Chan Kiu (陳橋) is a Hong Kong photojournalist best known for his esteemed career at the South China Morning Post (SCMP), where he was a key figure in the development of contemporary photojournalism in Hong Kong. Born in Hong Kong to a working-class family, he received a primary-level education. He entered photography in the early 1950s, taking instant photographs of tourists at Tiger Balm Garden using box cameras. In 1956, he joined The English Tiger as a darkroom technician and later undertook photographic assignments, particularly at sports events, while studying English part-time.
Chan joined the South China Morning Post in 1959 as a full-time staff photographer, becoming one of the first generation of Chinese photojournalists in Hong Kong’s English-language press. He was promoted to Chief Photographer in 1976, a position he held until his retirement in 1987. Known for his exceptional news sense and sound judgment, Chan received numerous awards for his photojournalism, including six Certificates of Honour from the World Press Photo Contest, as well as recognition from industry organizations such as the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong and Nikon Corporation.
During nearly three decades at SCMP, Chan documented many of the most significant political, social, and cultural events in Hong Kong’s postwar history, including refugee movements from mainland China, the 1967 disturbances, major anti-corruption investigations, royal visits, the arrival of Vietnamese boat people, and the Sino–British negotiations over Hong Kong’s future. The South China Morning Post estimated that he produced more than 40,000 rolls of film during his career.
Chan’s photographs were widely published and professionally recognized, and his work remains an important visual record of Hong Kong during a period of rapid transformation. After retiring in 1987, he emigrated to Canada in 1993 and settled in Vancouver, where he died on 6 April 2024 at the age of 96.
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This archives contains the life's works of Chan Kiu photojournalism careers in the late 1950s to 1980s. His records captured key moments in Hong Kong's history and his personal interest in sports news. Other than silver gelatin and chromogenic print, there are extensive amount of original negatives in the archives. His archives also include speeches, display photos, and documents of the many exhibitions he had held. There are also his personal documents that tell about the progression of personal life, honours received, and late retirement in Vancouver.
The original order is not found in the physical order in which the archives was received. The fonds is intellectually arranged in three series according to the archivist's understanding of Chan Kiu's career and the originating purpose of the records.
Further accurals are not expected.
comprises of materials of the same provenance. The archives were created and kept by Chan Kiu throughout his professional and personal life. He took the records with him as he moved to Vancouver in 1993, and continued to add to it with his new life and Canada-based exhibitions. After his passing away in 2024, his records remained in his home in Richmond, BC. His daughter, Theresa Chan, spent 1 year organizing his legacy materials. In October 2025, she finished the arrangement work and brought the records in 2 suitcases over to her sister’s, Cecilia Chan, home in Markham, ON. Eventually, the materials were reboxed and transferred physically by Jason Kahei on 24 October 2025. Additional works were packed and transferred to us after *穿梭光影 陳橋新聞攝影展* in December 2025 by volunteer Hang Chee Kong.
**Related books in the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library:**
Chan Kiu times 20 廿載新聞圖片錄 [(DS796.H743)](https://librarysearch.library.utoronto.ca/nde/fulldisplay?query=chan%20kiu&tab=Everything&search_scope=UTL_AND_CI&searchInFulltext=false&vid=01UTORONTO_INST:UTORONTO_NDE&lang=en&docid=alma991107013399206196&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&context=L&isFrbr=false&isHighlightedRecord=false&state=).
Kiu Chan times 30 : moments captured by a photojournalist 鏡頭下的歷史陳橋三十載新聞圖片錄 [(DS796 .H743 C44 2006)](https://librarysearch.library.utoronto.ca/nde/fulldisplay?query=chan%20kiu&tab=Everything&search_scope=UTL_AND_CI&searchInFulltext=false&vid=01UTORONTO_INST:UTORONTO_NDE&lang=en&docid=alma991106613428106196&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&context=L&isFrbr=false&isHighlightedRecord=false&state=).
Open for use by appointment.
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Includes photographs taken by Chan Kiu throughout his career as a professional photojoruanlist. It ranges from major events that happened in Hong Kong, notably the 1967 Leftist Riot and influx of Vietnamese refugees in the in 1979 to 1983. There are landscape of Hong Kong, and also pictures of China taken during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and his own trip. This series also feature equipment, press pass, and study notebook used by Chan Kiu in his career.
The photographs mostly follow the thematic orders as arranged by Chan Kiu's family. The processing archivist subsequently reorganized some of the photographs into other thematic groupings as needed.
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Title supplied by family: 名人
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Includes various Hong Kong governors. Captions were written on the verso.
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Title supplied by family: 67暴動
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Title supplied by family: HK MTR
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Title supplied by family: 西安
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Title supplied by family: 廣州1992
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Includes photographs of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Canton region, Chengdu, and Beijing.
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Title supplied by family: HK MTR
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Includes the South China Morning Post of February 13, 1980 where the photographs were posted.
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Title supplied by family: 中國難民
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Includes a handwritten summary of the photographs.
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Title supplied by family: Hong Kong News
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Captions were written on the verso.
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Title supplied by family: QE
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Includes photographs taken at Beijing (北京) and the Great Wall (長城).
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Chan accompanied the Queen to her trip in Yunnan.
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Title supplied by family: HK MTR
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Title supplied by family: 廣州1992
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Chan Kiu was invited to a tour China by the invitation of Chow Jor Keung (周佐強) from Wen Wei Po. Most photographs have caption on the verso.
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Title supplied by family: 67暴動
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Includes photographs of Central and Ocean Terminal.
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Title supplied by family: 大亞灣
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Some of them are part of exhibition photographs.
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Title supplied by family: Hong Kong News
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Title supplied by family: Hong Kong News
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Focuses on the boats.
