Essays

As early as 1881, Governor John Pope Hennessy challenged the common assumption that there was no local industry. He answered by citing a long list of Chinese manufacturers of various goods as well as industries managed by Europeans to prove that there was in fact a high level of industrial activity. These included the making of bamboo, boats, carving, cigars, gold, glass, images, lanterns, leather boxes, lemonade and soda-water, watches, oars, sail and rope, sandal-wood, tobacco, umbrellas and vermillion. Manufactures that appeared for the first time in the 1881 census include glass, watch, soap, spectacles, tooth-powder and weaving. Manufactures employing a decreasing number of workers include the paper boxes, rattan, sapanwood, sauce, opium, refined sugar and tanneries. The manufactory for ketchup and preserved fruits were highlighted in the Governor's speech because these manufactures had enjoyed much success in the export to European market. This essay reviews the history and operation of the major industries run by European companies in Hong Kong in the 19th Century to early 1900s. This short essay published by the Bedikton Company reviews the general situation of different industries in Hong Kong from 1841 to 1935. This essay from a commercial publication reviews the background and development of the Chinese-owned industries in Hong Kong.