
I remember catching the bus from Kai Tak to TST, looking out of the bus window and seeing all the signs in Chinese and no western faces, and thinking this is *really* different from the UK!
What led you to collect old photos and stories of old Hong Kong?
It was a very gradual process. I started off writing a blog about expat life in Hong Kong with a friend, Ross. That led to me writing about some of the historic sights around Hong Kong. Then readers started sending in old photos of some of the scenes I'd described. Then over time I've got more interested in old photos and the stories they can lead us to, and started collecting photos myself so that I could scan them and get a close-up view of their details.
With so many different photos available, how do you select specific photos for your books?
I've followed a similar process for each of the five books: first I'll write about individual photos that I think have an interesting story to tell. Then I gather a selection of those photos & stories that have a related theme, and prepare a talk about them. After giving the talk several times I use it as the foundation for the book. This lets me get feedback on the stories before I publish the book, and I hope that basing it on a talk also gives readers the feeling they're listening to a friend talking about the photos.
What sparked your passion to found Gwulo.com in 2009?
I mentioned I'd started with the blog, www.batgung.com. I found I was writing less and less about my expat life, and more and more about Hong Kong's history (which is much more interesting!), so it was time to split the history off into its own website.
What went through your mind when you were first notified of your award?
The first email I received about this just said there was good news and I should call a telephone number. I thought it was spam, and deleted it! Thankfully, after some more messages I did get in touch.
I felt it was an honor to be recognized for the work that has gone into the building the Gwulo website - not just recognizing my work but also the work of the contributors who have helped grow the site over the years.
If you could invite any guest to dinner, who would it be and why?
With the help of a bit of time travel, I'd like to sit down with the late Carl Smith and ask him what motivated him to start compiling his records about Hong Kong history and to keep going for so long. We're lucky that we can read his published research, but I'd ask him what interesting stories he'd discovered during his research that never made it into print.
Which story of old Hong Kong unveiled through photos has been one of your favorites? And why?
The first photo in my first book - the photo of the rat bin - is still a firm favorite. It's a great example of how a seemingly 'bad' photo, one that is not very sharp or well composed, can still be of value. Then it has some great stories: the basic story of the rat bins that used to be all over Hong Kong but are now forgotten, hearing older readers' memories of rat bins upon seeing the photo, and the chance to learn a great piece of Cantonese slang.
What are you currently reading that you can’t get enough of?
I've just finished reading Landlines, and loved the descriptions of the British countryside, plus the remarkable effects of the walk on the walker's health.
Any upcoming projects we should look forward to?
I'm still collecting photos and looking forward to finding new surprises in their stories. Readers are welcome to subscribe to my regular newsletter to hear about the latest discoveries, https://gwulo.com/subscribe.
If you would like to explore the history of old Hong Kong through the works of David Bellis, you can discover his beautiful series of books at Bookazine
