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香港回望 HK Old Days, Hong Kong (2026)

05/10/2026

【美心怎樣靠怡和上位？】
How Did Maxim’s Rise to Prominence with Jardine Matheson?

日前的公佈指怡和系將退出美心持股，伍氏家族成為唯一股東。今天，讓我們回顧一下美心伍氏和怡和超過半世紀以來共同走過的歲月。

9月初一篇帖文，我們說到伍舜德、伍沾德兄弟1956年在中環連卡佛大廈創辦美心餐廳。初期，餐廳沿用過往經營酒店、戲院累積下來的人脈和套路，經常邀請外國名厨及表演團體助陣，很快便打響了名堂，是城中政要、名人聚腳的高尚食府。往後幾年，美心陸續開設了咖啡店，餅店、中式食府等。
然而，說到大規模擴張，轉捩點就在1972年，而一個關鍵的角色就是當時年僅34歲的怡和新任大班亨利凱瑟克Henry Keswick。他眼光獨到、作風進取，9月一上任，馬上發動旗下的置地公司收購牛奶公司，為此密密聯絡牛奶公司的原有股東，包括陸海通陳氏和伍舜德等。收購戰的契機，讓凱瑟克與伍舜德結緣，怡和提出入股美心，佔一半股權，美心伍氏兄弟全權負責管理和營運，怡和不過問。

10月7日收購戰尚未公開化，怡和已公佈和美心合組美心食品有限公司，計劃在1972至1973年內，讓美心分店由12間大幅擴展至20間，包括進駐新落成的中區地王、怡和總部康樂大廈(今怡和大厦)。

收購戰熾熱上演的11月23日，怡和轄下的置地，宣佈與美心合作模式﹕置地提供旗下優質地點，以及龐大的資金作後盾。1972年11月底，怡和贏得收購戰，牛奶公司同樣由置地持有。

自從與怡和合作後，美心得以高速發展。1972年12月22日，第一間美心快餐在皇后大道中開幕，定位中環上班族食堂，提供熱狗和漢堡包等便捷選項。1975年英女皇訪港時，曾在海運大廈舉行2,000人參加的盛大招待會，食物就是由美心集團一手包辦。到了1982年，美心又與地鐵簽署合約，在15個車站開設餅店。短短10年，美心在怡和集團的助力下，網絡飛躍式擴展。

1986年，牛奶公司成立一百週年之際，置地分拆牛奶公司，以牛奶國際名義重新在香港聯交所上市，置地原持有的50%美心股份，轉由牛奶國際持有，直至2022年牛奶國際改稱DFI零售集團，與美心的關係始終未變。

現時美心由伍舜德孫兒伍偉國掌舵，他的代表作是取得Starbucks, 元氣壽司、千両、COVA 等品牌的經營權，令集團保持年輕化和多元化。昨天的報道指，怡和系的DFI退出美心持股後將接手經營Starbucks。

至於時常被稱為美心後人的伍淑清，她是美心另一創辦人伍沾德的女兒，但沒有參與美心的具體營運。

#美心 #伍淑清 #牛奶公司 #伍舜德 #伍沾德 #伍偉國 #怡和 #置地

How Did Maxim’s Rise to Prominence with Jardine Matheson?

Following the recent news that Jardines exited its stake in Maxim's and left the Wu family as the sole shareholder, today we look back at the origins of their half-century partnership.

In a previous article, we covered how the Wu brothers founded Maxim's Restaurant in Central in 1956. Leveraging their experience in the hotel and cinema industries, they frequently invited guest chefs and performance troupes from abroad.

Maxim's quickly made a name for itself as a high-end dining spot. Over the following years, the group gradually expanded into cafes, bakeries, and Chinese fine dining.

However, the major turning point for large-scale expansion came in 1972, driven by 34-year-old Henry Keswick, the newly appointed Taipan of Jardine Matheson. Visionary and aggressive, Keswick launched a hostile takeover of Dairy Farm via Hongkong Land shortly after taking office in September. To secure the deal, he reached out to key Dairy Farm shareholders, including the Chan family of Luk Hoi Tong and Wu shun Tak.

This high-stakes takeover brought Keswick and Wu shun Tak together, leading Jardine Matheson to acquire a 50% stake in Maxim’s. The agreement stipulated that the Wu family would retain full operational and management control, while Jardines remained a silent partner.

On October 7, before the takeover war fully went public, Jardine Matheson announced the formation of Maxim’s Caterers Limited in partnership with Maxim's. The plan was to aggressively expand Maxim’s footprint from 12 to 20 branches within 1972–1973, including flagship operations inside Connaught Centre (now Jardine House)—the newly completed prime Central site that served as Jardines' corporate headquarters.

On November 23, amidst the peak of the takeover battle, Hongkong Land (under Jardines) formally outlined its partnership with Maxim's: Hongkong Land would provide prime real estate locations and solid financial backing. By late November 1972, Jardines won the takeover, bringing Dairy Farm under Hongkong Land.
With Jardines’ backing, Maxim’s entered an era of rapid growth. On December 22, 1972, the first Maxim’s Fast Food opened on Queen’s Road Central, catering to white-collar workers with convenient items like hot dogs and hamburgers. During Queen Elizabeth II's royal visit in 1975, Maxim's catered a grand reception for 2,000 guests. By 1982, Maxim's secured an agreement with the MTR Corporation to open bakeries across 15 metro stations. In just a decade, Maxim’s footprint expanded exponentially with Jardines’ support.

