Rex's Website

MY LIFE Part 5: THE LATER HONG KONG YEARS (1985 - 2000)

In 1985, after finishing my time at Stanford, we (gradually!) moved back to Hong Kong. At the end of August, I returned with Leonie and Gavin. As Nadine was still too small to travel, she stayed with Vanessa in San Francisco at her brother's place) for a couple of months until it was deemed safe for Nadine to take the air trip.

In Hong Kong, we moved into a new flat in the recently-completed Residence 12. Leonie began Primary 2 at Beacon Hill School, while Gavin began attending the Chung Chi Nursery School on campus.

I remained at the university until my retirement in the year 2000. The children did their formal education in the English Schools Foundation (ESF) system, though both Leonie and Gavin did several of their final years of secondary education at boarding schools in Christchurch, New Zealand.

One of the major events of this time was the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 after having been a British colony since 1842.

The handover ceremony from Britain to China in 1997: (a) Left-hand picture: Just before the handover - Union Jack still flying (b) Right-hand picture: Just after the handover - flag of the PRC flying

The Later Hong Kong Years: Life History Files

Here are accounts of the later years in Hong Kong. On clicking the first link, the file will open in a new tab. Alternatively, you may like the file to open in the frame at the bottom of the page. If so, click on the second link.

Leonie and Gavin at a Kung Fu class with Chinese University students

Life history files:

The later years File viewer

Happenings year by year File viewer

Life, Work and Play during these years

Sleepovers were common either at our place or at friends

Campus residences and layout of our flat

The floor plan of Residence 12, Flat 5B. Note: The original (pdf) files contain 'sticky notes' but you will only be able to see these if you download the file and view in a pdf viewer:

Floor plan File viewer

Christmases (1985 - 1988):

The first Christmas in Residence 12 after returning from Stanford (1985):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Christmas 1987 (at home and at Chung Chi):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Christmas 1988 (Chung Chi manger scene):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

General pictures of life on campus:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

School pictures:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Sleepover, ca. 1987 (more pictures of the same sleepover):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Trip to Ping Chau ca. 1987 or 1988:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Mini Rugby

There were a number of Rugby clubs in Hong Kong specially for children - boys and girls - between the ages of about 8 and 13. Gavin, and later Leonie, joined the Flying Kukris club which was based at the British military barracks at Sek Kong. Practices and matches were held on Sunday mornings in the cooler months. Occasionally tournaments were held with teams from all the clubs competing. At the end of the season, the mini Rugby teams also played curtain-raiser matches at the annual Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament.

Pictures from mini Rugby tournaments: Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Rugby Sevens 1989 (or 1990?): Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Pictures of aspects of life of the family

Crayon activity

Rex

At the university swimming pool:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

In the Chung Chi College gym:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

School/Faculty of Education:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Vanessa

Campus dance group:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Leonie

7th birthday (1986):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Performing at her Primary 6 school concert (Christmas concert may be Primary 5 at Beacon Hill):

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Pictures and documents from Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Christchurch, New Zealand:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Miscellaneous:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

The same photos of Leonie's 7th birthday embedded as a slideshow:

Pics of Leonie's 7th birthday (Vimeo). Password (if needed) = L7

YouTube

Gavin

Gavin's 9th birthday party 1990:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Miscellaneous:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

The same photos of Gavin's 9th birthday embedded as a slideshow:

Pics of Gavin's 9th birthday (Vimeo). Password (if needed) = G9

YouTube

Nadine

Baby and early years in Kong Kong:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

2nd birthday 1987:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

USA visits, 1986 & 1988:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Young girl:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

School:

Photos Same photos (in file viewer)

Year 10 exam results (last year at Shatin College):

Exam results Same exam results (in file viewer)

From the above photos of Nadine: second birthday, young girl and at school school, embedded as a slideshow:

Pics of Nadine 2nd birthday, young girl, school (Vimeo). Password (if needed) = N2

YouTube

File and photo viewer

For photos, click a photo to enlarge it (and also to see the complete caption).