Hong Kong

 Hong Kong, an ex-British dependency in eastern Asia from (1842-1997), on the South China Sea, bordered by China on the north. It is made up of many islands, a portion of the mainland, and a considerable expanse of water surface. It has a land area of 1076 sq km (415 sq mi). Despite its small size, Hong Kong has played an important role in the world economy.

Hong Kong began its revival in the early 1950's based on light industries such as textiles, which were set up by immigrant capitalists and provided needed employment. These soon assumed their importance in the economy, providing as well the basis for further industrialization. But it was because much of the development depended on cheap labour, which toiled under extremely poor working conditions, that labour disputes and social discontent began to spread in the early 1960s. Severe riots broke out in Hong Kong and Kowloon in May 1967 following a labour dispute in a plastic-flower factory. The economic and social unrest was immediately turned into violent political demonstrations which turned into a prolonged bombing campaign, largely inspired by followers of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) in China. When the situation stabilized toward the end of the 1960s, general working and living conditions were notably improved by labour legislation, large government housing projects, and extensive public works programs. Simultaneously, high-technology industries such as electronics were developed, and the property and financial markets prospered until early 1973, when the stock market collapsed as billions of dollars were drained out of Hong Kong. From the mid-1970s the economy resumed its upward trend as relations with China improved.

In the late 1970s, concern about the future of Hong Kong began to loom large, as British jurisdiction over the leased areas of the New Territories neared the 1997 expiration date. Although the lease applied only to the New Territories, the Chinese government had consistently maintained that the whole of Hong Kong was Chinese territory and considered that the question of the earlier Hong Kong-British agreements came under the category of unequal treaties and also required resolution. Initial contacts between the two governments on the matter were made from March 1979, but formal negotiations did not start until after the visit of the British prime minister to Peking in September 1982. Negotiations continued for two years. Finally, the Chinese-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong was formally signed by the heads of the two governments in Peking on Dec. 19, 1984. The agreement stipulated that Hong Kong (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories) would be recovered by China from July 1, 1997. 

William Robert Munford (1870-1930) formerly of Crewkerne  was a successful watchmaker, jeweller and member of the Royal Horological Society in St Leonards, Sussex in the 1920's. The only son of John MUNFORD (1807-1874) and Loiuisa LOVERSUCH   b. c1828.  They were married in Haselbury, on 2 April 1867 and the marriage certificate noted John as a widower and plasterer. William married Flora Kate Wood and they had six children 

William John Munford (1894-1898) Marion Munford (1895-1936) Doreen Kate Munford (1896-1968) Enid Louisa Munford (1897-1988) Robin George Munford (abt1900-abt1970) Edna Joyce Munford (1904-1985)

In 1892 one  Francis Arthur Coleman, (1863-1945), formerly of the Trinity House Light Service came to HK  to take up an appointment as Superintendent of Lights. Later that year his first child, Irene Mabel Coleman, was born. Two more children were born during his time in HK, namely Francis Henry Coleman and Robin Arthur Coleman.  All three spent their early years in HK and indeed Irene spent quite a few adult years in both Hong Kong and Shanghai.  Irene had four husbands and her child Dorothy Irene Avenell ( -2004) was to her third husband, William Avenell.  Dorothy married Leslie Woodward Tipple and worked for many years for the HK & Shanghai Bank. 

In 1920 the Coleman family retired back to Sussex. The Munford connection with HK starts when Edna Joyce Munford married Robin Arthur Coleman, then a junior officer with the British East India Company. He gave up the sea and joined the Hong Kong Police in 1925 as Police Constable A10. He became a Lance Sergeant about 1928.  Robin died in April 1932 after catching malaria having been bitten by a mosquito on board a sampan during a raid on an opium divan. He is buried in the HKP section at Happy Valley Cemetery. The couple had a son John Munford Coleman, born in Hong Kong in 1931 who went to Royal Hospital School at Holbrook in 1942. He joined the Royal Navy in 1946 until he transferred to RNZN 1949 where he served until his retirement in1981. 

Courtesy of  Mr J M Coleman

Then just prior to the riots in 1967 a young probationary inspector of police Benjamin William Munford arrived in the Colony. He was to serve there for some 30 years giving up his appointment and taking early retirement just prior to the handover in 1997 at the rank of Assistant Commissioner. For a synopsis of his career in the RHKP click here. During this period there were four Munford children born in the colony; Suzanne, Jason, Marianne & James.