Pre-WW2 Industrialisation – products, when first manufactured and by whom

HF: The following list shows the product, date when first manufactured in Hong Kong and the company involved. The website has information about only of two of these, Leung So Kee Umbrella Factory, and  The Hong Kong Cotton- Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Co. Ltd.

Therefore  further information about any of these companies would be welcomed.  And confirmation that they were indeed the first to manufacture the product in Hong Kong, some of them appear to be later than I would have expected.

The dates also appear to slightly differ from other sources we have. For example the image shown to accompany this article of Leung So Kee Umbrella Factory says “since 1885″ and not 1886.  And the Hong Kong Cotton- Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Co. Ltd. was formed in 1898 not 1899.

The large range of products again demonstrates the amount of manufacturing that went on pre-WW2 in Hong Kong.

The information comes from a short but fascinating catalogue ” Made in Hong Kong…” published in 1988 by The HK Museum Of History which I believe accompanied an exhibition.  I presume it is not in print.

See: Turner M, Made in Hong Kong: A History of Export Design in HK 1900-1960, HK Museum of History, Urban Council, 1988

This article was first posted on 20th May 2014.

Related Indhhk Articles:

• Textiles – The Hong Kong Cotton- Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Co. Ltd.
• Umbrellas – Leung So Kee – umbrella manufacturer