In 1986, to mark Dairy Farm's centennial, Hongkong Land spun off the company, re-listing it on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong as Dairy Farm International. As part of this corporate restructuring, Hongkong Land’s 50% stake in Maxim’s was transferred directly to Dairy Farm International. This partnership remained unchanged even after Dairy Farm International rebranded as DFI Retail Group in 2022.

Today, Maxim’s Group is led by Wu shun Tak’s grandson, Michael Wu. Under his leadership, the group acquired local franchise rights for global brands such as Starbucks, Genki Sushi, Sen-ryo, and COVA, keeping the portfolio youthful and diverse. News reports a few days ago indicated that DFI Retail Group, part of the Jardine Matheson group, will take over the operation of Starbucks.

Meanwhile, Annie Wu (Wu Shuk-ching), often referred to as the descendant of Maxim’s, is the daughter of co-founder James Wu and has not been involved in the group's day-to-day operations.

25/09/2026

【70年前怎樣過中秋?】
How Was Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated 70 Years Ago?

從小喜歡中秋，愛它翌日的假期，是漫長新學年第一個喘氣位；愛中秋夜可以玩燈籠，大模大樣出夜街和「玩火」；愛和哥哥及姊妹指著從雲裡冒出來的皎潔明月興奮叫嚷；愛倦了回家吃擺滿一桌的月餅和柚子、柿子、菱角。近年來，香港的月餅銷情持續向下，也許是食物款式更多樣化了，又或者人們著重健康飲食，不敢多吃，而互相餽贈的風氣也淡了。

今天想介紹70年前，即1956年中秋節的情況。當時，月餅是中秋必備的食品，每家每戶都會買很多盒送禮自奉。報章指出，香港每年在中秋銷售的月餅，總值在數百萬元以上，隨了本地市場，更遠銷日本、東南亞、甚至澳洲。

因此，對很多茶樓餅家來說，月餅市場是兵家必爭之地，由於利潤高，有的做一季便足以應付全年的開銷。著名的茶樓，例如高陞、蓮香、雙喜、瓊華、得雲等，為吸引顧客，個多月前便裝飾一番，晚上也燈火通明。此外，他們還在報章上大賣廣告，宣傳自家產品的特色。

五、六十年代很流行做「月餅會」，人們每年中秋可預訂來年購買的款式和數量，按月供款，到明年中秋取貨。

今天，我們喜歡去維園或各區看中秋燈會，然而70年前的迎月夜，人們也流行賞月遊河，不少社團、商業機構都會租遊覽船，在船上搞聯歡晚會，提供美食、音樂，還有遊戲及抽獎。例如，由六大錶行舉行的遊河會，便送出亞米茄、天梭等名貴手錶，更送上秋季大馬票一張，讓美夢延續。

富商霍英東，當年也以地產發展商身份，舉行豪華遊船聯歡晚會，邀請粵劇紅伶演出，到深夜才盡興而歸。

此外，渡海小輪、荔園、半山、淺水灣都遊人如鯽，大坑則有舞火龍表演。中秋之後的第一場足球比賽，也有舞龍舞獅助慶，還邀請得立法局華民代表郭贊點晴，海軍總司令欣榮將軍也是座上客。

#中秋節 #中秋節 #高陞 #蓮香 #雙喜 #瓊華 #得雲 #荔園 #大坑 #月餅

【How Was Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated 70 Years Ago?】

When I was a child, I loved the Mid-Autumn Festival. The day after was the very first public holiday of the new school term. On Mid-Autumn night, we could carry colorful lanterns through the streets, pointing at the moon emerging from behind the clouds with excitement, and then head home to enjoy mooncakes. In recent years, sales of mooncakes in Hong Kong have continued to decline. This may be due to a wider variety of food options available today, a growing focus on healthier eating, or simply a fading culture of exchanging festive gifts.

Today, I’d like to introduce what the Mid-Autumn Festival was like 70 years ago, back in 1956. At that time, mooncakes were an essential part of the celebration; every household bought many boxes both to give as gifts and for self-enjoyment. Newspapers reported that annual mooncake sales in Hong Kong during the festival exceeded millions of dollars.

As a result, the Mid-Autumn mooncake market was a fiercely contested battleground for many Chinese tea houses. Because profit 、margins were so high, a single season's earnings were enough to cover an establishment's operating expenses for the entire year. Famous tea houses like Ko Shing高陞, Lin Heung蓮香, Sheung Hei雙喜, King Wah瓊華, and Tak Wan 得雲decorated their venues well in advance to attract customers. They also took out prominent newspaper advertisements to highlight the unique qualities of their products.

In the 1950s and 1960s, "Mooncake Clubs" were immensely popular. People could pre-order the types and quantities of mooncakes they wanted for the following year and pay in monthly installments, collecting their orders when the festival arrived.

Today, we enjoy visiting Mid-Autumn lantern carnivals. Seventy years ago, however, people loved going on moon-viewing harbor cruises on the eve of the festival. Numerous community associations and commercial enterprises rent sightseeing boats to hold festive gala parties complete with fine food, music, games, and lucky draws. For instance, a harbor cruise hosted jointly by six major watch retailers gave away luxury timepieces from brands like Omega and Tissot, along with Autumn Grand Cash Sweepstake tickets 秋季大馬票 to keep the dream alive.

