SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST HONGKONG TELEGRAPH CENTENARY SUPPLEMENT
JANUARY 625, 194
HISTORY OF THE COLONY'S OLD BUSINESS FIRMS
Notable Part In The Island's Prosperity
Bound up with the history of Hongkong is the history of the old "hongs" or business -firms, some of which prospered and produced veritable merchant princes, while others were unable to weather the vicissitudes of early commercial competition, and failed.
Whatever the fate of these old mercantile enterprises, they played a great part in bringing prosperity to the Colony; their principals did much for the betterment of the social life of the community, and several were cham- pions of reform, so that their influence for good is felt even to-day.
In a brief notice of some older business firms, much of the romance of their foundation must necessarily be omitted, and it must be left to some special seribe (as was the case with Jardine, Matheson and Company) to write their full history. It is not possible to do more in the present article than note the origin and subsequent progress of certain companies whose foundation dates back to the early years of Hongkong, or heyand, or whose advent brought some Important change in local conditions.
Jurdine, Matheson and Company: have the oldest history of any exliling Arm in the Colony, their origin goli back to 1702, when the business wan started by Mr J. . Cox. Their old books show a change in 1787 to the firm name of Cox and Beale; to Beale, Held and Company In 1703; and to Magalac and Company be 1817. In 1832 the name as we have it to-day came Into being, when Br Willinen Jardine and Mr James Matheson took control of the business.
The earlier China trade was done from headquarters at Macoo, where Mr Hollingworth Magniae had been in charge; and when Dr Jardine, who had been a surgeon of the Honourable East India Company, combined with Mr Matheson tafterwards Sir James Matheson, Bart, they took over the concern and in due course made it one of the best-known In the For East, Their interests, apart from imports and exports, extended to mainly
shipping.
Foochow und Japan. The original R. J. Gilman went home in 1855, but con- tinted his partnership in the firm. In 1062 the partners were R. J. GUI- nao, A. R. fikson, t. J. Ashton, W. H. Vacher later to become one of the promoters of thir Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Ltd.), and W. H. Green, and a large and comprehensive merchant business was carrled un by the firm.
The councellon of Gilman and Com- pany with the corporation of Lloyd's in London dates from the early 'ffles. during which perled. they have acted ns agenta for the corporation in long- kong and Foochow
Having its roots in the old China
tire leg trade,
firm extended its operations to a number of different merchant ventures and, through vary- ‡ing tides of fortune, has been intimate- ly connected with the commercial tife of the Colony up to the present day.
for the purpose of entrying | In 1917 &t was converted into a private their own goods, and Insurance. One limited liability company. of the firm's subsidiaries was the Can- ton Insurance Onice, started back as 1804.
na
fur
Jardine and Anthesuu faced keen competition, ns did other merchants of the time, on the part of the East India Company, which retained A monopoly that gave them an advantage; but this monopoly came to an end in 1834, at advantage went with It. Jardine, Matheson and Company transferred to Hongkong from Mucas In 1842, the year after Britaku took possession of the island. Their estab- ishment at East Point became famous: their principals became leading men, in social life, in sport they fostered pony racing), and in politles. This tradition has remained until the pre- rent time.
the
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UNION. INSURANCE
The former Hongkong Bank buliding, at Queen's Road, demoilshed to make room for the present, structure.
Part of the old fountain opposite
the City Hall is keen on the right. -
A substantial bulking Wag Buon erected, and as the business grew, ex- tensions were made, until the premises
Voeux Road extemled from Des
10 Queen's Road. The erection of Ex- change Building within comparatively
Arm recent times gave the
the op- portunity of occupying their present fine premises where expansion, has been unlumpered by want of space Before 1905 branches had alrendy seen opened in Shanghai and Japon,
THE HONGKONG Hotel The Union Disurance Suciety of Can- ton is another old concern whleh has The Hongkong Hotel Company, alrendy passed its centenary. In 1895, which Inter developed inte Hangkang Dent and Company (which some years and Shanghai Hotels, Ltd, has an in- fater met with disaster) decided to teresting history, as it was formed at a found u second insurance business nt time when hotel enterprise opened a Canton, where only one then exlated. wide field here. The original com- and where cargues were Increasing puny was formed January, 1867, and with, the extinction of the East Indio commenced operations in July that Company's manupoly. The original year. The newly-built hotel premises, subscribers are pelleyed to have been Dent and Co., Jardine, Matheson and Co. Turner aud Co.. nnd Russell and Co. the first three British and the last-named 102 American firm. Ap- parently they tu decided to poot their hazards this way, hence the use of the name Union for the newly. formed Insurance office.
