See Security Markings Group II – 1 Note

Agra Bank, Limited (1867-1900)

The Agra and United Service Bank was incorporated in Calcutta, India in 1833. By 1857, it had several agencies in India and one in Canton. In 1857, the bank moved its head office to London. Not long afterwards, it was incorporated as a British bank. In 1864, after a merger, the name was changed to Agra and Masterman’s Bank. The bank failed in the financial crisis of 1866. It was reconstituted in 1867 as Agra Bank, Limited. At one time or another, there were branches in Edinburgh and Paris, as well as in India, Australia and China. Its Shanghai office opened in 1858. It opened a branch in Hong Kong in 1862 and issued banknotes up to the $500 denomination. The bank was placed in voluntary liquidation in 1900 due to over exposure in the tea industry in India.

Michel Houde (December 2011)

[3]

See Security Markings Group I – 3 Note

[4]

See Security Markings Group I – 6 Note

[5]

F. BLACKHEAD & CO.

In the early days, before the establishment of
Hongkong as a British Colony, Whampoa was the farthest point to which the Chinese permitted foreign ships to proceed up the West River. Many difficulties were experienced at this port by vessels in obtaining stores, and it was this fact which led to the establishment of the firm of F. Blackhead & Co. by Mr. B. Schwarzkopf. Purchasing a dismantled Chinese junk of suitable proportions,
Mr. Schwarzkopf commenced business on the waters of the harbour in 1855. There was a good opening for the new venture, but many restrictions were placed upon foreign traders by Chinese officials, and there was little guarantee of protection against the pirates who infested the Chinese waters. In spite of all obstacles, however, Mr, Schwarzkopf built up a thriving trade. But when the troubles at Canton culminated in war between England and China the business was removed to Hongkong, and here it has remained, progressing with the Colony year after year. At about the time when the headquarters were removed from Whampoa to Hongkong a branch was established in the Portuguese city of Macao, where there was great activity in shipping circles on account of the coolie trade. This branch, however, was not destined to meet with overmuch success, for in 1874 the many abuses of the coolie traffic had become so glaring that the traffic was abolished, and the firm, by withdrawing, anticipated the steady decline in Macao's importance as a shipping port.
During Mr. B. Schwarzkopf's life Messrs. Smith, Schoenemann, Hoeinike, and F. Schwarzkopf were admitted as partners, and the business was conducted by them until 1903, when Mr. Smith and, later on, Mr. Schoenemann left for Europe. They did not, however, live long after their return to the homeland. The firm's offices are now in that magnificent pile on the water front known as St. George's Buildings. Here they stock everything that comes under the heading of ship's stores, for they are contractors to the German, Austrian, and Russian Navies. They are also interested in the coal trade of the Colony. Some years ago they acquired a large parcel of land, known as Blackhead's Point, at Kowloon, having an extensive deep water frontage, and here they built godowns and a pier constructed on Differdingen piles capable of accommodating quite large vessels. For many years a conspicuous feature of the shipping in the harbour has been Messrs. Blackhead's large hulk, bearing an advertisement of the famous Red Hand Brand of composition for the bottoms of iron ships, for which the firm has the sole agency in the Colony. The only European sail-making business in Hongkong, also, is conducted by Messrs. Blackhead & Co. Even this does not exhaust the list of their industries, for at Shaukiwan they have established a large soap and soda factory, details of which are given in the section of this work devoted to industries.
The present partners in the firm are Messrs. F. Schwarzkopf, son of the founder, and F. Hoehnke. They have branches at Neishiem, Tsingtau, and Tsinanfu, where the business is carried on under the style of F. Schwarzkopf & Co.

Source: p 218, Wright, Arnold, : Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and Other Treaty Ports of China: Their History. People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. London: Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, Ltd., 1908.

[6]

There is information on this firm and I have sourced the following from a research article belonging to the Hong Kong University, titled "The German Speaking Community in Hong Kong 1846 - 1918" written by Carl T. Smith. I think the article was written in the mid-1980s and Carl Smith had made use of information sourced from the Hong Kong Public Records Office.This is what he had to say about the company:

"Adolph Bourjau and Carl Albert Hubener were authorized to sign for L.E. Lebert and Oxford and Co. at Canton in 1858, but by the next year they were in business in Hong Kong under their own name ( Friends of China 18 March 1858, 31 May 1859). They were mentioned as emigrant agents in 1866 (Daily Press 1 November 1866). Mr. Bourjau continued as a senior partner until his death on 14 February 1873 ( Daily Press 5 April 1873).