Tycoon Henry Fok 霍英東, then operating as a real estate developer, also hosted a lavish cruise party featuring performances by famous Cantonese opera stars, with guests celebrating well into the night.

Everywhere else was equally bustling: the Cross-Harbour Ferries, Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park荔園, Mid-Levels, and Repulse Bay were crowded with visitors, while Tai Hang大坑 hosted its famous Fire Dragon Dance. Even the first football match after Mid-Autumn featured lion and dragon dances to mark the occasion; Kwok Chan郭贊, the prominent Chinese representative, was invited to dot the eyes of the dragon, with Rear-Admiral Reid, Commodore of the Royal Navy, attending as an honored guest.

07/09/2026

【美心創辦人—戲院大王變飲食大王】
Maxim’s Founders: How a Cinema Tycoon Became Hong Kong’s Food & Beverage King

最近幾篇文章，筆者介紹過幾位20世紀初期的台山人，今天的主角是美心集團創辦人伍舜德，他和弟弟伍沾德都出身於台山鄉里陳符祥創辦的陸海通集團，伍舜德與陳氏除了是同鄉，更同是嶺南大學校友，今年我們看看伍舜德如何透過陸海通，成為五六十年代香港戲院業一哥，再開拓全新領域，成為中式餐飲業鉅子。

伍舜德少年喪父，家貧，母親將他送到廣州就學，他學業和體育成績同樣優異，大學時期擔任過中國棒球隊隊長，遠赴國外比賽。1935年伍氏在嶺南大學經濟系畢業後，便加入陸海通，最初在六國飯店任職會計，因表現出眾，1944年獲擢升為司理，其後更晉身董事會，成為核心决策人之一。

戰後，他專責集團的戲院業務，在他的努力下，皇后戲院於1952年成為香港戲院之冠。伍舜德很重視推廣活動，1958年電懋出品的電影「四千金」獲得亞洲影展最佳影片後，在皇后戲院上映，他邀請了港督柏立基夫人和女兒，與戲中主角一起到戲院觀賞，大收宣傳之效。

1960年代，陸海通的戲院版圖更涵蓋麗聲、皇都戲院，伍舜德被委為三間戲院的經理，經常與外國片商洽談播映版權，當年轟動一時的英國安妮公主大婚紀錄片、以及世界盃足球賽事影片的香港播映權，都由伍舜德親自洽商，影片空運到港之後，亦由他親自接收。作為幾間龍頭戲院的負責人，伍舜德在戲院業界很有江湖地位，1964年更出任戲院商會主席。

說了這麼久還是陸海通，伍氏兄弟在甚麼契機下創立美心呢?話說1956年，伍舜德和弟弟伍沾德有鑑於在高級西餐廳進食時，總被安排在洗手間附近位置，心裡很不服氣，決定自己搞一家西餐廳，於是在徵得陸海通董事會同意後，兩人在中環連卡佛大廈地庫開設美心餐廳暨夜總會，踏出了創業第一步。

伍氏兄弟和陸海通一直保持良好的關係，陸海通早前慶祝成立100周年，印製了一本紀念特刊，當中有好幾頁，介紹幾位老臣子的貢獻，其中一位便是伍舜德。文章稱讚他具備卓越才幹、過人膽識和忠誠，是「推動陸海通百年基業拓展的重要人物」。下一篇文章，我們再看看美心發展和壯大的經過。

#伍舜德 #伍沾德 #台山 #陳符祥 #陸海通 #美心 #嶺南大學 #電懋 #邵逸夫 #安妮公主 #世界盃足球

In recent posts, I’ve introduced several prominent figures of Toishan heritage from the early 20th century. Today’s spotlight is on Wu Shun Tak, co-founder of the Maxim’s Group. Both he and his younger brother, James Tak Wu, got their start at Luk Hoi Tong, a company founded by fellow Toishan native Chan Fu Cheung.

Beyond their shared hometown roots, Wu Shun Tak and Chan were both alumni of Lingnan University. Today, let's explore how Wu Shun Tak leveraged his role at Luk Hoi Tong陸海通 to become a titan of Hong Kong’s cinema industry in the 1950s and 60s, before venturing into new territory to build a food and beverage empire.

Having lost his father at a young age, Wu grew up in poverty. His mother managed to send him to Guangzhou for his education, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. During his university years, he served as captain of the Chinese national baseball team and competed internationally. After graduating with an economics degree from Lingnan University in 1935, he joined Luk Hoi Tong as an accountant at the Luk Kwok Hotel六國飯店. Thanks to his stellar performance, he was promoted to Company Manager in 1944 and eventually joined the board of directors as a core decision-maker.

After World War II, Wu took charge of the group's cinema business. Under his stewardship, the Queen’s Theatre emerged as Hong Kong’s premier cinema venue by 1952. Wu placed a strong emphasis on promotional events. In 1958, when MP&GI’s電懋 Our Sister Hedy 四千金won Best Picture at the Asian Film Festival, it was shown at the Queen’s Theatre. To maximize publicity, Wu invited Lady Black柏立基夫人 (wife of the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Robert Black) and her daughter to attend the screening alongside the film's lead actresses.

By the 1960s, Luk Hoi Tong’s cinema portfolio expanded to include the Royal Theatre麗聲戲院 and the State Theatre皇都戲院. Wu served as manager for all three venues, often negotiating broadcast rights directly with foreign distributors. He secured the Hong Kong screening rights for major events of the era—including the high-profile documentary of Princess Anne’s royal wedding and official FIFA World Cup films—taking delivery of the reels as soon as they air-freighted into Hong Kong. As the head of these flagship cinemas, Wu held immense clout in the industry and was elected Chairman of the Hong Kong Theatres Association in 1964.

