By Elizabeth Hunter via SWNS
Photos show the oldest images held by the National Collection of Aerial Photography – when Britain was mapping Hong Kong 100 years ago.
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the archive of pictures – taken by planes in the pre-drone era.
Its oldest set is from November 1924 and document British efforts to record and map the territory of Hong Kong.
They were taken using aircraft that operated from the HMS Pegasus seaplane carrier.
The pics offer a glimpse into Hong Kong’s past, before it underwent significant expansion during the 20th century.
Pictures show neighborhoods throughout Hong Kong in 1924 – including Ma Tau Kok, which in 1911 had a population of 212, but is now a bustling industrial and residential district with a prominent art scene.
Another picture shows Hung Hom Wan in southern Hong Kong, home to the most famous Kwun Yum Temple, constructed in 1873.
The pictures are the oldest held by the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), based in Edinburgh, who have a collection of over 30 million images in one of the world’s most significant aerial photography collections.
“The Head of NCAP, Allan Williams, said: “NCAP is an internationally significant asset, holding over 30 million aerial photographs taken around the world which were mostly created during the Second World War and the Cold War.
“It’s incredible to think that some of these images are now 100 years old, highlighting the breadth of history that our images cover and just how significant they are to understanding our heritage from above.”