Arthur Booth was a partner in 1862/3 and Oscar Booth from 1866 to 1869. Earnest Behre was the managing partner in Shanghai in the 1860s. Hermann Emil Hubener was admitted a partner in 1868. In 1861 Behre, Emil Hubener and A. Booth were assistants in the firm. Frederick Clause, another assistant, subsequently became a partner but left the firm in 1871 (Daily Press 2 January 1872), Gustav Adolph Wieler and his brother Oscar were assistants in 1866. Gustav became a partner in 1873. After the closure of the Bourjau, Huberer & Co, the two brothers formed the firm of Wieler and Co. It subsequently merged with Sander & Co. to become Sander, Wieler and Co."

Frank

[7]

operating in Hong Kong circa 1845 as Ship Chandlers and Storekeepers.
Adam Williamson

[8]

See Security Markings Group I – 14 Note

[9]

See Security Markings Group IV – 18 Note

[10]

See Security Markings Group I – 19 Note

[11]

See Security Markings Group I – 22 Note

[12]

See Security Markings Group I - 23 Note

[13]

See Security Markings Group I – 24b Note

[14]

See Security Markings Group V – 7 Note

[15]

See Security Markings Group I – 31 Note

[16]

See Security Markings Group I – 30Aa Note

[17]

See Security Markings Group I - 30A Note

[18]

See Security Markings Group I – 36 Note

[19]

See Security Markings Group I - 63 Note

[20]

Hong Kong & China Gas Company, Ltd. [1862 – still active]

In 1861, William Glen obtained the concession to supply gas to the city of Victoria. The Hong Kong & China Gas Company [Mui-hi Kung-sze] was incorporated on May 31, 1862. Its main office was located at 148 Gresham House, E.C. in London. The company was run from London until the headquarters were transferred to Hong Kong in 1954. Eventually the company became known simply as “Towngas.” On December 31, 1864, the lamps were lit for the first time.

Sometime before 1899, the firm became a limited liability company and added “Limited” to its name. The firm’s office, works and showrooms were situated at West Point. By 1930, they had their Central Showrooms at 2 Ice House Street.

During WWII, the Japanese operated the gas works until the supply of coal ran out. The plants were reactivated in January 1946 and full service was restored by 1950. Today, it is the leading public utility in Hong Kong.

Michel Houde 8/2013

[21]

When early trade with China was confined to Canton, most of the early traders operated in the import and export businesses, but some of the big Agency Houses undertook insurance business, representing some of the leading houses operating in life, fire and marine risks. Two insurance companies came under the general management of Jardine Matheson: the Hong Kong Fire Insurance Co. Ltd and the Canton Insurance Office Ltd.

Frank Drake
7-26-2013

[22]

The firm is mentioned in Dr. Solomon Bard's book: Traders of Hong Kong: Some Foreign Merchant Houses, 1841 - 1899. On page 74 of the publication, it mentoned, " The firm of Norton, Lyall & Co was first formed in 1871 by Robert Lyall and Edward Norton, and failed in 1875 during a depression. It was then re-organized as Norton & Co. trading at Duddell Street and later on at Queen's Road. It was still trading in the 1890s, but seems to have failed once more about the turn of the century"

Frank

[23]

See Security Markings Group I - 108B Note

[24]

Background information on this German firm: The firm was founded by William Charles Engelbrecht von Pustau who advertised in the Friends of China newspaper that on 1 Jan 1846, he would commence trading in Hong Kong and Canton under the name of William Pustau and Company. In 1848, the company was appointed agent for the Austrian Lloyd Steam Navigation Co. The firm failed in 1878, caused by over extension into real estate. Two sons of the founder members became partners and took over some of the firm's former businesses, trading under the new name of Reuter, Brockelmann & Co.

Frank

[25]

"The Honorable Wei Luk was the fourth Chinese to serve on the Legislative Council. He had another name Wei Bo-shan and Po Shan Road is named after him. He was born in Hong Kong in 1849 of a wealthy family, his father, Wei Kwong, being compradore to the Hong Kong branch of the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London and China (now the Mercantile Bank Ltd.). After many years of Chinese studies under private tutors, he entered the Government Central School. In 1867, at the age of 18, he proceeded to England to attend the Leicester Stoneygate School. In 1868 he went to Scotland and studied for four years at the Dollar Institution. After a European tour, he returned to Hong Kong in 1872 and then worked in China for a short period. When his father died in 1879 he succeeded him as compradore to the bank. He was a very public-spirited citizen, well known for his charming manners and pleasant personality. In 1880 he was elected a director of the Tung Wah Hospital and in 1887 became its Chairman. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1883. In 1996 was appointed as the Chinese Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council. He was also one of the early Chinese Freemasons."

Frank

[26]

A certified copy of a revocation and power of attorney, whereby Cheang Sing Yeong of Victoria, Hong Kong, revokes the joint power of attorney he granted to Yeu Sui Wan and Cheang Kam Poon on 28 March 1882 to carry out various tasks for him in Hong Kong, and grants these powers solely to Yeu Sui Wan, dated Hong Kong, 18 July 1882.

Jardine Matheson Archive