So, how did the Wu brothers transition from Luk Hoi Tong to founding Maxim’s? The turning point came in 1956. Frustrated by repeatedly being seated near the restrooms whenever they dined at upscale Western restaurants, the Wu brothers decided to open a premier Western restaurant of their own. With the blessing of the Luk Hoi Tong board, they launched the original Maxim’s Restaurant & Nightclub in the basement of the Lane Crawford House in Central, marking their first step into entrepreneurship.

The Wu brothers maintained a close, enduring relationship with Luk Hoi Tong over the decades. When Luk Hoi Tong celebrated its centennial, the company published a commemorative book featuring several key veterans who built the business, highlighting Wu Shun Tak’s immense contributions. The feature described him as a figure of talent, courage, and loyalty—"helped build the solid foundations upon which LHT stands today." In the next post, we’ll look at how Maxim’s expanded into the food and beverage powerhouse it is today.

19/08/2026

【陸海通和上水廖氏淵源】
The Historical Ties Between Luk Hoi Tung and the Sheung Shui Liu Clan

前兩篇文章提到的陸海通集團，原來也是上水石湖墟的大業主，對區內佈局和發展也有主導作用，讓我們追溯這段近百年的關係是如何建立起來。

早前提到，祖籍廣東台山、後來到美國經營藥行的陳任國， 1920年代初看見香港有發展空間，便與曾在廣州嶺南大學就讀、然後從商的兒子陳符祥來港，創辦陸海通有限公司，從事銀業、保險、藥行、旅館等業務。1930年代初，陸海通陳氏家族看見愈來愈多華人移居香港，土地價值開始攀升，便與上水廖氏家族合作，在廣東銀行等的支持下，於上水購入大片土地，並於1932年成立上水置業有限公司。

自此，陳氏家族視這些土地和物業是世代資產，在不斷變化的環境中提供穩定的收益。

戰後，上水置業由陳符祥的弟弟陳康祥打理。陳康祥也是個傳奇人物，他的出身與商業扯不上關係，他早年遠赴德國習醫，在柏林大學考獲醫學博士，1926年回國後，出任中山醫學院院長，1930年代來到香港，曾在容龍創辦療養院。他其後兼任陸海通人壽保險醫務顧問。1946年起擔任上水置業主席。

上水置業與上水廖氏家族關係密切，石湖墟內一些社區設施，例如學校、診所等，上水置業都曾捐出土地或以金錢支持。例如，1932年，廖氏家族在宗族祠堂廖萬石堂創辦的鳳溪小學，於1947年打算擴張時，上水置業便將石湖墟市場收益五成半佣金用作支持學校營運開支。

1953年為慶祝英女皇加冕，上水舉行舞麒麟、搭牌樓、放煙花等活動，所需費用，除了政府資助外，餘額由區內商戶承擔。當中上水置業獨力認捐1,500元，獲得報紙特別點名報道。

1950年代石湖墟曾發生大火，災後百廢待興。1958年上水置業分別捐贈土地予中華基督教宣道會興建小學，以及捐出土地予賽馬會，興建石湖墟賽馬會診所。

至今，區內一些道路，例如符興街、新康街、新祥街，就嵌入了陸海通主事人的名字，而符興街的興字則是從廖氏的廖紹興而來，這些街道代表了陳氏和廖氏在上水建立了近百年的深厚關係。

#陸海通 #英女皇加冕 #新康街 #新祥街 #上水廖氏 #廖萬石堂 #鳳溪中學 #上水置業 #石湖墟 #陳任國 #陳符祥 #陳康祥

The Historical Ties Between Luk Hoi Tung and the Sheung Shui Liu Clan

The Luk Hoi Tung Group was not merely a corporate entity; it was also a major landowner in Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui, playing a central role in shaping the district’s early layout and urban development.

In the early 1920s, Chan Yam Kwok—a native of Toishan, who had operated a pharmacy in the United States—spotted business potential in Hong Kong. Partnering with his son, Chan Fu Cheung, he founded Luk Hoi Tung Company Limited. The enterprise quickly expanded into native banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, hospitality. By the early 1930s, backed by the Kwangtung Provincial Bank and other financial institutes, they joined forces with the influential local Liu clan of Sheung Shui to acquire extensive tracts of land, establishing the Sheung Shui Land & Investment Company, Limited in 1932.

For the Chans, these holdings were envisioned as intergenerational legacy assets, designed to yield steady income across changing political and economic landscapes.

Following World War II, management of Sheung Shui Land & Investment fell to Dr. Chan Hong Cheung, younger brother of co-founder Chan Fu Cheung. Dr. Chan led a colorful life outside the typical corporate track. Having traveled to Germany in his youth to study medicine, he earned his doctorate from the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universittat in Berlin. Upon returning in 1926, he served as Dean of the Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University in Kwangtung. Moving to Hong Kong in the 1930s, he established a sanatorium at Dragon Inn and served as doctor for Luk Hoi Tung Life Insurance Co. before assuming the chairmanship of Sheung Shui Land & Investment in 1946.

