Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/252

244 the construction of quite a number of river steamers and launches, at the same time taking up the agency of the General Electric Company of England, and acting as representatives of other important machinery makers of the United Kingdom, amongst them Thornycroft, Allen, Dudbridge, and Petter. In December, 1906, the business was converted into a limited liability company, under the style of Wilks &amp; Jack. Ltd., with the former proprietors as general managers. Operations have been greatly extended since that alteration. New offices and show rooms have been opened in Des Voeux Road Central, and an electro-plating and electric repair workshop has been started in Robertson Road. Kowloon. The show rooms are replete with all the latest electric appliances, as well as with the newest types of incandescent gas fittings, and the agency for the Welsbach Company has been secured. The electro-plating ateliers are up to date in every respect, and are constantly being enlarged to cope with the increasing demands made upon them. The machinery in stock at Hongkong and Kowloon comprises steam dynamos, oil and gas engines, lathes, pumps, and steel tools, which are in the charge of Mr. Percival H. Nye, electrical engineer. A passenger launch, tug boat, and lightering service is also run in the harbour under the supervision of Captain O. B. Wilks, the firm being entrusted with important Government contracts in this branch of their business. The general managers having a complete knowledge of local requirements and a long and varied experience of marine engineering and shipbuilding in all its phases, undertake the permanent superintendence of steamers and launches running from the fort, inspect vessels and machinery of all kinds while under construction, and estimate for, or superintend, general repairs. They also submit designs and estimates for steamships and launches for sea or river service, and make a speciality of craft of lighter draft than have hitherto been built in Hongkong. Vessels are Inspected and trial trips run on behalf of prospective purchasers.





engineering work done by Kwong Hip Lung &amp; Co., Ltd., compares favourably with that carried out in the yards under European supervision. The business was established in 1877, on quite a small scale, with a capital of only $2,000, by Mr. Chan Wan Chi and some friends. An office was opened in Gilman Street, and here general repairs and engineering work of all kinds were executed. Owing to increasing trade larger premises at Wanchai were taken, and workshops were established at Fook Sun Yong. In 1890 the business, which had extended rapidly in all directions, was formed into a limited liability company, with a capital of $200,000. Mr. Chan Wan Chi is the managing director, and there is a consulting committee composed of Wong Pin Wa, Leung Auk Sang, To Lai Ting, Chan Tuen, and Yan Sang Hung. The Company build ships, carry out engineering work of all descriptions, undertake the raising of steamers and general salvage work, and have a number of steam launches for service in the harbour. The engineering works and slipway are on the Kowloon side of the water, near the Cosmopolitan Docks, while the offices are at No. 48, Connaught Road Central. The manager of the works is Mr. To Li Ting, and the assistant manager, Mr. Wong Pin Wa. There are about three hundred employés.

Mr. Chan Wan Chi, the managing director of the Company, is the son of a Canton merchant. He was apprenticed to the Hongkong Dock Company for eight years, and it was after leaving this employment that he started in business on his own account. He has several sons, some of whom are now assisting him in his work, Chan Ah Lun being engineer to the Company, and Chun Wei Nam assistant engineer, while Chan Ah Chui is an architect.



 well-known firm of engineers and shipbuilders was originally established by Mr. Choi Chik Nam, in 1897, for the purpose of building and repairing steam launches, river craft, &amp;c. Two workshops are now kept