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43-590: The name of Ho Tung Lau is derived from the name of successful businessman Robert Hotung , with the character Lau ( 樓 ) meaning "a building" in Cantonese. Before the 1960s, the name referred to the estate of Robert Hotung 's adopted son Ho Sai Wing, who bought a piece of reclaimed land near the Sha Tin Hoi and built a mansion called Windermere (referencing Lake Windermere in the United Kingdom ). Today Ho Tung Lau

86-500: A Committee on Skilled Men in the Services chaired by William Beveridge , the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was formed on 1 October 1942. Such a major re-organisation was too complex to be carried out quickly and completely in the middle of a world war. Therefore, the changeover was undertaken in two phases. In Phase I, which was implemented immediately, REME was formed on

129-924: A Diploma in Education at King's College in London in 1925. In 1936, she received her PhD from the University of London . She is the author of Clara Ho Tung. A Hong Kong Lady: Her Family and Her Times and Intercultural Reminiscences . Florence Yeo married Malaysian-born doctor K.C. Yeo and settled in the UK. Her memoir is called My Memorie s. There are many parks, schools, and buildings named after or founded by Robert Ho Tung in Hong Kong, including Lady Hotung Hall at Hong Kong University , Hotung Secondary School, Tung Lin Kok-yuen Buddhist temple, and King George V School . In Macau ,

172-531: A certificate from the governor of Hong Kong stating that his father was Dutch. He was educated at Queen's College, Hong Kong (previously known as the Central School). After graduating from Queen's College in 1878, Ho Tung went to Canton , where he worked as a clerk for the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs . In 1880, he returned to Hong Kong and joined Jardine Matheson as an assistant in

215-458: A prominent Eurasian lawyer and legislator who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II after World War II. Their son, Lo Tak-shing , was a former lawyer and legislator in Hong Kong who ran against Tung Chee Hwa in the elections for Chief Executive in 1997. Three other daughters – Irene Cheng , Jean Gittins and Florence Yeo – wrote memoirs chronicling their war-time experiences in colonial Hong Kong. Jean Gittins migrated to Melbourne, Australia, after

258-767: A prominent banker and philanthropist in Hong Kong. He was a founder of the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange in Hong Kong, as well as Treasurer of the Chinese War Chest in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation. He had two sons, Sir Joseph Hotung KBE (1930–2021) and Eric Hotung CBE (1926–2017); and two daughters, Mary Ketterer, who received the Royal Order of the Golden Ark for her work in conservation, and Antonia. Joseph Hotung

301-794: Is based at MoD Lyneham in Wiltshire. The Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at MoD Lyneham meets most of the training needs of the corps. With minor exceptions, the Corps is responsible for the examination, modification, repair and recovery of all mechanical, electronic, electrical and optical equipment of the Army beyond the capacity of unit non-technical personnel. REME has its Regimental Headquarters co-located with 8 Training Battalion REME based in MoD Lyneham, Wiltshire. All trade training and Artificer training of electro/mechanical trades of REME and various related training to other units within

344-529: Is more likely to be associated with the area near the Ho Tung Lau Maintenance Centre . The Fo Tan MTR station is also next to the maintenance centre. Three private housing estates, Royal Ascot , The Palazzo , and Jubilee Garden have been developed on the old area of Ho Tung Lau. In 1923, Robert Hotung 's adopted son Ho Sai Wing brought a plot of reclaimed land on the shore of Sha Tin Hoi next to

387-563: Is not known when the mansion was eventually abandoned. After the government reclaimed the Ho Tung Lau area for development in 1966, KCR Staff Quarters and the Ho Tung Lau Maintenance Centre was built on reclaimed land next to Fo Tan in Sha Tin with its north end in Lok Lo Ha. After 1975, more land was reclaimed to facilitate the maintenance centre's southward expansion, and Ho Tung Lau (mansion)

430-455: Is the maintenance arm of the British Army that maintains the equipment that the Army uses. The corps is described as the "British Army's professional engineers". Prior to REME's formation, maintenance was the responsibility of several different corps: During World War II, the increase in quantity and complexity of equipment exposed the flaws in this system. Pursuant to the recommendation of

473-723: The Hong Kong Cemetery . The rest of his family, including Clara, are buried in the Eurasian cemetery, Chiu Yuen Cemetery , located on Mount Davis . He was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1915 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1955. He was a Justice of the Peace since 1889, Knight of Grace of St. John of Jerusalem (1925), Order of Christ of Portugal (promoted Grand Officer in 1930), First Class Order of

