South China Morning Post – Hong Kong – October 21, 1954

International Photo Salon – Record Entry

The judging was open to the public and over 200 persons were present to view the entries. The judges were Mr. R.A. Bates, Mr. Ernest To, Mr. Francis Wu, Mr. Peter Dragon and Mr. Kaan Se-Leuk.

Before judging began, Mr. Francis Wu, President of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong, said that it was the first time anywhere in the world that judging in an International Salon was thrown open to the public. The Hong Kong International Salon was first begun in pre-war days, when very few prints were received for exhibition, and members entered these. The exhibition gradually developed into an All-China photographic exhibition. And the Society later widens its scope and invited photographers from all over the world to submit prints. The first international salon was held in 1941 when 500 prints were received from only three foreign countries. Today there were over 1,500 prints from 37 countries.

The standards of the entries received was extremely high, and compared well with any other International Salon of its kind in the world. The judging was based on the recommended practice of the Photographic Society of America.

He expressed regret that the Salon was only able to accept 230 prints for hanging. He asked those who had failed to get their prints hung not to be discouraged and said it was common that prints rejected for one salon be accepted in another.