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Includes 15 pages, more than 200 images, and handwritten annotation of events captured.
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The images on the negatives correspond to those on the proof sheet (B.04-041a)
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Title supplied by family: Features
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Contains annotation.
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Includes photograph of SCMP December 29, 1978, Chan Kiu Times 20 exhibit December 27, 1978, Vietnamese refugees, Chinese refugees, Kowloon city, and landscape of Hong Kong's habour.
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Chan Kiu self-study the mechanism behind photography and photographs development. This notebook documented his self-taught journey
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Pantograph used by Chan Kiu.
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Photometer used by Chan Kiu.
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Chan Kiu was chief photographger at Window for a year.
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Shows the camera and lens used by Chan Kiu.
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Chan Kiu has held many photographic exhibitions of his work in Hong Kong and Canada. The most significant exhibitions included in this series are the *Chan Kiu Times 20 Press Photographic Exhibition (陳橋廿載新聞圖片展覽)* that took place in Hong Kong in 1978, which was followed by the publication of his book, *陳橋廿載新聞圖片錄* in 1980; *Mr. Chan Kiu's 30 Years of Hong Kong News Photo Exhibit (攝影家陳橋先生之香港卅載新聞圖片回顧展)* in 1994 in Vancouver; and *Mr. Chan Kiu's 30 Years of Hong Kong News Photo Exhibit (攝影家陳橋先生之香港卅載新聞圖片回顧展)* in conjunction with the launch of his second book *Kiu Chan times 30 (鏡頭下的歷史陳橋三十載新聞圖片錄) in Vancouver and Toronto in 2006 - 2007. Materials include the photographs of and from those exhibitions, captions, and also hand written speeches that reflect the photographic philosophy of Chan Kiu.
Intellectually arranged according to the original creative order. Records that were created for the same exhibition are grouped in the same subseries, and then arranged chronologically.
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Original file title: 23/12/78 20 Years Pic Exhibition in HK Dec 1978
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The number on the verso of the photograph corresponds to the itme number on the bok Chan Kiu Times 20 (廿載新聞圖片錄) as well. Includes caption on verso.
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Original file title: 新聞圖片講稿
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Includes the plan that show the various section in the exhibit and the photographs that were installed in each section.
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Original file title: 陳橋攝影展新聞圖片說明 全套講稿 中華文化中心
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94 pages of handwritten speech that introduce the stories behind photographs on display. The speech also discuss in length Chan Kiu's photography philosophy and techniques, such as "怎樣捕捉人的動態" (P.36), "經驗對新聞工作上的重要性" (P.48), "鏡頭的作用和效果" (P.58), "對著光源拍攝", "平淡中也有爭論性題材" etc.
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Shows the layout of the gallery with Chan Kiu in the images.
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Original file title: 30/10/94 30 Years News Pix Exhibition
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Shows the layout of the gallery with Chan Kiu in the images.
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Large format printout photographs attached on white cardboard.
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Original title on a box: Exhibition Slides
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Original title on a box: Exhibition Slides
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Includes interview, speeches, and exhibit planning.
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Large format printout photographs attached on black cardboard. Photographs were originally arranged into various section: Social Turmoil, Festivities, Sports and Entertainment, Glimpses of Life, The Great Escape, Vanishing Scenes, Dramatic Rescues, and Natural Disasters.
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Includes photographs and documents of *In Focus with the South China Morning Post - Hong Kong Through the Eyes of Chan Kiu 1959-87 Exhibition (陳橋廿八載新聞攝影集)*, *特寫及新聞攝影展 [Exhibit for Close-up and Photojournalis]*, *香港藝術攝影歷程展覽 [Journey of Hong Kong Artistic Photography Exhibit]*, and other unidentified exhibitions.
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Original file title: Pix exhibitions in Landmark 7/5/85
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Took place in Landmark (置地廣場).
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Original file title: 紀念攝影誕生150years Dec 1989
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The exhibit was hosted by the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
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Includes submission documents, plans and caption for photographs on display.
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The photographs are attached on cardboard. Includes a number and caption on verso.
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Includes photographs that document the personal and professional life of Chan Kiu. The certificates and employment records show the career path that Chan Kiu has taken. And the series includes correspondence with his associates, particularly from the South China Morning Post, regarding his works and receipient of the Badge of Honour in 1985.
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Includes photographs his exhibition, personal activities, and awards received.
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Includes photographs that record Chan Kiu's professional and personal life. The photographs were extensively annotated.
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Certification for completion and outstanding performance in 三個月制英文會計組
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Includeds resignation letter for The Standard (英文虎報), 25-year service certification from the South China Morning Post, and Letter of Employment from Asian Regional Projects Limited.
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Certificatification for apperance in World Press Photo Exhibitions from 1964 to 1969 and Stichting Sworld Press Photo Holland in 1972.
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Robin Hutcheon is an editor and supervisor of Chan Kiu.
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Includes correspondence and newspaper clippings about Chan's awards received, exhibitions, and books.
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Includes letter from South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Journalists Association.
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Involves Canadian Association for Photographic Art, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Mumseum of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Center for Communication Studies, The Industrial & Commercial Daily Press, and the Canada-Hong Kong Resource Centre.
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Original file title: 南華之友
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Includes correspondence with Governor Edward Youde (尤德爵士); and congratulations from associaties.
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The party took place at Tai Koo Shing Restaurant.
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Original file title: Services + Appreciations
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These are records of Chan's services, voluntary works, and retired life, mostly in Vancouver.
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Includes magazine cover of Photo 80's (當代攝影), Photog (攝影世界), Photo & Camera Review (相機世界) in which there is a feature article about Chan Kiu.
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Includes three newspaper published the day before the reunification.
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