Under his leadership, the company maintained close ties with the Sheung Shui Liu clan. Sheung Shui Land & Investment donated land and capital to support local community infrastructure, including schools and clinics. In 1947, when Fung Kai Primary School—originally established by the Liu clan inside the Liu Man Shek Tong Ancestral Hall in 1932—was expanding, the company pledged 55% of its commission earnings from the Shek Wu Hui Market to cover the school's operational expenses.

During the 1953 celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, Sheung Shui hosted grand festivities featuring Qilin dances, ceremonial arches, and fireworks. Beyond government grants, local merchants raised the remaining funds, with Sheung Shui Land & Investment single-handedly contributing HK$1,500—a gesture prominently highlighted in local newspapers at the time.

When a devastating fire swept through Shek Wu Hui in the 1950s, leaving the area in urgent need of reconstruction, the company stepped up again. In 1958, it donated land to the Christian and Missionary Alliance to build a primary school, alongside another plot dedicated to constructing the Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club Clinic.

Today, streets in the district such as Fu Hing Street, San Hong Street, and San Cheung Street still bear the names of the key figures behind Luk Hoi Tung. The character Hing in Fu Hing Street was taken from Liu Shiu-hing of the Liu clan, symbolizing the deep relationship established between the Chan and Liu families in Sheung Shui.

01/08/2026

【歲月長青：灣仔六國飯店】
The Luk Kwok Hotel of Wan Chai

灣仔有一家六國飯店，早於1933年開業，至今快有一個世紀。它也是由我們上一篇文章談到的陸海通所創辦。

陸海通的故事，要從1920年代的上環說起。創辦人陳任國、陳符祥父子看中上環是華商集中地，也是聯通國內外金融、航運、貿易的樞紐，對客棧、旅店服務需求很大。以銀號起家的陸海通，很快在上環設立陸海通旅館，提供住宿、餐飲、外匯兌換、旅遊及票務等廣泛服務，從此奠下經營旅館的基礎。

1930年代，陸海通打算大展拳腳。適逢歷時10年的灣仔填海工程完成，為陸海通進一步發展高級酒店的大計，提供了嶄新的舞台。

六國飯店於1933年落成，臨海而立。它樓高七層，外貌宏偉壯麗，馬上成為灣仔地標。它是當時灣仔最高的大廈，也是首間設有中菜館的酒店，同時亦是灣仔區首家設有升降機的大廈。

六國飯店的住客，在歲月中亦經過多番轉變，默默見證著灣仔的發展軌跡。1930年代，富裕人士移民美國前夕，會在碼頭附近的六國飯店暫住，等候上船；日治時期，六國飯店曾被日軍徵用；1960年代的灣仔是著名的紅燈區，酒吧夜總會林立，娛樂事業發達，吸引不少外籍水手前來消遣，一些美國海軍第七艦隊船員也喜歡入住六國飯店。荷里活以香港為題材的著名電影《蘇絲黃的世界》，其原著小說中提及的酒店Nam Kok Hotel，就是以六國飯店為藍本。

六國飯店頂層曾開設一間高級的甘露夜總會（Jambo Room）。場內設計別開生面，以非洲為主題，所有裝潢和擺設都一絲不苟，連牆上懸掛的斑馬皮都特地由非洲選購。夜總會設有茶舞與晚舞時段，並有駐場樂隊演奏，氣派十足。

隨著時光流逝，1970年代起灣仔再次填海，建成今天的灣仔北。六國飯店於1986年宣佈拆卸重建，並於1989年落成。新建築物樓高30層，涵蓋六國酒店及辦公樓層。在灣仔歷經多次填海發展後，這座曾經的臨海地標輾轉變成了區內眾多高樓之一，但它懷舊的面貌，依然訴說著歲月的滄桑。

#六國飯店 #陸海通 #陳任國 #陳符祥 #灣仔 #蘇絲黃的世界 #水手 #陸海通旅館 #甘露夜總會

The Luk Kwok Hotel of Wan Chai

Standing in the heart of Wan Chai, the Luk Kwok Hotel traces its roots all the way back to 1933, carrying a brand history that spans nearly a full century. Just like the subject of our previous article, this legendary hospitality brand was founded by the Luk Hoi Tong Company.

The story of Luk Hoi Tong takes us back to 1920s Sheung Wan. Father-and-son founders Chan Yam-kwok and Chan Foo-cheong recognized that Sheung Wan was not only a bustling hub for Chinese merchants, but also a crucial node linking finance, shipping, and trade. Demand for lodging was through the roof. Having built their empire in native banking, Luk Hoi Tong quickly established the Luk Hoi Tong Hotel in Sheung Wan. Offering everything from rooms and dining to remittance, travel, and ticketing, it laid the groundwork for their hospitality legacy.

By the 1930s, the company was ready to make its big move. As luck would have it, the massive Wan Chai reclamation project—a decade in the making—had just wrapped up, offering the perfect waterfront stage for Luk Hoi Tong’s next big play: a premier luxury hotel.

When the Luk Kwok Hotel opened in 1933, it commanded the shoreline. At seven stories tall, its grand architecture instantly turned it into a Wan Chai landmark. It held several claims to fame: the tallest building in Wan Chai, the first hotel to house a fine Chinese restaurant, and the very first building in Wan Chai equipped with an elevator.

Over the decades, the faces passing through its lobby mirrored the evolving story of Wan Chai itself. In the 1930s, wealthy locals bound for the United States would stay at the waterfront hotel while waiting to board their ships. During WWII, the hotel was commandeered by Japanese occupying forces. By the 1960s, Wan Chai had morphed into a famous red-light district teeming with neon-lit bars and nightclubs. It became a magnet for foreign mariners, including servicemen from the U.S. Seventh Fleet who frequented the hotel. In fact, the Nam Kok Hotel featured in the original novel behind the iconic Hollywood film The World of Suzie Wong was directly inspired by the Luk Kwok.

