Finding old Friends
I lived in HK over 30 years ago and am returning for the first time later this year. I had many friends there and a few expats I kept in touch with up until a few years ago.
I am looking to catch up with them if they are still there or can find out where they have moved to .
A couple lived on Cheng Chau for a long time. Phil & Cynthia ("Tinny") Rosenberg. Phil was last selling titles to "One Square Inch of Hong Kong land" as a gimick for investors.
My other friend was a long time resident, Renee Ballerand,who I believe had a boutique on Hong Kong last I spoke to her.
So in the slight chance that some expat or someone reading this can help me get in contact I would appreciate it.
The years I spent in HK I now consider the best days of my life. the 70s were such great fun in HK and oh so easy.
I hope that I will be able to handle the place this time !
Finding Old Friends
This is another try at finding someone who may help me find a way to make contact with lost friends.
Finding old Hong Kong friends
Bertie,
Sorry I don't know either of the people you're looking for, but here are some tips for you, and for future visitors looking for old friends.
First there's the direct approach - "if you know of XYZ, please contact me." Obviously that's the quickest way if it works. There are several busier expat forums in Hong Kong, so you'll probably want to post your message to them as well to increase your chances. eg the first page of results for this google search lists all the main ones.
Then there's the indirect approach, where you look for friends and acquaintances from the time, and through them get in touch with the people you are looking for. Let's say you were all members of the same company / school / sports club / etc. Are there already any pages on the internet where ex-members of those groups get together?
If not, you can start a page here asking for people that were members to get in touch. See the Royden House thread for an example of how that has worked.
You might be lucky and get an immediate reply, but you'll really boost your chances if let the search engines help you out. So in 3 months time if someone else thinks "I wondered what happened to <your company / school / club>", and they do a google search, they find your message.
To make that work best:
Good luck with your search,
MrB
Re : Old Friends
Hello Bertie,
I just came across your post...
Renee Ballerand is my cousin & still lives in Hong Kong !
Send me a message & i'l give you here address & tel .
Regards
Renee Ballerand
Hi:
I grew up in Hong Kong and was around 30 years ago when we used to have wonderful times at Renee's parties at her parents' home in Old Peak Road - those really were the days. I and another friend who now lives in Wales are anxious to contact Renee urgently, and the friend in Wales will be here (I am in HK too now) in two weeks' time for her mother-in-law's funeral, and asked me to try and find Renee. I would be very grateful if you would share a telephone number with me, so I can get in touch with Renee.
Thank you so much and kindest regards, K
Renee Ballerand
Oh I had almost given up home of finding Renee and it was only by chance that I have come back to Batgung hitting the book mark by mistake.
Renee doesn't know it but my wife Deirdre & I named our daughter(now almost 23) after her,of course she is named Renee.
On September 29 we are leaving Australia for a 6 day holiday in HK with Renee and our son who will turn 18 on October 3 while we are there. We will be staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel Happy Valley.
Please make contact with Renee on our behalf by all means . Our phone number is 02 66512001 email :dertee@tpg.com.au
This will be our first trip back to Hong Kong since we left in 1974.
I am so happy I have tears in my eyes writing this thinking that we shall be actually be able to meet our dear friend again after so long.
BTW She used to have the best parties in HK and was such a lady.