Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/232

224 in the Colony, and, while executing orders for all kinds of work for gentlemen, they specialise in riding-breeches and the popular Jodhpore styles. Their customers have the satisfaction of knowing that, by frequent visits to England, the firm keep in close touch with the fashions at home and on the continent. They work, also, in conjunction with one of their brothers, who carries on business in Conduit Street, W. He buys for them, and it often happens that when their customers retire from the Colony or go home on leave they transfer their orders to him, the name itself being a sufficient guarantee that they will be well served. At Wyndham Street the brothers keep a large assortment of cloths calculated to satisfy the most discriminating and fastidious, and if their client hesitates in his choice, they are able and willing to offer him sound advice which he is not likely to regret following.



 firm of Kelly &amp; Walsh, Ltd., publishers, printers, bookbinders, booksellers, and stationers, has been established for over thirty years, and has branches in Hongkong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Yokohama. The Hongkong branch was formerly situated in Queen's Road Central, whence it was removed a few years ago to the present handsome premises in York Building, Chater Road.

The local printing office is situated in Duddell Street, and is thoroughly well equipped. Messrs. Kelly &amp; Walsh carry a very large stock of books, and make a feature of those dealing with the Far East. 

 

DAVID SASSOON &amp; CO., LTD. firm of David Sassoon &amp; Co. ranks amongst the three or four oldest houses in the Colony, for it has been closely and prominently connected with the business of the island for upwards of half a century. Its special lines are Indian cotton yarn and Indian opium, the latter having attracted the founders of the firm from Bombay to Canton before Hongkong was in the hands of the British. Mr. David Sassoon, the founder of the house, was born in Bagdad in 1792, and settled in Bombay about 1832. His father enjoyed the proud title of Nassi, Prince of the Captivity, and, in virtue of that, was head of the Jewish community in Mesopotamia. After having been engaged for many years in the opium trade with Canton and South China, Mr. David Sassoon sent his sons to open branches and extend the interests of the firm. They obtained a very strong hold on the opium trade, and as soon as the trade of South China began to come through Hongkong they established their headquarters for China in the Colony. They were thus first in the market, and have retained a leading position since. The head office now is in London, and there are branches at Manchester, Calcutta, Bombay, and Karachi, as well as in Hongkong and Shanghai. In the early days the Company owned their own opium clippers, but these have, of course, long since disappeared. For many years David Sassoon &amp; Co. have represented the well-known Apcar Line of steamers, which maintains a regular service between Calcutta and Hongkong, and has recently extended its trips to Japan and Shanghai, sending a steamer about once every ten days. The firm is agent, too, for the Norwich Fire Insurance Company.

Messrs. David Sassoon &amp; Co. hold shares in many of the most important companies in Hongkong. Mr. Edward Shellim, the local manager, has a seat on the board of directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, the Hongkong Land Investment Company, the Hongkong Land Reclamation Company, the Canton Marine Insurance Company, the China Fire Insurance Company, the Hongkong Iron Mining Company, &amp;c. The firm is also a large property owner in the island. It will thus be seen to what an extent the enterprise has grown.

David Sassoon, the founder of the house, was succeeded by his son, Sir Albert Sassoon, Bart., who was born in 1818 and died in 1890. The present head of the firm is Sir Edward Sassoon, Bart., M.P.



 are certain businesses in Hongkong whose rise to prosperity and importance has synchronised with the progress and development of the Colony itself. Among the historic firms having their roots right down at the foundation of the Colony, that of Messrs. E. D. Sassoon &amp; Co. must certainly be included. It