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516-634: The Republic of China , but saw no contradiction in civic participation in British Hong Kong. As a millionaire with significant influence in the colony, he heavily emphasised to the British colonial administration that no part of the Chinese demographic were "purely indigenous". Many were "birds of passage" on their way to Southeast Asia, but many, like himself, became permanent residents, a testimony to their "faith in

559-662: The Sir Robert Ho Tung Library is housed in a mansion once owned by Ho Tung, who resided there during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong , under the protection granted by Portuguese neutrality in Macau . Also, there is a school named after him called Escola Primária Oficial Luso-Chinesa Sir Robert Ho Tung ( 何東中葡小學 ). Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ( REME / ˈ r iː m iː / REE -mee )

602-513: The compradore department. His bilingual skills and business acumen eventually propelled him to become Head Compradore in 1894. Although he was of mixed parentage, Ho Tung considered himself Chinese, a fact reflected in his sartorial preference. By the age of 35, he was believed to be the richest man in Hong Kong. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Hong Kong in 1916. In 1927, his wife Clara expanded "The Falls", one of

645-507: The British Army, Navy and Air Force is conducted by 8 Training Battalion REME. In line with Army 2020 Refine , there are seven regular, one training and three Army Reserve battalions within REME. Alongside these major units, all battalion sized units within the army have a workshop integrated, made up of REME soldiers, called a Light Aid Detachment (LAD). Separate Units The head of REME

688-556: The Corps was formalised in June 1943 for use as the cap-badge, collar-badge, and on the buttons. It consisted of an oval Royally Crowned laurel wreath; on the wreath were four small shields at the compass points, each shield bearing one of the letters of "REME". Within the wreath was a pair of calipers . Examples of these early badges can be found at the REME Museum . In 1947, the Horse and Lightning

731-754: The Excellent Crop with Sash of China 1922, Knight Commander of the Legion of Honour 1932, First Class German Red Cross Decoration 1932, Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy 1933, Knight Commander of the Crown of Leopold of Belgium 1933, and Knight Commander of the Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam 1936. Robert and Clara's eldest son, Edward Hotung (1902–1957), became

774-574: The KdF Wagen in his pre-war career as a motor racing engineer; whilst attending the Berlin Motor Show in 1939, he was able to test drive one. After visiting the Volkswagen factory, McEvoy had the idea of trying to get Volkswagen back into production to provide light transport for the occupying forces. The British Army, Red Cross and essential German services were chronically short of light vehicles. If

817-619: The Tung Lin Kok-yuen Canada Society, a Buddhist charity. He resides in West Vancouver , Canada, and is a recipient of the Order of British Columbia for his philanthropic work in that province. A third son, Henry, was born to Clara but died of tuberculosis when he was four. Robert had another son, George Ho Cho-chi, born out of wedlock. George went on to become founder of Commercial Radio Hong Kong . Robert and Clara's eldest daughter, Victoria, married Sir Man-kam Lo ,

860-555: The War, where she worked in the Pathology Department of Melbourne University. She also wrote six books: I Was at Stanley , Eastern Windows – Western Skies , The Diggers from China , Stanley: Behind Barbed Wire , A Stranger No More and Prizes, Books and Papers (1879/1969 ). Irene Cheng (1904–2007) was one of the first female undergraduate students admitted to study English at the University of Hong Kong in 1921. She went on to earn

903-519: The existing framework of the RAOC Engineering Branch, strengthened by the transfer of certain technical units and tradesmen from the RE and RASC . At the same time, a number of individual tradesmen were transferred into REME from other corps. The new corps was made responsible for repairing the technical equipment of all arms with certain major exceptions. REME did not yet undertake: In 1949, it

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946-461: The factory could provide them, there would be no cost to the British taxpayer and the factory could be saved. To do this, a good manager with technical experience would be needed. Maj. Ivan Hirst was told simply to "take charge of" the Volkswagen plant before arriving in August 1945. He had drains fixed and bomb craters filled in; land in front of the factory was given over to food production. At first,

989-452: The former KCR railway, and built a holiday mansion on it. Referencing Lake Windermere in the United Kingdom , the mansion was named Windermere ( Chinese : 海天漁廬 ). The mansion was also known as Ho Tung Lau ( Chinese : 何東樓 ) and Eight Pointed Lau ( Chinese : 八角樓 ) by the locals. The mansion's main building was built in a Colonial style with an encompassing veranda . It is two storeys tall, with two Cant Bays on both sides of

