Notable Players in the history of the HK Glass & Mirror Industry

York Lo: Notable Players in the history of the HK Glass & Mirror Industry

The glass and mirror industry in Hong Kong has a long history tracing back to the 19^th century but unlike its products, there is little transparency into the history of the industry and its key players as most of them were and remain very low key. Aside from windows and mirrors, many of the players were also involved in making other glass products such as glassware, lamp shades, marbles and glass bottles for other manufactured goods such as beverages, Chinese medicine oils and perfumes (in fact the famous perfume manufacturer Kwong Sang Hang had its own manufacturing operations for its iconic Florida water glass bottles, whose location is allegedly how Glass Street in Causeway Bay got its name). Tai Kok Tsui in Kowloon and Tin Hau in HK side became centers of production. In the late 1940s, the HK Kowloon Glass & Mirror Merchants and Manufacturers Association (港九玻璃鏡業總商會, hereafter refer to as HKGMMA) was formed as the industry group. Below are some of the key players (aside from R. Corney which was covered in an earlier article) that were formed before the 1960s in the order of inception:

The 12^th board of the HK Glass & Mirror Merchants & Manufacturers Association (Wah Kiu Yat Po 1963-7-5)

PRE-WAR PIONEERS:

Lam Wang Loong Glass Factory (林宏隆玻璃)

Founded in 1880 by Lam Siu-nam (林紹南) and his brothers, Lam Wang Loong is the first glass manufacturer in Hong Kong and operated for many years out of 109 Queen’s Road East in Wanchai.

By the 1930s, the firm was managed by Lam Kwai-chuen (林桂泉), a third-generation member of the founding family. According to a 1934 article, the firm was doing HK$100,000 in sales per year and employed about 40 workers who were earning about HK$20 each monthly. The firm specialized in making glass bottles for pharmacies and also made glassware such as water glass and glass plates. In addition to domestic sales, it also exported its products to Swatow, Amoy and Canton and Southeast Asian markets such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaya. The raw materials included sand which came from nearby Guangdong province and sodium and calcium carbonate which were acquired from the US and the UK.

In the 1950s and 60s, the firm was managed by Lam Ip-sang, presumably the son of Lam Kwai-chuen. The firm was still around in the late 1970s but its site in Wanchai was redeveloped into Greatmany Centre (智群商業中心) in 1985.

Left: The Bell brand trademark of Lam Wang Loong Glass (1938 HK Government Report); Right: 1934 article about Lam Wang Loong Glass Factory (Kung Sheung Daily News 1934-6-23)

Kung Wo Glass (公和玻璃鏡器)

The storefront of Kung Wo Glass with the signage featuring the calligraphy of famous calligrapher Au Kin-kung

Founded in 1917, Kung Wo Glass Co is one of the oldest and largest glass manufacturers in HK. In the 1950s, it was run by Wong Luen-yuk (黄麟玉) who was one of the senior leaders of the HKGMMMA and the firm has been managed since the 1980s by Noel Wong Nai-yeung (黃乃楊), who is known for being the husband of actress Kingdom Yuen (苑瓊丹). The firm maintains a very low profile although its TDC profile listed US$10-49 million as revenues and some of its high profile projects include 15mm thick single-glazed armor-plated glass for the Peak. The firm was also known for its signage at its 14 Queen’s Road West office which is the work of famous calligrapher Au Kin-kung (區建公, 1887-1971)

Kwong Tai Loong Glass-wares (廣泰隆玻璃廠)

The Moonlight trademark of Kwong Tai Loong registered in 1933 (HK Government Reports); Right: 1934 article about Kwong Tai Loong  

Founded in 1920 by the Tong family, Kwong Tai Loong operated out of Pine Street and 22 Beech Street (櫸樹街) in Tai Kok Tsui (大角咀) in Kowloon and manufactured glassware and bottles for perfumes and medicine and also made lamp shades. Initial sales were only $3000 a year but by 1934, the firm had 60 workers and was doing HK$40000 in sales, down from its peak of $100,000 due to the loss of the mainland market due to import duties although the domestic and Southeast Asian markets remained supportive.  In 1957, the firm was incorporated with HK$100,000 in paid up capital and Tong Tsz-leung was listed as manager. The firm was dissolved in 1979

