Dan Water’s article in Newsletter 8, Recollections of a Visit to a Joss-stick Mill in Tsuen Wan, describes the decline of this once important Hong Kong industry. It is highly unlikely there will be a serious revival of the incense mills (though how delightful it would be to visit a reconstructed, working incense water mill above Tsuen Wan or on […]
» Read moreHugh Farmer writes, in Newsletter Seven I mentioned Chinese manufacturing enterprises in the 1870s. These included two for preserving ginger and other processed food including soy sauce and preserved fruit, several machine-makers, a tannery, a paper factory and a manufacturer of matches, workshops for producing cigars, tobacco, clothing, glass, oars, rifles, ropes, umbrellas, spectacles, tooth-powder and soap, as well as […]
» Read moreThe OED defines the word Comprador(e) as “a person who acts as an agent for foreign businesses” and suggests it originated, in English, in the 17th century from the Portuguese word for “buyer”. It is a term which occurs frequently in the 19th century colonial history of Hong Kong especially concerning trade between, China, Hong Kong and the rest of the […]
» Read more11. The Elm Tool and Die Company Newsletter Seven mentioned American Louis Marx’s Hong Kong “The Elm Tool and Die Company”, established in 1952 and managed by a David Yea. (However, another source suggests this company was registered on 15th November 1958 and dissolved on 2nd March 1991.) It appears this was a toy company as Mr. Yea was destined to […]
» Read morehttps://www.hongkongheritage.org The Hong Kong Heritage Project was commissioned by Sir Michael Kadoorie in May 2007 to consolidate the Kadoorie family business records. Amelia Allsop is the very helpful Collections Manager. Records of HK Industrial companies kept at the archive include the HK and Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd, the HK and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. Ltd, the HK Rope Manufacturing […]
» Read moreThe 8th Industrial History of Hong Kong Group newsletter was published on 19th August 2013 Contents: The Silver Mine of Silver Mine Bay – Part One – Andrew Wood Recollections of a Visit to a Joss-stick Mill in Tsuen Wan – Dan Waters In Search of an Improved Industrial Design: The Hong Kong Rickshaw over Time – Fung Chi Ming […]
» Read moreGeorge Fogh, Denmark, read Fung Chi Ming’s article in Newsletter 7 about hand-pulled rickshaws and asks if there were ever bicycle ( also known as tricycle, trishaw and pedicabs) rickshaws in Hong Kong and if so were any manufactured here. Fung Chi Ming will respond in Newsletter 9
» Read moreCarles Brasó Broggi, based in Shanghai but currently living in Hong Kong, is researching two related companies. Peninsula Spinners Ltd. was established in Hong Kong in 1948 and became Hong Kong Spinners Ltd. in 1954. Carles is also interested in the founder of HK Spinners, C.Y. Wong (Wang Qiyu or Wang Chi Yue, 1883-1965) and T.Y. Wong (Wang Tongyuan or […]
» Read moreThe 7th Industrial History of Hong Kong Group newsletter was published on 25th June 2013. Contents: A Bygone Industry in Hong Kong – Rickshaw Makers’ Stores – Fung Chi Ming The rickshaw is long out of date, but in days past it was a widely used form of urban transport. For public hire and for private use, it also created […]
» Read moreThe sixth Industrial History of Hong Kong Group newsletter was published on 4th May 2013 Contents: New Subscribers The Story of Vitasoy – Linda Kernan Vitasoy began in 1939 when Dr Kwee Seong Lo became involved with Chinese refugees. He was concerned about the malnutrition of the children and the fact that many Chinese immigrants were lactose intolerant… Sources Queries and […]
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