When British subjects were ordered to Macho from Canten in 1839, owing to the trouble brewing with the Chin- ese, the Union Insurance Society moved to the Portuguese colong, and after the establishment of Hongkon and the opening of trade here, they came over with the other mercantile houses. Their progress has been une of the features of local business ever
SHEWAN, TOMES AND CO. Aunther Hongkong business Orm of very long standing. Shewan, Tomes and Company, can trace its origin tu A perlud before this Colony had been taken over, the foundation of business going back to 1818, when its pre:lecessors, Samuel
Russell Company, commenced trading at Can- on. This was an American Company, founded by Mr. Samuel Iusseli. of Connecticut; and in 1824, when mare since. partners Joined him, the concern be. cone Russell and Company. It is
A. S. WATSON AND cò,
possible to trace it actual-Chinn-con-A S. Watson and Compary, who nection Jack to 1803, when the Ameri-rinted as the Hongkong Dispensary
In name still retained by them in con- nection with their dispensing businesEJ. can claim a history nearly or old s the British occupation. The Hong- kong Dispensary opened here a few months after the island bernme British, the Best location being a mataled near Possession Potat, nnl # anval surgeon who had come ashore for the
en house of Perkins and Company wan apened by Colonel T. 1. Perkins at Canton, for in 1824 this concern was merged with Russell and Company.
The business soon prospered, having ngents in England France, and Indla. besides the United States. In the tiles a branch was opened in long- kong, in Queen's Root, and shipping the presiding genius being and usurance were among the activit-
les of the Arm, which soon took its venture,
place amonst the big hongs.
In 1881, the late Mr Robert Gordon Shewan came out to the Colony as a and young man and joined Russell
engaged In Company, having been London, and being destined to give bis nanie to the concern al a later date. It was in 1991, when the business wax reorganised, that Russell and Company
by taken over WILN
Mr
of One
the carllest medical meu connected with the business was Dr J. H. Young, who residest here until 1630. One old record. however. mentions a Dr. "Peter" Young in the firm. Mr A. S. Watson, arriving in 1858, gave the business its present name. The location of the concern was changed several times, as in the case of most old firms: for many yenes
and the move to the present premises was made in 1004. From a dispensary there developed other activities, and A. S. Watson's perated water inan- ufacture has for a number af yearu brought that branch of Industry to the fore among Hongkong enterprises.
Shewan as Shewan and Company: the tilspensary stood in Queen's Road. and when he Wi Joined in 1895 by the kute Mr C. A. Tomes
CE *15
partner, the present name Insurance, wh adopted, Stupping. Tope manufacture, cement innufac- ture, and electrical power production, have been himong the enterprises sponsored by the Company. Prior to moving to their present ofces, the: firm had moved from Queen's Road to Des Voeux Road, lo premises where Exchange Building now stands, and after some years there, went George's Buliding.
GIDB, LIVINGSTON'S
to
$1
THE HONGKONG BANK.
The Hongkong and Shanghai Dank- | ing" Corporation not only has an old history, but is essentially a Hongkong product. and its growth Into one of the lening banking institutions in the Empire, being among the most in- fluential in the East, has been a sirik-
Gibb, Livingston and Company haveing commentary on the Catony's com-
a place among those concerns which mercial stability.
commenced In Canton and came over
In July, 1884, Dent and Company to this Colony at the time of its ccaalon insted the prospectus of the Hong- to Britain. They were esinbilshed st
with a Canton by certain officials of the East kong nand Shanghal Bank, India Company in 1830, luter extending capital of $5,000,000 and shares at $250 ench; and the subscription having been operations to Macao.
auscoss, the Bank commenced busi- ness at the very opening of the yepr 1805. The Grat premises were at No. 1. Queen's Rond, which was named Wardley House (hence the naming of Wardley Street. alungalde)-rented purchased in Premises, which were
1860,
Coming to Hongkong in the first year of its existence, they erected promises on a site of Queen's Road, just below Gough Street: and in 1845 their ad- dress was Aberdeen Street. Here they remained until the completion of the
Central Praya reclamation provided premises nearer the new scafront,
The firm's two principais, T. A. Gibb and W. P. Livingston, wore In 1843 among the first Justices of the DET. Peace appointed in the Colony.
With the establishment of outport branches, the arm's business has grown considerably, and it remains a remin- der of the enterprise and commercial endentour of the past hundred years.
GILMAN AND CO.
