Four Brothers and nine Dragons

PREFACE

Hong Kong in the 1950's and 1960's was  a society of  enormous contrasts. It was a colourful and vibrant clash of East and West. A British colony ruled under

British law, but a population dominated by Chinese, who for a large part spoke only Chinese languages and dialects. An unmanageable flood of refugees living in dire poverty, with citizens of unbelievable wealth living nearby in grand mansions and unashamedly displaying their riches. Some urban areas were reputed to be the most densely populated in the world, yet only a short drive away were tranquil rural areas consisting of rice paddies, small villages, and farmers working the soil with water buffaloes and primitive ploughs.

Around the colony were over 200 islands, many of which were unpopulated. Hong Kong had a large fishing fleet, and ocean fishing supported a sizeable ethnic group of boat people who lived their entire lives aboard their ocean-going junks. Hong Kong's population was young, and despite widespread poverty it was industrious and optimistic. It was a thriving economy where hard work and enterprise were rewarded, but also a harsh and merciless environment for those who did not succeed.

Our parents were assigned to Hong Kong as missionaries and we arrived there in September 1954. Karl, Jens and I were small children, and Ingar was born in Kowloon in 1956. We lived in Hong Kong til 1966, interrupted by a return home from 1960 to 1963. We spent a large part of our formative childhood in this remote colony. The missionary work of our parents exposed us to the lowest levels of society and the less privileged parts of the population. As children we were adaptive and accepting, and did not reflect much on social injustice or the plight of the dispossessed, nor our own position in this unequal society. Looking back on our youth now we see our childhood environment in a different light. Despite this we remember an energetic and optimistic society which offered a great many opportunities, and a well-governed colony which guaranteed stability and a great deal of personal freedom. Our early years were in many ways unusual, but dominated by happy memories and valuable experiences. Fortunately our father Dag Gleditsch was a keen photographer, so much of our childhood is documented in photographs that give us endless enjoyment.

A number of Facebook groups focus on Hong Kong in the period after WW2 leading up to the handover in 1997. I enjoy following these groups, and I try to contribute by reminiscing and posting some of my father's amazing photographs.I have intended this compilation of Facebook postings to illustrate what a unique place Hong Kong was in the 1950's and 1960's, and what a marvellous experience our life there was.

Kolsås, November 2022

Dagfinn Gleditsch

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