January 2021
FormAsia Books Managing Director Frank Fischbeck’s photographs have won him the Overseas Press Club of America citation for his work in China. As a photojournalist, it came as second nature to chronicle the city’s evolution as it unfolded before him over succeeding decades. Together with his extensive travels throughout the region, this has resulted in a collection of some 24,000 images that have recorded and preserved Hong Kong’s modern history as well as the immense diversity of Asia’s cultural heritage.
The Frank Fischbeck Collection consists of:
- Albumen / Silver / Gelatin Original Photographs (1,000)
- Rare Albumen Prints (125)
- Historic Panorama Prints (20)
- The Black & White Collection: 8,000 Photographs with Original Negatives
- The Colour Collection: 15,000 Transparencies
- High-Resolution Digital Files (5,000)
An online exhibition highlights a small segment of the collection based on Frank’s personal choices and is presented through six themes:
| 1. The Early Years | 4. Air, Land and Sea |
| 2. Occupation and Liberation of Hong Kong | 5. Portraits |
| 3. 1967 Disturbances | 6. Path to 1997 |
More available on Digital Repository @ HKUL
HKU Libraries will store, preserve, catalogue, digitise and maintain the Collection for contributing to society and academia through exhibitions, digital access and other means of nurturing interest in Hong Kong’s rich history.
The acquisition of the collection is made possible by the generous donations from benefactors eager to see the collection remain in Hong Kong, intact and based at The University of Hong Kong:
| Principal donor : | WYNG Foundation |
| Additional donors : | Kadoorie Charitable Foundation and The Swire Group Charitable Trust Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Limited Simon K Y Lee Foundation Limited |