Wardley House was demolished in 1882 for the erozilon of a handsome Bank building, and unlit this was com- pleted in 1984, business was carried on from premises at the corner of Jubilee Street and Des Voeux Rond (then near the waterfront). The new building, in turn, gave place to the present, fine structure, built largely over the old alte. It was officially opened on Ocio- ber 10, 1935. While the demolition of the former building was, in progress, from 1933. business was conducted in the old City Ball, which was itself partly demolished to make room for the new Bank promises,
LANE, CRAWFORD'S
The name of Gliman is recorded in the earliest archives of the Colony. Richard James Gliman, one of Dent and Company's tea-lasters, established himself in business in Canton about the Year 1841, and in Hongkong shortly after that date, in partnership with a An example of enterprise lending to Mr. Abram Bowman under the firm success is afforded by Lane. Crawford, name, of Gilman, Bowman and Com- | Ltd., who alarfed in the Colally in pany. The title of the firm wax rub- 1850, in, matshed structure on the sequently changed, upon the retire. waterfront on a elle immediately to Siment of Me Bowman, to Ollman and | the west of where Jardine, 'Blatheson's
{Company,z) PIN
'offices, are to-day,' :The founders werd 05. During "tha" frat, quarter century of Me T. A. Lane, master of “o mailing the arm's", existenco branches were vessel which had traded to Hongkong
Avain sallanków – Shanghat | in 1848, and Mr Nialan Crawford.
which then occupied a, seafront site on the corner of Pedder Street, were open- ed in February, 1668; and soon it be came the principal hostelry of the Colony, and one of the leading con- cerns of its kind in the Far East,
When Des Voeux Rond became an loud street, the Hotel's sea frontage was lust, but an extension was inter bull towards Queen's Road, and when the older portion of the premises were badly damaged by fire some Afteen years ago, the present building partly reconstructed. On the original site of the old hotel now stands the greater part of Gloucester Building.
DAIRY ENTERPRISE
Why
Dairy Farm Company deserves men- tion in any historical survey of ifong= kong.
Prior to its advent, the milk supply had been insufficiently controlled, and was not entirely above suspicion, 1 was Dr Cafterwards Sir) Patrick Man- son who instigated the formation of an up-to-date-dairy, and in 1880 the Dairy Farm Company came into existence, with Dr. Manson as one of its · first directors. One of the local enterprises which it absorbed was the Hongkong Ice Company, which had been founded as far back an 1880, after the lost of the old "lee houses" were becoming a mere memory.
LINSTEAD AND DAVIS
A flm of chartered accountants, Micar Linstead and Davis, have as Hociations which go back to the early days of Hongkong, one of the founders, Mr T. G. Linstead, having arrived in the Colony in the fifties, originally working with the old, concern of Lind. say and Company, ploneers who later passed out of existence. About the rame time, Mr H. W. Davis had come out to Canton, and later, entered bual- ness- In-Hongkong with Mr-Granville Sharp, as bill and bullion brokers. Messrs Linstead and Davis in due course became nanoclated in partner came into existente, not all of them Thomas Sutherland, as Chairman. In ship, and founded the firm that bear prospering.
1805 the Colony's Arat dockyard, es their names to-day, Both were pro- It was in the early 'eightles that the tablished at Aberdeen in 1857 by Mr minent in local activities of their time. Talkoo Sugar Rennery was established. Douglas Lapenik and Captain John Reiss, Bradley and Company (former and it has maintained its position ever Lamont, was taken over, and in 1880
the Hongkong and Whampoa ly Iteiss, Massey) can trace their con- since.
Dock nection with the Colony to Relsa nd
P. AND O. COMPANY
Company, Lid, was duly registered. Company, who opened" branch at Among earliest shipping firms with sinalgamated in 1070 with the Union Canton in 1840, being a Manchester | services to the Far East wero the Dock Company, which had been started concern founded in 1818. The Hong- Peninsular and Oriental Sienu Naviga. at Hinghom in 1084; and in 1877 the kong office was opened in 1804.
was sold to the Inllon Company, who come to Hongkong. Whampoa properly 1923 it was reorganised as Holyoak, in the curly forties. They obtained a Chinese Government. The property of Massey and Company but later the old lease of land from the Goverument in the Cosmopolitan Dock Company. name of Reiss was restored.
1844, and opened offices in Queen's Inunded at Shamshuipo' early in 1800, Road. Old records show them As was purchased later that same year, Decupylag premises at the Jubilee and thus all the Kowloon dockyards Street.Des Voeux Road corner in 1852. were merged in a single, enterprise,
The Union Church photographed in the 'nineties, standing in a wooded area now completely built over.
OLD PRINTING FIRM Among old-catablished local bust- nesses, Noronha and Company, who are the Government Printers, deserve men. tion, their beginning going back to 1844, Mr Delfino Noronha, in 1847, was nirendy well established in Wellington Street and in the fifties when the
came Government Gazette
Into existence, the firm obtained the con. tract for Its printing, which they still hold to-day.
It is their proud bonat, also, that they have printed the Hongkong Jockey Club's race programmes over since the Club was founded in the early years of the Colony.