Adding to its glamour, the hotel’s top floor housed the upscale Jambo Room (known locally as 甘露夜總會). Designed around an authentic African safari theme, no expense was spared—right down to the real zebra hides imported from Africa hanging on the walls. Hosting fashionable tea dances and evening galas accompanied by a live band, it was the epitome of mid-century sophistication.
With the passage of time, further land reclamation starting in the 1970s gave rise to modern-day Wan Chai North. The Luk Kwok Hotel was slated for redevelopment in 1986 and reopened in 1989 as a modern 30-story tower, housing both the contemporary Luk Kwok Hotel and commercial offices.

Through Wan Chai’s endless cycles of land reclamation, the hotel has transitioned from a solitary waterfront beacon into one skyscraper among many. Yet beneath its modern skyline presence, the heritage of the Luk Kwok quietly carries the rich, bittersweet nostalgia of Hong Kong's bygone eras.

12/07/2026

【百年老字號陸海通坐鎮中環】

中環心臟地帶有一條戲院里，旁邊曾經是皇后戲院，不少人仍記憶猶新。戲院已經在2007年結業，現址改建為以其所屬企業命名的陸海通大廈(LHT Tower)。這家企業向來低調，其實它歷史悠久，成立至今剛好100周年，灣仔六國飯店、九龍彌敦酒店、北角皇都戲院、新界容龍別墅都是它旗下的項目，你可知它的創辦人有甚麼來頭?

陸海通集團的創辦人陳任國、陳符祥父子，是20世紀初台山幫代表之一。

台山的男丁，大多出外打工，陳任國也不例外，他在美國三藩市經營藥行幾十年，其間還結識了孫中山，加入同盟會，透過捐款支持革命。1921年與兒子陳符祥開始籌辦陸海通，部份資金從美國招股集資而來。1922年先在香港成立陸海通銀號，從事附貯按揭、匯兌等，獲利後再購買其他物業。在1926年陸海通註冊為有限公司，業務遍及銀業、保險、藥房、旅店。陳氏父子在政商界也很有地位，與國民政府軍政界中人熟稔，1933年陳任國舉辦壽宴時，政要胡漢民、孫科、陳濟堂都有致賀。

1930年代是陸海通發展的重要里程，公司在中環、灣仔及彌敦道的投資項目，至今天仍是不少人的共同回憶。由於篇幅關係，先集中談位於中環皇后大道中31號的皇后戲院。

皇后戲院於1924年5月由同屬台山同鄉的華人領袖馬叙朝與中國近代電影先驅盧根合辦，前身是香港映畫戲院。1931年陸海通購入了皇后戲院作收租用途，成功躋身中環核心地段，從此對這片土地不離不棄。初時的皇后戲院，是豪華和時尚的代名詞，它是首批引入空調的戲院之一，也率先播放有聲電影，在業界很有地位。

1958年陸海通啟動重建計劃，將戲院所在地改建作13層高、包括商店、戲院及辦公室的綜合大樓。它是香港最早採納玻璃幕墻及扶手電梯等先進元素的建築物之一。1961年，陸海通大廈奠基禮上，邀請了被時人冠以「香港人瑞」美名的104歲許濟遜老人主持，正好反映了陸海通追求長期經營、穩健發展的理念。

2007年，第二代皇后戲院結業，原址改建為今天29層的LHT TOWER，由名建築師嚴迅奇及團隊設計，摺疊式幕墻象徵舞台帷幕，呼應著它昔日的戲院風光。

今年是陸海通成立100周年，除了在報紙上刊登特刊，陸海通大廈也設有展板，介紹公司走過的歲月。

#陸海通 #皇后戲院 #嚴迅奇 #台山 #同盟會 #陳任國 #陳符祥 #馬叙朝 #盧根 #孫中山 #六國飯店 #彌敦酒店 #容龍別墅
A Century-Old Legacy: How Luk Hoi Tong Secured a Foothold in Central

In the bustling heart of Central lies Theatre Lane, situated right next to a site that still triggers a wave of nostalgia for older generations of Hong Kongers: the old Queen’s Theatre. Though the silver screen went dark for the last time in 2007, the location was reborn as LHT Tower, named after its low-profile parent company, the Luk Hoi Tong Company.

While Luk Hoi Tong rarely courts the media spotlight, it is a quiet titan celebrating its centenary this year. Today, its name is inseparable from this prime Central location, but its storied history actually began a century ago with a diverse portfolio that came to include the Luk Kwok Hotel 六國飯店 in Wan Chai, the Nathan Hotel 彌敦酒店 in Kowloon, the State Theatre 皇都戲院 in North Point, and the legendary Dragon Inn 容龍別墅 in the New Territories. But do you know the background of the empire's founders?

The masterminds behind the group were Chan Yam Kwok陳任國 and his son, Chan Fu Cheung陳符祥—two defining figures of the early 20th-century "Toi Shan Clique."

Like many young men from the Toi Shan region, the elder Chan left home to seek his fortune abroad. He spent decades running a successful pharmaceutical business in San Francisco. It was there that he crossed paths with Sun Yat-sen and joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance 同盟會, personally financing the revolution through donations. By 1921, Chan and his son began laying the groundwork for Luk Hoi Tong, partially funding the venture by rallying capital from investors back in the United States.

