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Formerly KUALA BELAIT TOWN from 1940’s RV4 with New Aerial view photo of Kuala Belait Town 1954

Producer: Chong See Kui (R) Editor: Chow Kat Liang (L)

This new mobile edition replaces the former publication “KUALA BELAIT TOWN from 1940’s RV4 with New Aerial view photo of Kuala Belait Town 1954″ KB Shops from 1940”. Many New antique photos have been added to reflect the actual buildings, but most of them have been replaced with modern concrete structures.

The very first bicycle & tyre repair shop, “Hock Ju Hin” in 1952, belonging to the late Law Kit Chit (the brother of Law Fah Ngen standing inside the shop) in a white singlet inside the shop while the 2 boys in school uniforms were Chow Kat Liang and his brother Francis Chow.
Seria Modern Shops
Opening of Seria Shops in 1954
A Hand sketch of the first old cinema built in wood and palm leaves. The 1st class had individual rattan chairs, and the 2nd class had long wooden benches sitting for 5. The entry ticket was 50 cents & 25 cents. As children, we got in with an adult, but sometimes, our good friend “Ah Beiu” would let us crush in when he was busy.
Principal TS Sung MBE is seen here talking to Sir Anthony Abell British Resident
Modern concrete shops in Seria
Old Mosque at Jalan Masjid in the Malay Kampong, Kuala Belait
Old Mosque at Jalan Masjid in the Malay Kampong, Kuala Belait
The old Kajang shops (Fah Hin & Fah Khiong) were decorated to celebrate the British Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 (the new shops were still under construction. It is exciting that almost everyone in this photo can be identified! Standing tall was the late Shim Wei Sian; The lady under the balloons was the late mother, Mdm Lim Ah Yapp; my late brother Johnny Chong was the cheeky boy in the school uniform. On the RH side was the late Liaw Lan Chin, while the 2 boys in white and shorts were the Chow brothers, Francis Chow and Chow Kat Liang. Chong Min Chong (not seen here) was selling those balloons.
There was a multipurpose brass gong (the round cycle) hanging at the corridor of the Police Station (1) announcing the hour of the day -1 strike means 1 o’clock; one high strike followed by a soft strike means 1.30 (2) 2 strikes +2 strikes all police back to the station (3) continuous strike means emergency (such as air strikes during the WWII)
1945 A temporary out door cinema and the wide screen was outdoor in front of this building built by the Australian arm and Brunei Shell at Panaga before the concrete Roxana Theater
A temporary store was built at KBRC Padang by the Australian Army, which defeated the Japanese invasion army in 1945.
1953 Collecting sands from the Belait beach to construct concrete buildings around KB and Seria.
新照片如上图。修改日期为 1949 年


In 1954, Al Marhum Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, is seen cutting a ribbon in an official opening ceremony.

OPENING OF THE CONCRETE ADMIN OFFICE & CLASSROOMS BUILDING
Permanent Building of former Pai Cheng School, Kuala Belait – 4 July 1938 在 Jalan Narkhoda Ragam 和 Jalan Tepi 义口隣近地區
The building behind the 4 bicycle riders was the Chinese Engineering Association, which was used as our classroom.
In this photo, Al Marhum Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan visited the “Fah Khion” shop, owned by the late Kapitan Cina, Mr Sim Yen Sue(on the RH) .”
Before the electric supply, all the shops used this kerosene lamp that needed to be manually pumped to the gas pressure. My father’s shop had 10 lamps to light up the whole shop, and my brother (13) and I (10) were tasked with keeping the lamps lit. By the time we completed the 10th lamp, the first lamp needed to be pumped up again, so our tasks seemed to be in a cycle, but we took each turn like clockwork!
The late School Principal, Mr T S Sung, accepted the MBE (Member of the British Empire) from a British Resident, D.C White, witnessed bySultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin.
Typical General textile Shop “Fah Khiong in 1954
Modern Concrete shops were completed and occupied in 1954. This view is looking from the Custom Department towards kampong China. There are only a handful of cars & locally constructed lorries, buses at that time.
Prize-winning Shop Decorations competition to celebrate HM Sultan’s Birthday in 1955 – The creator of the best elegant decoration, Mr Chong See Kui, stands proudly in front of his father’s Shop Fah Hin, No.8 Jalan Pretty, KB.
Typical General sundries shop “Yick Yuen in 1954
Typical Shop #8, Jalan Pretty, Fah Hin marketing manual winding record player, manual operating Sewing machines, etc
a newly created Jalan Pretty with 8 blocks of modern concrete shops in 1955 – view from Custom towards the beach of South China Sea. Please note there were only a handful of cars & wooden buses with 10 seats, many Shell motorcycles but lots of bicycles
The trees at Jalan Pretty had grown taller and more motorcars -1956
This is a unique, rare photo of the Chinese Engineering wooden Building (left) opposite the first wooden building, Chung Hua School, at Kuala Belait in 1952.
First Post War II Chung Hua School Administration office and classroom Building that middle section could be converted as a performing stage
Holding the ceremony tray was the late Shim Yin Zu, Kapitan China

This is an extraordinary aerial bird-eye photo of Kuala Belait Town Center, completed in December 1954. The empty side is still vacant for the construction of the Chinese Commercial Association. So, as for the construction of the Hainan Association, I can see the Goverment Electric Department, where I worked for 4 years from 1956 to 1960. The Belait Police Station is opposite the street from Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. Can you find any particular building by name? Can you find the cinema and what its name is?   * We are very grateful for this photos from the courtesy of Dr Rozan Yunus, Author of Brunei Heritage

Credit: Mr Anthony Err, a professional Image-maker @ Karen Anthony & Co, with his remarks:
Circa 1953 -1954
Kuala Belait had new brick and concrete shops along Jalan Pretty. These historical photos were scanned to improve their tonality and “sharpness”.
 
Thanks to Uncle Tom Chong See Kui for giving me the honour to “re-live” these memories.
 
from Anthony Err

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