The Victoria Harbour has been a well-known attraction of Hong Kong. The skyline of the Hong Kong side, from past to present, is an everlasting motif of postcards. The postcard above was a popular greeting card showing the view of the Praya of Hong Kong. At the bottom was a short verse composed in Chinese Pidgin English.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2024!
Kismas chop chop come Massa cumshaw large sum
Year luck, my shamso drink. New Year good pidgin bring.
This time blong jolly day China cussum good thing say.
My chin joos alla long Makee you happy and strong
large chance make dollar too much.
Alla true talk No blong jokee.
A glossary of pidgin words
Kismas: Christmas
chop chop: quickly
Massa: master
cumshaw: gift (from Hokkien/Southern Min: 感謝 kám-siā)
shamso: a Chinese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice
pidgin: business
blong: from belong; a copula verb meaning ‘to be’
cussum: custom
my: could mean I, me, my
chin: pray (from Chinese 請); often used in reduplicated form chin chin
joos: god, also spelt joss (from Portuguese deus)
alla: all