In 1922, they opened the Luk Hoi Tong Native Bank 陸海通銀號 in Hong Kong, leveraging profits from mortgages and remittances to aggressively buy into local real estate. Incorporated as a limited company in 1926, the firm quickly diversified into insurance, pharmaceuticals, and hospitality. When Chan Yam Kwok celebrated a milestone birthday in 1933, the guest list of well-wishers read like a Who’s Who of the Nationalist Government, including statesmen Hu Hanmin 胡漢民, Sun Fo 孫科, and Chen Jitang 陳濟堂.

The 1930s proved to be the golden era of expansion for Luk Hoi Tong, yielding investments across Central, Wan Chai, and Nathan Road that remain anchored in Hong Kong’s collective memory.

Originally opened in May 1924 by fellow Toi Shan community leader Ma Tsui Chiu 馬叙朝 and Chinese cinematic pioneer Lo Kan 盧根 on a site previously occupied by the Hong Kong Theater 香港映畫戲院), the Queen’s Theatre was acquired by Luk Hoi Tong in 1931. It was a strategic masterstroke, planting the company flag firmly in the absolute center of Hong Kong’s business district. In its heyday, the Queen's Theatre was the ultimate symbol of cosmopolitan luxury. It was among the first in the city to introduce air conditioning and pioneer the screening of "talkies" (sound films).

In 1958, Luk Hoi Tong launched a major redevelopment plan to transform the cinema site into a 13-story mixed-use complex comprising retail shops, a theatre, and corporate offices. The design featured a glass curtain wall and escalators, making it one of the very first buildings in Hong Kong to pioneer these modern architectural elements. At the building's foundation stone-laying ceremony in 1961, the company invited 104-year-old Hui Chai-shun許濟遜—affectionately revered by contemporaries as "Hong Kong's Centenarian" due to his incredible longevity—to officiate. It was a symbolic gesture that perfectly mirrored Luk Hoi Tong’s corporate philosophy of longevity and steady, sustainable growth.

When the second-generation Queen’s Theatre finally closed in 2007, the site was redeveloped into the sleek, 29-story LHT Tower we see today. Designed by renowned architect Rocco Yim, the building's striking, folded glass facade mimics a cascading stage curtain—a brilliant architectural nod to the cinematic history that paved its way.

As Luk Hoi Tong hits its 100-year milestone, the company is celebrating with a retrospective exhibition inside LHT Tower, alongside special media supplements, offering the public a rare look at the quiet century of heritage.

14/06/2026

【三周年感言】

不經不覺，「香港回望」專頁面世已經三周年。開始時，筆者純粹想延續寫作「九巴初創20年」一書時，燃起對香港歷史的興趣；慢慢地，搜尋資料、撰寫帖文已變成生活的一部分，研究的領域和時間跨度，也越深越廣。

我始終堅持走深入研究，翔實報導的路線，不以市場為主導，只希望以文會友，與知音共享研究結果，為塵封的往事賦予當世意義。

三年下來，專頁已累積超過2,000名知音人沿途追隨，最近寫林護的帖文，更錄得超過156,000瀏覽量，以及12,000互動量，雙雙打破個人紀錄。令我自豪的是，這些數字全是自然流量，是讀者意見最真實的反映，沒有一分錢廣告投放。你們的支持，令我深受感動和鼓舞。我一定會加倍努力，回報大家的厚愛。

你們知道本專業的追蹤者是甚麼人嗎?

根據後台資料顯示，我們當中男女比例是67%比33%；年齡方面，以35至44歲、45至54歲兩個組別人數最多，合共超過半數，65歲以上、55至64歲, 以及25至34歲三組旗鼓相當，各佔14%左右。以上數據可見，這個歷史專頁，讀者的年齡層廣泛，並以中年人士為主。

地域分佈方面，香港本土讀者佔壓倒性的84.4%，英國的讀者也有4.5%，其他分別是加拿大2.7%，台灣1.7%，澳門1.5%，美國1.4%。

以下，我選錄了幾則過去兩年閱讀及互動人數較多的帖文，如果你當時沒有機會看，可以在這裡重溫。

【林護有幾犀利?】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Di6qEVJJG/
【英皇書院在波折中誕生】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BztT17Mu4/
【點解離島首間醫院在長洲？】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JRxjFRrCD/
【普慶坊﹕港史最嚴重塌樓慘案】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17HQWCcAYL/
【梁省德的淒美愛情故事】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GefCTDQg6/
【永安的光輝歲月】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cf71Lj51u/
【校服幾時開始?】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D3w9UoVA8/
【男拔過九龍】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HAAtwC6JK/
【何東嫁女】
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GsAEx2aS9/
【點解冇2號風球？】
https://www.facebook.com/share/17zTkBsgbm/

04/06/2026

【林護有幾犀利?】
How Remarkable Was Lam Woo?

