Hongkong Land at 125 - Hongkong Land Holdings Limited

[John Hjorth]

Hongkong Land at 125, by Hongkong Land Holdings Limited [SGX:H78], first [and only] 2014 edition :

 

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

The book is the story about the development of the company today called Hong Kong Land Limited [, today controlled by Jardine Matheson], and thereby also the story of the development and evolution of Hong Kong.

 

The history and milestones of Hongkong Land is available at the company website here : Hongkong Land : History and milestones .

 

The book is available for reading [but not downloading] here : Hongkong Land at 125 .

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

The first time I became aware of the existence of this book, by diving into, by then, 'the Jardines' - Jardine Matheson and Jardine Strategic [the latter now merged into Jardine Matheson] - I was just 'sold', I had by that instantly evolved this - totally irrational - 'urge', need, attraction, 'libido' [<-? ], sick? [<-], as a 'definitely and absolutely 'must own', need to have, whatever it takes' relation to the book, because I coulden't back then find any for sale anywhere.

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

Today, I found it - finally! -, at Abebooks.co.uk, at The Petersfield Bookshop, 16A Chapel Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, United Kingdom GU32 3DS [The Internet is a fantastic thing!] :

 

 

- - - o 0 o  - - -

 

Christ, I had to pay up! - Abebooks isen't exactly Ebay! ... Now I need to find out how to smuggle this thing into the house, while I'm under 'book sactions!' [I suppose first part of that lesson - any way - will contain 'Yes Dear...'!]

Edited February 2, 2025 by John Hjorth

[Spooky]

Looks interesting, congrats on the find! How is the book? I lived in Hong Kong for a little while, it is a beautiful place.

[John Hjorth]

@Spooky,

 

It hasen't arrived yet here in Denmark.  There are today tariffs on books from UK to Denmark, after UK left EU, so it'll take some time. To me, the physical specimen is more of a collectors item, because everyone can read the digital version of the book by using the second link in my starting post. 

 

It's clearly an anniversary book. I don't who got a copy, when it was released back in 2014. But I suppose, assume and guess it was a gift to business relations, including known shareholders, of Hongkong Land Limitied, which may also be the reason I found it in a UK book store.

[texual]

If you or anyone else comes across any books that are related to Chinese/Taiwan/HK or any major Asian real estate and property, corporate history or otherwise - please share! I would love to get a perspective on things like Evergrande, or just how the Chinese cities grew over the last half century.

 

 

[John Hjorth]

3 hours ago, texual said:

If you or anyone else comes across any books that are related to Chinese/Taiwan/HK or any major Asian real estate and property, corporate history or otherwise - please share! I would love to get a perspective on things like Evergrande, or just how the Chinese cities grew over the last half century.

 

Thank you, @texual, !

 

-For my part, I would expand it globally!, so both for companies, that may have folded, and stopped doing business, and to books about companies still around!

[Xerxes]

5 hours ago, texual said:

If you or anyone else comes across any books that are related to Chinese/Taiwan/HK or any major Asian real estate and property, corporate history or otherwise - please share! I would love to get a perspective on things like Evergrande, or just how the Chinese cities grew over the last half century.

 

 

I have bought this one just last week, after the topic rekindle my interest on JARDINE Matheson thread. 
 

 

Another brook is Kings of Shanghai, there is a thread in the Book section. There is also two more book recommendation in that thread. 
 

There are James Clavell novels. The Asian Saga. That covers the opium war and Hong Kong to a certain degree. There is a thread in the Book section.

 

 

 
 

 

it is said that Robert Elegant’s third book did for Hong Kong, what James Clavell did for Japan with Shogun. I have this book and have not read it yet. 

[John Hjorth]

Above, absolutely great leads, teasers and book recommendations from our shared Master CofB&F Bookworm @Xerxes here, to get more knowledgeable, & wiser! - Thank you! 

[Xerxes]

Thank you John. 
I got a few more books to post. Couple of them I finished during my trip. Will do so in a little while. 

[John Hjorth]

@Xerxes,

 

No matter how you present your personal book reading experiences here on CofB&F, please keep them coming, thank you!  - They are indeed highly valued, by your personal  sharing of them.

[John Hjorth]

Hum-ho : ,

 

Waiting for this book to arrive, is like investing for the long term : Wait, wait, wait, - then wait some more ...  :

 

 

[John Hjorth]

Today, the book arrived at my place at 14:30.

 

The book is at by nature of the trade second hand, the condition was stated as 'good' [which at some market places certainly is subject to inflation], and good it was, -mint condition, except one reasonable small dent in the font binding, and some small scriblings with an old fashion graphite pencil in upper right corner on the page inside the front binder, that perhaps by their content signals this book may have been an element of a large book collection earlier in the books life and existence.

 

The book was packaged meticulously and with care, for protection under transport.

 

The book immediately runs into the top ten list of my personal favorite books that I own, because of the quality applied in the production process, the use of gold print, print quality in general, quality of colour photos, etc.

 

It's simply that gem, I expected it to be. Great experience to receive it today.

 

Here is a screen shot of the corner book shop I made the deal with, located basically in the middle of nowhere, a bit North of Portsmouth on the English South Coast. Its mind boggling to think about what it is actually possible to do and execute on in the world we live in today.

 

Edited February 11, 2025 by John Hjorth

[xo 1]

Amazing!!  Thanks for letting us witness the excitement of the arrival and unpackaging.  The online version you linked earlier is gorgeous.  I can only imagine the beauty of the print edition.  

[John Hjorth]

33 minutes ago, xo 1 said:

Amazing!!  Thanks for letting us witness the excitement of the arrival and unpackaging.  The online version you linked earlier is gorgeous.  I can only imagine the beauty of the print edition.  

 

You're welcome, @xo 1 , -my pleasure! ,

 

I am still nosy about how this book ended up in this corner book store in a small town in the south of Great Brittain. Abebooks.co.uk provides a communication feature / module to communicate with sellers, in the evening at the day of recieval, I did send this to The Petersfield Bookshop :

 

Quote

Hi there,

 

My order at you for a specimen of 'Hongkong Land at 125' arrived safe and unharmed at my home in Denmark today.

 

I'm very pleased and happy with the trade and the deal.

 

Thank you for being so very meticulously with the packaging for safe and secure transport to me.

 

Is there any way you can provide some insights to how this specimen of a very rare book about a Hong Kong Real Estate Investment company has found its way into your book store in the Southern Part of Great Britain?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Sincerely yours,

John Hjorth

 

My expectations for a reply is about nill, the are no potential sale or earnings related to answering me, -anyway, let's see.

[Xerxes]

On 2/4/2025 at 3:48 PM, John Hjorth said:

Above, absolutely great leads, teasers and book recommendations from our shared Master CofB&F Bookworm @Xerxes here, to get more knowledgeable, & wiser! - Thank you! 

 

I noticed that Amazon Prime has put back The Noble House mini-TV series. 
 

It is based on James Clavell fourth novel if my count is correct. Follows the “renamed” trading company in Hong Kong in 1960s but set in 1980s in the show. As per wiki the building that is depicted a lot in the show is indeed the former HQ of House of Jardine. 
 

It is pretty good.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_House_(miniseries)

[Rainier]

That show is pretty good.
 

I’ve been going down a rabbit hole regarding the Asian trading houses (reading about the real life hongs and also reading Clavell’s Tai-Pan novels). I knew a little about the history, but not a lot. I was surprised to learn the massive amount of influence these guys had on huge chunks of the Asian economy. