''The Hongkong Telegraph'' () was a Hong Kong newspaper founded in 1881.

History

It was first published as an afternoon daily on 15 June 1881 from offices on Wellington Street. It was founded by Robert Fraser-Smith, who was also the paper's editor. Fraser-Smith, a former book-keeper with the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, was known for his "fearlessness in expression of his views in print". The Chinese name of the ''Hongkong Telegraph'' is based on Fraser-Smith's name. As editor of the paper, Fraser-Smith was charged numerous times with libel. For instance, in July 1882 he was convicted by Chief Justice

George Phillippo Sir George Phillippo (1833 – 16 February 1914) was Chief Justice of Hong Kong in the late 19th century. He often attended the Legislative Council of Hong Kong sittings from around 1884 to 1888. Early life and education Phillippo was ...

for libel against actor Daniel E. Bandmann, and sentenced to two months imprisonment. Fraser-Smith died in 1895, and the paper was acquired by J. J. Francis. Chesney Duncan (15 September 1854 – 24 September 1935) became editor of the paper, and held this position for several years, leaving to report on the Boxer Rebellion for the '' Daily Mail''. He later worked for the ''Straits Echo'', the ''Pinang Gazette'', and the ''Times of Malaya''. Subsequently, Ethelbert Forbes Skertchley became editor. In 1916, the ''Hongkong Telegraph'' was brought under the control of the South China Morning Post, Ltd., which also published the '' South China Morning Post'', another English-language Hong Kong newspaper, founded in 1903.

References

{{Newspapers in Hong Kong 1881 establishments in Hong Kong English-language newspapers published in Hong Kong Publications established in 1881 Defunct newspapers published in Hong Kong