你聽過聖公會林護紀念中學吧？林護除了對教會有貢獻外，他在建造業的江湖地位、他作為孫中山革命同志的事蹟，你知道多少呢？

林護是四邑新會人，是一個典型海外歸僑奮鬥致富的故事。由於父親早逝，他1876年14歲便到澳洲，在雜貨店當雜工。林護為人勤奮好學，工餘時還到鄰近青年會學習英文，他更在墨爾本受洗，加入聖公會。數年後林護來到香港發展，與兄長林裘謀合辦聯益建築公司，業務更遍及內地多個城市，成為20世紀初最重要的華人建造商，被推舉為香港建造商會首兩屆會長。

在香港，林護參與過不少工程，包括渣甸行、香港大酒店、聖保羅堂、聖保羅男女中學、拔萃男校、聖士提反書院、青年會等，部份建築物保存至今，被評為不同級別的古蹟。他在20世紀初，也替政府承辦灣仔填海計劃，在軒尼詩道、告士打道、洛克道、謝菲道發展地產項目，是當時全港最富有的華人基督教徒。

林護積極提升華人在教會的地位和參與度，1911年倡導興建首間位於中環鐵崗的華人教堂—聖公會聖保羅堂；他也是1914年聖保羅女書院(聖保羅男女中學前身)的創辦人及主要資助來源之一；他與青年會淵源深厚，除了捐款3千元興建上環的必列啫士街青年會外，也參與了尖沙咀青年會的建造工程。為表揚林護對基督教和教育方面的熱誠及捐獻，聖公會1970年開辦了一間以林護為名的紀念中學。

林護不僅在建造業、宗教和教育界受到推崇，他一直關心國是，是孫中山革命事業的忠實支持者，他1903年加入興中會，同年出資興辦革命言論機關「世界公益報」。無論在辛亥革命前，還是孫中山在廣東建立政權後，都一直提供財政資助，孫中山對他十分感激。由1925年孫死後至1927年南北統一，林護仍然不斷努力籌募捐款。

所以林護在1935年逝世後，孫中山的兒子、時任中華民國立法院長的孫科，為他出殯時執紼，並撰寫「墓表」，刻在林護的墓碑上，其中提到孫中山曾多次想向林護授官作表揚，林都推辭不接受；也提到林護為黃河氾濫捐出可觀金額救災、為興建寧陽鐵路奔走、解決鄉鄰之間的糾紛，盜匪焚刼鄉鎮時請兵清肅匪黨，因而被推舉為鄉長。「墓表」的內容，正反映了林護對家鄉事務的關心。

#林護 #聖公會林護紀念中學 #聖公會 #孫中山 #興中會 #聖保羅男女中學 #青年會 #聖公會聖保羅堂 #四邑 #拔萃男校 #辛亥革命

How Remarkable Was Lam Woo?

You’ve likely heard of S.K.H. Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School. But beyond his contributions to the Church, how much do you know about his preeminent status in the construction industry or his legacy as a revolutionary comrade of Sun Yat-sen?

Lam Woo was a native of Sze Yap —a classic tale of an overseas Chinese striver rising to wealth. Following his father’s early passing, he moved to Australia in 1876 at the age of 14 to work in a grocery store. Diligent and eager to learn, Lam studied English at a nearby YMCA after work. He was later baptized in Melbourne, joining the Anglican Church.

Years later, he moved to Hong Kong and co-founded Lam Woo & Co. (聯益建築公司) with his brother, Lam Kau-mow. Their business expanded across various cities in mainland China, establishing Lam as the most prominent Chinese contractor of the early 20th century. He was subsequently elected as the inaugural president of the Hong Kong Construction Association.

Lam Woo was involved in numerous landmark projects in Hong Kong, including Jardine House, the Hong Kong Hotel, St. Paul’s Church, St. Paul’s Co-educational College, Diocesan Boys’ School, St. Stephen’s College, and the YMCA. Some of these structures survive today and are classified as graded historic buildings. In the early 20th century, he also undertook the Praya East Reclamation Scheme for the government, developing real estate along Hennessy Road, Gloucester Road, Lockhart Road, and Jaffe Road. He was the wealthiest Chinese Christian in Hong Kong at the time.

Lam actively elevated the status and participation of Chinese members within the Church. In 1911, he advocated for the construction of the first Chinese church in Glenealy, Central—S.K.H. St. Paul’s Church. In 1914, he became a co-founder and primary benefactor of St. Paul’s Girls' College (the predecessor of St. Paul’s Co-educational College). His ties with the YMCA ran deep; in addition to donating $3,000 to build the Bridges Street YMCA in Sheung Wan, he participated in the construction of the Tsim Sha Tsui YMCA. To honor his devotion and contributions to Christianity and education, the Anglican Church founded S.K.H. Lam Woo Memorial Secondary School in 1970.

Lam Woo’s influence extended into national affairs as a loyal supporter of Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary cause. He joined the Revive China Society (Hsing Chung Hui) in 1903 and funded the establishment of the revolutionary newspaper 世界公益報 that same year. He provided consistent financial backing both before the 1911 Revolution and after Sun established his government in Guangdong. Sun Yat-sen remained deeply grateful to him. Even after Sun’s death in 1925, Lam continued his fundraising efforts until the Northern Expedition unified the country in 1927.

When Lam Woo passed away in 1935, Sun Fo—son of Sun Yat-sen and then-President of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China—served as a pallbearer and penned the "Tomb Inscription" carved onto Lam’s headstone. The inscription notes that Sun Yat-sen had repeatedly offered Lam government positions as honors, all of which Lam declined. It also recounts his generous donations to Yellow River flood relief, his efforts in facilitating the construction of the 寧陽鐵路, his role as a local mediator, and his successful petition for troops to clear bandits from his hometown, which led to his election as village head. These records reflect Lam Woo’s lifelong commitment to his roots and his country.

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