The Sim family and Yu Chun Loong Canning (裕全隆罐頭公司)

York Lo: The Sim family and Yu Chun Loong Canning (裕全隆罐頭公司)

The Sim Family And Yu Chun Canning Image 1 York Lo

Ad of Yu Chun Loong listing all the canned goods it manufactured in the late 1940s (HK Factory Survey)

Founded in 1907, Yu Chun Loong Canning Co (also written as Yu Chun Loong Cannery) was one of the earliest, if not the oldest cannery in Hong Kong. Its founder T.Y. Sim (沈大欣) came from Chiuchow and operated a canning business in his native Swatow before moving to HK in the early 1900s. As one of the earliest Chiuchow merchants and industrialists in HK, he was involved in the founding of a number of Chiuchow resident associations. According to an industrial directory from the late 1940s, Yu Chun Loong had a 10,000 sq ft plant which occupied the space of five houses at 68-72 Electric Road in Causeway Bay while its distribution center was located at 75 Queen’s Road West in Kennedy Town. Its Lion brand of canned goods included a wide variety of food ranging from fruits such as longan, lychee, pears and pineapples to vegetables such as water chestnut, lotus, bitter melon, green beans and chestnut to fish such as grass carp (wan yu) and various Cantonese salted fish which were sold domestically and exported to the US and Southeast Asia. Business was strong during the War as supplies of fresh food was scarce.

The Sim Family And Yu Chun Canning Image 2 George Sim York Lo

George Sim

By the 1940s, the firm was managed by T.Y.’s third son James Sim Tze-young (沈梓揚) and fourth son George Sim Shiu-hing (沈瑞慶, 1916-2007), who were directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in the 1950s. By the 1960s however, Yu Chun Loong appeared to have gone out of business and the brothers operated import export firms Sim Brothers & Co and George Sim & Co (there was a George Sim Manufacturing which was a Swatow lace firm that was founded by a different George Sim) out of Man Yee Building in Central. According to their nephew Paul, the brothers were more interested in activities outside of business – James in betting on horses and George (who helped St Joseph’s College secured basketball championship when he was a student there in the 1930s) was a prominent figure in the athletic circle, having served as chairman of three leading athletic associations – South China, Kit Chee and Tung Wah (spinoff from the hospitals) and co-founded the Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation of HK and HK Olympic Committee. In the 1950s and 60s, George led the HK and Taiwanese football teams in many international and regional matches and when the team needed funding to go to the 1960 Rome Olympics, he helped to foot the bill.

Another notable member of the family is Paul Sam (沈培文), the son of James and George’s fourth brother, who worked in advertising before starting Antique Cars (老爺車), the first men’s magazine in HK in 1967 which in addition to racy pictures featured articles by many famous novelists and landed exclusive interviews with the martial arts star Bruce Lee, who was a fan of the publication. In recent years, Paul (fondly referred to as “Uncle Paul”) operated the 50s bar and restaurant in the Lan Kwai Fong and worked as an interior designer in Macau.

Sources :

  1. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B2%88%E7%91%9E%E6%85%B6
  2. http://www.caaf-hk.com/miss-shum-shui-hing/
  3. http://hk.next.nextmedia.com/article/747/4144441

This article was first posted on 12th January 2018.

Related Indhhk articles:

  1. The Patriotic Sauce Maker: Chong Sing-chong and Oriental Soy & Canning
  2. K. Y. Shang, the China Can Company and the Development of the Can Industry in Asia
  3. Amoy Canning – a brief history since 1908

5 Comments

  • Troy Sim

    Mr. Lo, while searching online for possible relatives, I discovered this article you authored. In the article you wrote in the parenthesis, (there was a George Sim Manufacturing which was a Swatow lace firm that was founded by a different George Sim). How did you know this? I am his grandson. Thank you.

  • Lisa

    My late daddy started as the office boy of James Sim. Quite a harsh boss then, but the wife was very nice and considerate. I think dad always refered 沈瑞庆as the fifth son, he’s called #5 at home. He lived in Taiwan in his later years.
    Thank you for writing about the cannery, it was the place my father worked so hard to raise me up.

  • Henry sim

    I am the son of George Sim. We used to live in Lau Li st., Causeway bay. You Chu Long was just down the st. I used to play at the factory. During the war, Americans were bombing the Japanese in HK and a bomb dropped very close to the factory. Into the ocean right next to the factory (at that time) Many were killed. I was in the factory.and almost killed by debris dropping every where. I was saved by my uncle (from my mother’s side.). The company in Man Yee building was established by my father George Sim. I used to go to his office for lunch from school. Except for that, the article was quite correct. During the 1960 Rome Olympic, My father was going to lead the cover team to tour Europe but was cancelled because my mother was seriously ill and later passed away. I was in Australia at that time. This article brings back many memories, both good and bad.

    • Troy Sim

      Henry,

      My grandfather is the other George H. Sim originally from Swatow (Teochew) aka Shantou (Mandarin) who later moved to Hong Kong after the communist take over of China. Do you know if your family are Teochew of have links to Singapore or Swatow/Shantou?

      My family does have the 沈 family zupu (family tree book). I am always looking for relatives.

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