Collecting old objects is an expression of personal feelings. It is also an effort to preserve history that we respect and value. William Tong, nuclear medicine consultant and President of Hong Kong Collectors Society, has been collecting old papers for their historical significance since childhood. He treasures every piece in his private collection because these instruments are witnesses of vicissitudes and guardians of history. Preserved within them are slices of heritage for our future generations.
Tong spends his days giving professional consultation to patients at his clinic in Tsim Sha Tsui. In his spare time, he is a keen collector who searches for old papers of special significance and collection value. Stamps are his favorite category. “Postage stamps evolved from tax stamps. Local governments used to print their own tax stamps of different amounts according to official specifications. These coupons are full of local flavor.”
Collecting papers since the age of six
Crowned the “King of Stamps”, Tong developed a keen interest in everyday papers printed with various information when he was six years old. He collected exercise books, postcards, postage stamps and vouchers. He said, "These items were easy to collect and did not take up too much space. It is estimated that there must be well over ten thousand such items. They vary in size but compared with porcelain and other larger collectables, they are really space saving.”
In his teenage years, Tong read about the Opium War and China’s other war histories. Later when he studied in the UK, he visited a flea market by chance where he came across a gazette detailing the cession of Hong Kong to Britain after the Opium War. It was like stumbling on treasure. “I didn’t expect I would get any valuable finds and never had I imagined finding a historical publication of immediate concern to me. That sense of accomplishment from treasure hunting is beyond description.”
Words and papers are testimonies to history
There are numerous types of collectables but Tong had eyes only for tax stamps. He has bid HKD100,000 for a limited edition coupon that was top on his wish list. “Time flies and memories fade with it. Tax stamps are tangible documentation of history printed by local authorities. They record not only consumer price levels of past eras, but also marks and icons of different places. Every piece is an authentic cultural relic and evidence that clearly records history for our future generations.”
In 2015 that marked the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Tong was invited by a publishing editor to sort and organize his huge collection to compile an album. Titled Years of Hardship: Japanese-occupied Hong Kong through the Lens of Antiquitie, the book showcases more than 300 pieces of antiquities from the Japanese Occupation period in Tong’s private collection. They include everyday snapshots, Japanese military banknotes, certificates and various vouchers accompanied by simple text to recount the valuable history of Hong Kong under Japanese Occupation. Readers can have a glimpse of life in those years. “Reading history as a child, I felt particularly blessed and contented when I compared social conditions then and now. I hope my collection and book can help young people to learn from the past and cherish what they possess today.”
Aspiring to promote the collecting hobby
Tong is a nuclear medicine specialist by profession, working very hard under considerable stress. Nevertheless, he insists on taking time off his busy schedule to organize his collection regularly to avoid damage. “Hong Kong is very humid in spring and summer. Damp and vermin proofing is very important because humidity and insects have very damaging effect on paper. Dehumidifiers and air-conditioners are must-haves.” As his collection gains size over the years, Tong sometimes puts selected pieces on the market through auction catalogs printed by auctioneers. A buyer from Shanghai once acquired a photograph of the Bund in Shanghai with a record bid of HKD140,000, which is also Tong’s highest record.
As the Chairman of Hong Kong Collectors Society, Tong enjoys engaging and exchanging with fellow collectors. “Hong Kong Collectors Society has been operating for many years. Our members’ collecting preferences and approaches vary widely. Our achievements in this hobby culminate into a great legacy and piece together precious memories. Collecting is attracting more and more people in Hong Kong in recent years. I sincerely hope it will catch on in a big way in the future and attract public interest and awareness.”
