the firm name of Shewen and Company. In 1895 he was joined in partnership by Mr. C.A. Tomes, and the firm adopted its present name of Shewan, Tomes and Co. Mr. Tomes retired as recently as 1914, and his death, it will be recalled, occurred this year, 1933.
Mr. Tong Lai Cheun was admitted a partner earlier this century, but he died in 1922. Mr. William Adamson joined the partnership in 1919, and retired in 1927; while Mr. A.L. Shields was admitted a partner in 1921. Mr. R.G. Shewan is happily still in the Colony, one of the oldest British residents out here, and he and Mr. Shields are the sole partners to-day.
884
Some of the enterprises with which the firms of Russell and Co. and Shewan, Tomes and Co. have been connected form an almost unique list of industrial schemes, pointing to the steady development of the Colony. We might consider the following:
Messrs. Russell and Co. started the Hongkong Rope Manufacturing Co., the Yangtze Insurance Co. of Shanghai, and the Shanghai Steam Navigation Co. which was subsequently sold to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co.; and also founded the China Manila Steamship Company, which was wound up in 1914, the "Ruby" and "Zafiro" being the last two ships of that line.
Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Co. started the Green Island Cement Co.; the China Light and Power Co.; China Provident Loan and Mortgage Co.; and Shundekan Light and Power Co.; all of which are in existence to-day.
From the original offices in Queen's Road, the business of Russell and Co. was moved to Des Voeux Road, then on the waterfront, to a house on the site of the present Exchange Building. By courtesy of Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Co. I am able to reproduce a photograph of these old offices. They were eastward of the old Hongkong Hotel Building.
Shewan Tomes and Co. had their origin in these old premises, and the company's mess was on the top floor. The building stood for a long time, and several other businesses were afterwards conducted herein, including the South China Morning Post in its earlier days. The next move by Shewan, Tomes was to St. George's Building, and only this year they took offices in the National Commercial and Savings Bank building.
In the opening article yesterday a portrait was given of Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, founder of Perkins and Company at Canton 130 years ago. The business was afterwards absorbed by Russell and Co. It is interesting to note that a descendant of Colonel Perkins is in Hongkong to-day, this being his great-great-grandson, Mr. John P. Gardiner, who hails from Boston, and is at present connected with the local firm of Swan, Culbertson and Fritz.
the firm name of Shewen and Company. In 1895 he was joined in partnership by Mr. C.A. Tomes, and the firm adopted its present neme of Shew n, Tomes and Co. Mr. Tomes retired as recently as 1914, and his death, it will be recalled, occurred this year, 1933.
Mr. Tong Lai Cheun was admitted a partner earlier this gentury, but he died in 1922. Mr. William Adamson joined the partnership in 1919, and retired in 1927; while Mr.A.L. Shields was admitted a partner in 1921. Mr.R.G. Shewan is heppily still in the Colony, one of the oldest British re- sidents out here, and he and Mr. Shields are the sole partners to-day.
884
Some of the enterprises with which the firms of Russel and Co. and Shewan, Tomes and Co. have been connected form an almost unique list of industriel. schemes, pointing to the
steady development of the Colony. We might consider the following:
Messrs. Russell end Co. started the Hongkong Rope Manufactur- ing Co., the Yangtze Insurance Co. of Shanghai, and the Shanghai Steam Navigation Co. which was subsequently sold to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co.; and also founded the China Manila Steamship Company, which was wound up in 1914, the "Ruby" and "Zafiro" being the last two ships of that line.
Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Co. started the Green Island Cement Co.; the China Light and Power Co.; China Provident Loan end Mortgage Co.; and Sendekan Light and Power Co.; all of which are in existence to-day.
From the original offices in Queen's Road, the business of Russell and Co. was moved to Des Voeux Road, then on the water- front, to a house on the site of the present Exchange Building. By courtesy of Messrs. Shewan, Tomes and Co. I am able to re- produce a photograph of the se old offices. They were eastward of the old Hongkong Hotel Building.
Shewan Tomes and Co. had their origin in the se old premises, and the company's mess was on the top floor. The building stood for a long time, and several other businesses were afterwards conducted herein, including the South China Morning Post in its earlier days. The next move by Shewan, Tomes was to St. George's Building, and only this year they took offices in the National Commercial and Savings Bank building.
In the opening article yesterday a portrait was given of Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, founder of Perkins and Company at Canton 130 years ago. The business was afterwards absorbed by Russel and Co. It is interesting to note that a descendant of Colonel Perkins is in Hongkong to-day, this being his great-great- grandson, Mr. John P. Gardiner, who hails from Boston, end is at present connected with the local firm of Swan, Culbertson end Fritz.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.