ExxonMobil Standard Oil Milestones in Hong Kong
Klaus Liphard recently left a comment on the history of ExxonMobil Socony and Standard Oil in Hong Kong.
HF: I would like to thank Klaus and in this article use the material source he informed me about with the following milestones regarding these companies in Hong Kong. I have not included the most recent milestones included in this article as I thought they were of less historic interest.
1880 An American agent, the China & Japan Trading Co., introduces Standard Oil products by ship into Shanghai
1892 Standard Oil Co. of New York, Socony, begins official operations in Shanghai, using temporary offices at No. 7, The Bund (Shanghai Tang)
Socony Filling Station Location/Source/Date unknown
1895 Vacuum Oil Co. opens an office on Duddell Street, Hong Kong
23rd May 1896 The Hongkong Gazette
1906 The Mei Foo kerosene lamp is introduced
A Mei Foo kerosene lamp Source: ExxonMobil Hong Kong Undated
1926 Socony’s first service station begins operation in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Possible first Exxon/Mobil service station, Kowloon, Hong Kong in 1926 Source: exxonmobil.com.hk
1928 The first Socony gas station opens in Central, Hong Kong, using Mobil tradename
1962 Liquified petroleum gas, under the name Mobilflame is introduced in Hong Kong for domestic use
1964 Mobil Oil Hong Kong is established
Esso Standard Oil (Hong Kong) is established
Exxon Energy Limited becomes the majority shareholder of a power generation joint venture in Hong Kong called Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO)
1967 Esso’s Tsing Yi Terminal is completed
Mobil Tsing Yi terminal is completed and replaces Lai Chi Kok terminal
1968 The first stage of Mei Foo Sun Chuen housing estate by Mobil development company Mei Foo Investments Ltd. is completed, with a piped-in gas system installed: Esso Hong Kong’s first piped-in-gas system at the Lok Man Sun Chuen housing estate is commissioned.
1974 Construction of Tsing Yi Bridge, led by Mobil, is completed.
1977 Esso consolidates its storage and distribution operation at its terminal on Tsing Yi Island, still the largest oil terminal in Hong Kong.
1982 Esso opens its first Esso petrol station in Shenzhen, making Chinese mainland’s first foreign joint venture in the petroleum retailing business.
Esso is the first to set up convenience stores (Tiger Marts) at service stations in Hong Kong.
1991 Mobil launches a Retail Outlet Automation program, streamlining payment and financial operations at all service stations.
Mobil introduces unleaded gasoline in Hong Kong.
1995 Esso Hong Kong and BOC Credit Card (International) Limited jointly launch Hong Kong’s first smart credit card.
2000 Esso and Mobil merge, with Mobil service stations converted to Esso by 2003.