A series of historical images by renowned Scottish photographer John Thomson offer insights into a long lost Hong Kong between 1868 and 1872.

John Thomson photographs
A Cantonese man (left) and lady (right), 1869-1871. Photo: John Thomson.

Thomson settled in Hong Kong in 1868 and set up a studio at the Commercial Bank building.

John Thomson photographs
The harbour (left), Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Mar Nu peak (right), Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.

He spent the next four years documenting communities and landscapes around China and travelled extensively through then Canton, Peking and Shanghai.

John Thomson photographs
Hong Kong from Killots Island, 1868. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
The harbour, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Lyndhurst Terrace (left), the harbour (right), Hong Kong, 1869. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Kowloon opposite Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson
John Thomson photographs
Avenue lined with colonial buildings, Hong Kong, 1869. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Kowloon , Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson
John Thomson photographs
A mendicant priest in Hong Kong, 1869. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
The interior of a tea-house, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
A Chinese portrait artist, Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Rocks, trees and house, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Rocks in Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
City Hall, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
The Peak, The Albany building, Hong Kong. Photo: John Thomson
John Thomson photographs
City Hall and neighbouring buildings, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Shop-keeper, Hong Kong, 1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.
John Thomson photographs
Queen’s Road East, Hong Kong, 1868/1871. Photo: John Thomson.

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