The Forbidden City, Pekin & Chinese Views Souvenir Playing Cards

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  • A black and white photograph of 5 men on a beach kneeling with their hands behind their back with a large crowd behind them.

    Kowloon, Hong Kong: five pirates awaiting beheading, while Chinese soldiers and dignitaries line up behind.

    "The Kowloon City Execution Ground was the beach next to the Boundary Fence immediately south of the Walled City (see also Photo B). In this photograph it is being used for the execution of a gang of some nine or ten pirates. In the right background can be seen the Boundary Fence as it goes down to the sea (with some Hong Kong spectators clinging to it to get a good view). To the right, behind the right-hand-most pirate can be seen a few spectators being kept back from the execution site by soldiers (the civilians close to the execution site are Kowloon City Elders invited by the Magistrate)"--Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd, op. cit. section, p. 12.40
  • A photograph of a crowd circled around a kneeling man with two men pointing weapons at him.

    An Execution, Canton

    A man kneels down on the ground with his hands tied behind his back, about to be executed in public. The executioner stands next to him and holds a broad knife mid-air, ready to strike.
  • Deck of cards in an open box

    The Forbidden City, Pekin & Chinese Views Souvenir Playing Cards

    Title from box and Joker card.