Lai Wo Glass (禮和玻璃)

Advertisement of Lai Wo in Singapore in 1928 promoting its 5^th anniversary sale in the Sin Kuo Min

Founded in 1923, Lai Wo specialized in glass lamp shades and also made other types of glassware. In 1928, it had plants in Canton and Hong Kong (in Tai Kok Tsui) and a distribution branch in Singapore. In addition to making glassware, it also distributed German kerosene lamps. In the 1960s, it operated out of 19 Upper Lascar Row in Sheung Wan. In the 1970s, it had two locations – 109 Second Street in Sai Ying Pun on the HK island side and 16 Beech Street in Tai Kok Tsui on the Kowloon side next to a number of firms listed above. The manager of the firm in the early 1970s was Lai Kai-ying. As a firm, Lai Wo was incorporated in 1974 and dissolved in 1984

Kwong Hing Loong Glass Factory (廣興隆玻璃廠)

Founded in 1924, Kwong Hing Loong operated out of 46 Beech Street in Tai Kok Tsui next to Kwong Tai Loong and its manager was Tong Cheung. Given the proximity of factories, similar names and same surname of its owners, there might be a connection between Kwong Hing Loong and Kwong Tai Loong.

Hip Cheong Glass Factory (協昌化砂玻璃)

Hip Cheong Glass Factory in Shau Ki Wan in 1952. Source: Hong Kong and Far East builder, vol.9 no.4 (November & December, 1952)

Hip Cheong was founded in 1927 by Leung Chiu (梁朝, 1894-1955), who started In the glass business at an early age. During the Japanese occupation, raw materials for glass production were hard to come by and leveraging his technical expertise, Leung made new glass bottles by melting broken glass. The firm operated out of its main factory at 408 Queen’s Road West and had a branch factory at 2-5 Wun Sha Street in Causeway Bay. During the Korean War, glassware was in high demand and Hip Cheong built factory buildings in 362-374 Shau Kei Wan Road to expand production. Aside from domestic sales, Hip Cheong also did a lot of business in Southeast Asia – especially Singapore, Rangoon and Saigon. In 1955, Leung Chiu died at the age of 61 and was succeeded by his sons – Leung Wah-shing (梁華盛) and Leung Wah-cheung (梁華昌) (WKYP, 1955-5-5). Wah-cheung married his high school classmate Poon Wai-suen (潘蕙宣), the daughter of Wah Kiu Yat Po sales manager Poon Yat-yu (潘日如). The wedding banquet at the Tai Tung Restaurant was attended by over 1000 guests who were the Who’s Who of HK society at the time. (WKYP, 1956-11-22). In 1958, the brothers donated $200 (large sum back then) to the Wah Kiu Yat Po scholarship campaign for the Cantonese opera star Sun Ma Sze-tsang to sing on Rediffusion.

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/nysp19530513-1.2.34.18

Ip Lee (協利玻璃)

Ip, Lee’s ad in 1934 (HK Chinese Factories Survey) 

Ip, Lee & Co was founded in 1929, taking over the glass manufacturing operations of the defunct confectionery firm M.Y. San (see related article “Three Kings of Biscuit”). Its factory was originally located in Causeway Bay but relocated to a 40000 sq ft plot in Shau Kei Wan in the 1930s when they went out of space. By the mid-1930s, it was the largest glass manufacturer in HK with over 130 workers and daily production of 35000 pieces of glassware that were exported to Southeast Asia and sold locally. Its plant had a warehouse that could store 1000 tons of coal and three large furnaces and eleven smaller ones. (HK Chinese Factories Survey, 1934) There is no record of its activities after the War.