1032-480: The four Peak houses owned by Ho Tung, into a sumptuous residence now known as Ho Tung Gardens at 75 Peak Road. Ho Tung himself lived in a nearby house named The Neuk, although he did entertain visiting notables such as US vice-president John Nance Garner and playwright George Bernard Shaw at Ho Tung Gardens. Ho Tung identified himself both as Chinese and as a permanent resident of British Hong Kong. He gave generously to Dr. Sun Yat-sen 's campaigns to establish

1075-409: The main entrance terminating on the second floor, its roof serves as a balcony . A octagonal pavilion stands points out from the top of the structure (hence the name Eight Pointed Lau). In addition to the main building, staircases connect to an accompanying two-storey living quarter on the side of the mansion. There also stands a colonnaded single storey building detached from the main mansion on

1118-551: The name "Ho Tung Lau" to be referred to the pier and its adjacent building northeast of Lok Lo Ha. At around the same time a bus service also commenced, serving the residents of Ho Tung Lau Village. In the 1st of September 1962, Typhoon Wanda severely damaged Sha Tin Airfield 's facilities and planes. The RAF then ceased all operations in Sha Tin and abandoned Ho Tung Lau. In the late 1960s, St. Andrew College ( Chinese : 聖安德烈書院 ) briefly used Ho Tung Lau (mansion) as their campus, it

1161-473: The other side of the plot. In front of the mansion is a sports ground. During the Windermere mansion's early days, each summer Ho Sai Wing and his family would come to spend some holiday time. Robert Hotung 's wife Margaret Mak (aka Maclean, 麥秀英; 1865–1944) visited the mansion three times, but Robert Hotung never actually visited the mansion. The mansion prompted people to settle around the area, later creating

1204-658: The permanent prosperity of the colony and the safety of domicile under the folds of the British flag ". Ho Tung was the director of many Hong Kong companies, including Hong Kong Land , and served on the boards of influential charitable organisations, including the Tung Wah Hospital . He was founder and first chairman of The Chinese Club , which was created in response to the Hong Kong Club 's unofficial policy of excluding any non-Europeans from joining. His second wife, Clara,

1247-658: The school had over 2000 students. Eventually it became part of the United College of Hong Kong , predecessor of the Chinese University Of Hong Kong . Following in 1949 when The People's Republic of China defeated Nationalist China , the British Royal Air Force established a permanent airstrip and airbase in Sha Tin Hoi named Sha Tin Airfield . The government forced Wah Kiu College to leave due to needing Ho Tung Lau to act as an army camp, and in

1290-637: The settlement Ho Tung Lau Village. In 1938, due to war and instability in Foshan , China , Fo Shan Wah Ying College ( Chinese : 佛山華英中學 ) moved to Hong Kong and established their school by renting Ho Tung Lau (Windermere mansion and its grounds). They renamed to Wah Kiu College ( Chinese : 華橋工商學院 ) and continued operations until 1941 when the Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong forced them to relocate to Liuzhou . After World War II ended in 1945, Wah Kiu College continued operations in Ho Tung Lau. At its peak

1333-433: The summer of 1949 ended the last academic year at Ho Tung Lau campus. Ho Tung Lau was renamed Arcullis Camp, and served as the accommodation for both members of the army and Royal Air Force (RAF). The grounds also served as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop, a photographic darkroom , and admin office. In 1955 a ferry service was commenced that connected Ma On Shan to Ho Tung Lau, it aimed to connect

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1376-403: The villages in the two areas as well as make Ma On Shan more accessible for work and vacation.The service operated from 6am to 6:30pm at 30 minute intervals, with a fare of 50 cents. According to maps in 1970, the Ho Tung Lau ferry service's pier was not located at the original Windermere mansion, but rather northeast of Ho Tung Lau at the former officer's mess of Sha Tin Airfield . This led to

1419-529: The wartime Kubelwagen was viewed as a suitable vehicle. Once it became clear it could not be put back into production, the Volkswagen saloon or Kaefer ( Beetle ) was suggested. Hirst had an example delivered to Rhine Army headquarters, where it was demonstrated by Colonel McEvoy. The positive reaction led to the Military Government placing an order for 20,000 Volkswagens in September 1945. The REME Museum

