Rare original black-and-white photograph documenting harbour damage following the Great Hong Kong Typhoon of 2 September 1937.

The image shows a badly damaged concrete landing stage or flight of harbour steps, with broken masonry, exposed reinforcing metalwork and collapsed sections in the foreground. A group of adults and East Asian children are gathered around the damaged area.

Across the water is a busy industrial harbour scene containing dockside cranes, scaffolding, chimneys, workshops and other shipyard structures.

The reverse carries a contemporary handwritten inscription referring to damage caused by the typhoon and includes the date “2/9/37.” Some of the remaining handwriting is difficult to decipher with certainty.

The date corresponds precisely with the Great Hong Kong Typhoon, which struck Hong Kong on 2 September 1937. It produced extraordinarily powerful winds and a destructive storm surge, causing catastrophic damage to harbour installations, ships, fishing boats and coastal settlements.

Date: 2 September 1937
Location: Hong Kong
Event: Great Hong Kong Typhoon of 1937
Subject: Typhoon and storm-surge damage at a harbour or dockyard
Format: Original black-and-white snapshot photograph
Approximate size: 14 x 9 cm
Photographer: Unknown

Condition:
Good vintage condition for its age. The photograph has light surface marks, minor spotting, gentle curvature and general handling wear. The corners are slightly rounded from age. The reverse has a contemporary handwritten description and date. Please inspect all photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

A scarce and historically significant original photograph recording the aftermath of one of the deadliest natural disasters in Hong Kong’s history.