Sei Wan Yu Lan Kung So in Sheung Wan

Looking south from Hollywood Road towards Square Street and Ladder Street; taken around 1870. On the left of the photograph, next to the Man Mo Temple, is the Sei Wan Yu Lan Kung So. In the early years following Hong Kong's opening as a trading port, the British paid no attention to the welfare of Chinese people. To support one another, Chinese people formed organisations on the basis of geographical, blood, industry or neighbourhood ties, and some organisations set up kung so (communal halls) so that people could gather to discuss the affairs of the day.