Tung Hing Glass & Metalware Manufactory (同興玻璃)

Founded in 1936, Tung Hing Glass specialize in glassware but also produces metalware, kerosene lamps and other products. In the 1970s, it was operating out of Pine Street in Tai Kok Tsui near a number of the firms mentioned here but has since relocated its manufacturing operations to Dongguan.

www.tunghing-glass.com

POST-WAR PIONEERS

The Orient Glass Industry Ltd (遠東玻璃工業) and Wing Lee Glass Industry Co (永利玻璃工業)

Siao Sam-ping and his family at his birthday in 1963 (Wah Kiu Yat Po, 1963-8-10)

The Orient Glass Industry and Wing Lee Glass Industry were two leading glass manufacturers founded after the War in HK by Shanghainese businessman Siao Sam-ping (蕭三平). Born in 1901, Siao was a native of Nan Wui in Kiangsu province and studied at Sin Kong Commercial College. He also studied in Japan and became fluent in Japanese and during the Japanese occupation of HK, he allegedly served as an interpreter to save people and was awarded three war medals by the British after the war according to his entry in the 1967 HK Album. In 1946, he formed The Orient Glass Industry in Hong Kong with Shanghainese capital. The firm operated out of 27 Whitfield Street in Causeway Bay (not far from Kwong Sang Hong and Corney) and one of its glass engineers Ming Y. Chen was a member of the Society of Glass Technology in the UK.

 

Left: S.P. Siao (HK Album, 1967) Right: Stock certificate of the Orient Glass Industry in 1948 signed by S.P. Siao (auction website)

Both Orient and Wing Lee maintained its office in the Ho Tung Building at 176 Queens Road Central. In the 1950s, Wing Lee’s factory was located at Bedford Road in Tai Kok Tsui but by the 1970s, its operations were located in 9 mile, Castle Peak Road and also Chai Wan. As a firm, Orient Glass dissolved in 1961 and Wing Lee Glass was incorporated in 1957 and dissolved in 1978.

In addition to Wing Lee and Orient, Siao was involved in Shanghai Yee Shing Printing Press and Sam Fung Printing Co and was supervisor of China Products (HK) Ltd. He was very active in community affairs, having served as a director of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers Association, the Kiangsu Chekiang Residents Association and its schools, the North Point and Causeway Bay Kaifong Welfare Associations and was also the honorary chairman of two soccer leagues – Kwong Wah and Kit Chee Sports Club. Some of his children were also involved in Wing Lee.

Ngai Sang Mirror (毅生鏡業)

Founded in 1946, Ngai Sang specialize in manufacturing of plastic and metal framed mirrors. In the 1950s, its plant was located at 242 Main Street in Shau Ki Wan but by the 1960s had moved to 28 Lee Chung Street in Chai Wan. Its manager was Ng Sik-ping. The corporate entity has changed from Ngai Sang Mirror Factory to Ngai Sang Mirror Manufacturers (incorporate in 1982 and dissolved in 1989) to its current form as Ngai Sang Mirror Trading.

Tung Wo Hing Glass (同和興玻璃) 

Tung Wo Hing’s factory was located at 8 Beech Street in Tai Kok Tsui not far from Kwong Tai Loong, Kwong Hing Loong and Tung Hing mentioned above.

Kan Sun Glass (鏡新玻璃)

Kan Sun Glass’ ad about Czech porcelain and ceramic products it represented. The address was listed as 41 Catchick Street in Kennedy Town. (WKYP, 1954-10-11)

Tam Pak-hung delivering his speech as chairman of HKGMMMA in 1957 (Wah Kiu Yat Po 1957-6-1)

Little is known about Kan Sun Glass but its founder Tam Pak-hung (譚伯鴻) was known for his longtime involvement with HKGMMMA as its chairman and with the Kennedy Town Kaifong Welfare Association which has its social centre for the elderly named after him. A native of Xinhui, Tam was born in 1896 and was educated in Canton. His involvement with the glass industry began in Canton before he started Kan Sun in the Western district in the 1940s. He was also permanent honorary chairman of the Tam’s Family Association and president of the Lions Rock Lions Club (1979-80) and founding president of the Mt. Cameron Lions Club (1981-82). He remained active well into the 1980s when he was in his eighties.