SUGAR REFINING
The business of the Taikoo Sugar Refinery (controlled by Messrs Butter- held and Swire) dates back to early longkong, and recalls interesting local history.
There was an old sugar refinery at East Point in the 'sixties, known as the which Indo-Chinese Sugar Company, Jardine, Matheson and Company took over in 1878 to form the China Sugar Refining Company. They later extend- parled, the properly, purchasing the
If for no other reason than the it has played in bringing healthful food conditions to the Colony, and the suc- cess of its efforts to found a dairy on European lines in a tropical island, the
premises which had housed the former Hongkong Mint (a short-lived enter prise of the local authorities). Other enterprises of the same nature then
MACKINTOSH'S, Ltd.
Men's Wear
Specialists
for 28 years
THE EXTENSION OF PEDDER ST.
View down Pedder Street extension' Just after completion of the Central Praya reclamation. Blake Plec had not yet been bullt.
New offices were built for the Com- pany, opposite their old premises, in 1802, and they let the old offices to the Hongkong Bank while the former Bank building was going up. New premises were obtained further east- ward, at Queen's Road, in 1887, and when the P. and O. Building was com pleted about 1926, opposite, they moved in there.
The heavy cast-iron verandah In front of their older premises gave the firm the Chinese naine of "T-Hong".
How H.K. Became A Crown Colony
(Continued from Page One)
(1842). He was succeeded in 1843 by Mr C. E. Stewart, and in 1844 by Mr
or IronHouse". and this in com- M. Martin. Mr W. T. Mercer fol-
lowed In the post in 1847;
memorated in Tit Hong Lane,
In addition to their monthly service to England from Hongkong in the early forties, the Company opened 'a Hongkong-Shanghai run in 1849, and a service from here to Calcutta in 1053.
EARLY SHIPPING Reference to early shipping services would not be complete without notice of the Hongkong and Canton Steam Packet Company. formed in 1840. which Insted about Ave years. The present Hongkong, Canton and Macno Steamboat Company was formed 1865.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Tho Executive ond Legislative Councils wero forined in 1843, the former having Mr A. R. Johnston and Major Williams Calne, and the latter Menara A. R. Johnston, J. R. Morrison (who died a few months after his appointment). Major Caine, and Mr
Burgass (who was Clerk of Council)us members,
In due course, the Civil Service ex- panded, more officials came out lo fill In the administrative posts, and- the growth of this branch of Government has kept pace with the general growth of the Colony.
Company,
Thic Douglas
Shipping Though its history is not a very old one, owes its origin to the early en- terprise of Mr Douglas Lapralk, who service along the China founded a Coast In 1800.
The acquisition of Kowloon in 1801 brought Colony both as regards population and further expansion to the | administration. Necessarily, such of its THE KOWLOON DOCKS.
history as concerns the administration Is of comparatively recent origin, for No reference to local history could the mainland over a period of many omit consideration at one of the years retained the status of a plente Colony's principal
industries-all-spot or an area where sportsmen' from building; and the Hongkong and Wham-Hongkong could obtain snipe or other pan Dock Company, Ltd, known, popu- feathered game. For some years, „În farly as the Kowloon Docker, haa" n fact, it was an adventure to wander connection with the very first ship- nerose lis partly uilted Selds and yords here.
through Its old villages. Before this stund came, under Bri-
The story of Kowloon's residential tish, control, there were mud docks at and industrint expansion belongs to Whampoa in the Canton River, owned another section of this history. Wo by Chinese. The P. and O. Company may note bere the rather belated irang- deriring European supervision of the
work on their constel steamers, sunt for of administrative services to the out Mr John Couper to Whampoa for mainland as the years went by. The
earliest Government institution es this purpose; and he soon realised the tablished there was the Royal Obser- possibilities of extended docking faci- ities. Leasing the Chinese docks, he vatory, which resulted from repre- Also had the Coupor Dock constructed, and everything was going well when the second war with China broke out, and the docks were destroyed in 1857 by Chinese troops. Mr Couper was kidnapped, and bis fala Was neverish plenipotentiary who officiated at
known.
entalions made by local shipmasters In 1877: a plan was drawn up, and the Observatory erceled on Mount Elgin, name given to the small hill on. which it stands, in honour of the Bri
Kowloon's panaxation, Though Police stations had been built (the first,at His son obtained a. large indemnity, Hunghom, in; 1872), the erection of a after hostilities ceased: the business within living memory; and being then taken over by a concern, practical purposes the administration of which had the agent. for the P. and O. the mainland is bound up with that of
Alexandra Building and the docks were put into use again, Magistracy on the peninsula comes
Des Voeux Road C. Company in Hongkong, Mr (later Bir) Hongkong as a whole,
for all
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