1462-640: Was 18, and she was 16. Since she was unable to bear children, Robert adopted Ho Fook's first son, Ho Wing, following Chinese tradition, and took Chau Yee-man (周綺文) as a concubine in 1891. Still childless after three years (Chau Yee-man later gave birth to Mary Hotung 何純姿 ), Margaret persuaded her maternal cousin Clara Cheung Lin-kok (張靜容 a.k.a. 張蓮覺; 1875–1938), to accept his hand as a "co-equal" wife; they married in 1895. Clara Ho Tung later gave birth to three sons and seven daughters. Robert and Margaret were baptised as Christians late in life and interred at

1505-565: Was a businessman and ambassador-at-large and economic advisor to Timor-Leste ( East Timor ). He was born in Hong Kong and grew up there and in Shanghai. Eric attended Georgetown University in 1947 and graduated in 1951. Afterwards, he worked at the New York Stock Exchange and at General Motors before returning to Hong Kong. He married Patricia Anne Shea and they had five sons and three daughters. He died in 2017, aged 91. Robert and Clara's second son, Robbie Ho Shai-lai (1906–1998),

1548-686: Was a businessman, philanthropist and art collector who received an LLB from the University of London . He served on the boards of HSBC and Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd, and was chair of the Arts Development Council in Hong Kong and member of the SOAS Governing Body. A trustee of the British Museum from 1994 to 2004, he funded the creation of two new galleries, including the Joseph E. Hotung Gallery of Oriental Antiquities. Eric Hotung

1591-630: Was a devout Buddhist . Through her educational charity, to which Sir Robert gave HK$ 100,000 on their 50th wedding anniversary in 1931, the Po Kok Day and Evening School and the Tung Lin Kok Yuen in Happy Valley were founded. Robert Ho Tung had four sisters and five brothers, including: At age 15, Robert was informally engaged to the Eurasian daughter of Hector Coll Maclean of Jardines, Margaret Mak (aka Maclean, 麥秀英; 1865–1944). They married when he

1634-637: Was a director of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company . By 1869, Charles Bosman was also the Dutch consul, running his own marine insurance business with important clients that included the British-owned trading conglomerate Jardine, Matheson & Co. He later left for England, where he became naturalised in 1888. In Cantonese, Bosman was pronounced Bo-se-man, which transliterated into Cantonese to become Ho Sze Man. When Robert Ho Tung Bosman travelled, he carried

1677-627: Was a general under the Kuomintang regime. He renounced his British nationality and became a citizen of the Republic of China. He was also ambassador to Japan for the Republic of China from 1952 to 1956 and a member of the Nationalist China military delegation to the United Nations from 1956 to 1966. Robbie's son Robert Hung-Ngai Ho , a former journalist and publisher in Hong Kong, is the founder of

1720-608: Was adopted as the cap badge, designed by Stephen Gooden . At the end of the war, the Allies occupied the major German industrial centres to decide their fate. The Volkswagen factory at Wolfsburg became part of the British Zone in June 1945 and No. 30 Workshop Control Unit, REME, assumed control in July. They operated under the overall direction of Colonel Michael McEvoy at Rhine Army Headquarters, Bad Oeynhausen. Uniquely, he had experience of

1763-476: Was decided that "REME Phase II" should be implemented. This decision was published in Army Council Instruction 110 of 1949, and the necessary reorganisation was carried out in the various arms and services in three stages between July 1951 and January 1952. The main changes were: This organisation was also responsible for arranging and overseeing ship refits. After some interim designs, the badge of

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1806-515: Was eventually demolished in the late 1970s. 22°23′44″N 114°11′57″E  /  22.39560°N 114.19917°E  / 22.39560; 114.19917 Robert Hotung Sir Robert Ho Tung Bosman , KBE JP (22 December 1862 – 26 April 1956, Chinese: 何東), also known as Sir Robert Ho Tung , was a businessman and philanthropist in British Hong Kong . Known as "the grand old man of Hong Kong" ( Chinese : 香港大老 ), he

1849-475: Was knighted in 1915 ( Knight Bachelor ) and 1955 ( KBE ). Ho Tung was Eurasian. His father, Charles Henry Maurice Bosman (1839–1892), was of Dutch Jewish ancestry, while his mother was Sze Tai (施娣), a Chinese woman of Poon (Bao'an) County (present-day Hong Kong and Shenzhen ) heritage. His father was a merchant who owned Bosman and Co., was part-owner of the Hong Kong Hotel that opened in 1868, and

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