Kung Shing Mirrors Co (公成鏡業)

Kung Shing Mirrors was founded by Lee Shuk-wah (李叔華), who was a long-time director of the HKGMMMA. As a firm, Kung Shing Mirrors was incorporated in 1977 and dissolved in 1995

Kowloon Glass Ware Manufactory (九龍玻璃製造廠)

Kowloon Glassware was one of the leading glassware manufacturers in HK. In the 1960s, it was operating out of San Shan Road in Kowloon but by the 1970s, it was operating out of Tong Yan Sun Chuen in Yuen Long.

Hongkong Marble Glass Manufactory (香港波子玻璃廠)

1954 article about the birth of the marble glass industry in HK (Wah Kiu Yat Po, 1954-12-29)

Founded in 1954, HK Marble Glass was the first HK manufacturer to make glass marbles. The firm was started by John Tung of I-Feng Enameling (see article), who spotted the opportunity to make marbles in HK when the British Commonwealth began taxing imported Japanese marbles that dominated the market at the time. The firm’s office was located at Printing House in Central and its first factory was located at Kiang Su Street in To Kwa Wan. After half a year of R&D, the plant went into production of six different colors of marbles in September 1954 with 100 workers, 2 kilns and 4 machines capable of churning out 400,000 marbles per day. It immediately secured orders from UK, Italy, Australasia, Africa and Southeast Asia and also showcased its products to the local market at the 1955 HK Products Expo. The business thrived for the next two decades and an additional plant in Tuen Mun was added. As a firm, HK Marble Glass was incorporated in 1972 and dissolved in 1978.

Koon Wah Mirror Group (冠華鏡廠)

Left: Koon Wah founder Hui Hoi; Right: Koon Wah sales outlet in Wanchai

Founded in 1957, Koon Wah Mirror is the leading glass manufacturer in Hong Kong and recognized as the “King of Mirrors”. A native of Nam Hoi, Koon Wah founder Hui Hoi (許海1923-2013) came to HK in the 1950s and made his initial fortune in the dealing of hides and skins and metals. Sensing an opportunity in glass, Hui spent $540,000 in 1964 to acquire 10000 sq ft of factory space in To Kwa Wan and built one of the largest glass factories in HK. His timing was perfect and business took off with the construction boom.

Soon he realized more money could be made in owning the real estate and started developing industrial properties. In 1972, Hui Hoi acquired two parcels of land in Kwai Chung and Chai Wan for HK$4.3 million and built his first and second Koon Wah Mirror Factory industrial buildings. (First one has been sold in 1988 and renamed Suntex Tower; second one still owned by the family but renamed Reality Tower). In the 1970s he developed the third, fifth and sixth Koon Wah Mirror industrial buildings (fourth was skipped as four is bad luck in Chinese) in Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Tuen Mun and built his headquarters Koon Wah Mirror Group Building in Shatin. When Tsim Sha Tsui East was being developed, Hui paid $80 mil for site in 1978 where he built his first office building – Mirror Tower in 1982 and recuperated his investment in less than 3 years. Since the 1990s, the family began accumulating retail space as HK transitioned from an industrial economy to one that is consumption and service driven and over time built a multi-billion dollars portfolio which included a dozen branches from Standard Chartered Bank, 4 prime retail spaces in Park Lane Shoppers’ Boulevard in TST and Trade Square in Cheung Sha Wan. Despite success and generous philanthropy, the family remained very lowkey and frugal. After his death in 2013, Hui Hoi was succeeded by his younger brother Hui Ming (許銘) and his nephews Kevin Hui (許鑑聰)Hui Kam-wa (許鑑華), Hui Kam-tong (許鑑棠) and Hui Kam-wing(許鑑榮).

Left: Koon Wah Mirror Group Building in Shatin; Right: Mirror Tower in TST East 

Sources:

1. http://realforum.zkiz.com/thread.php?tid=67252
2. http://eastweek.my-magazine.me/main/28827
3. http://paper.takungpao.com/resfile/2012-07-19/B14/B14_Screen.pdf

This article was first posted on 20th November 2017.

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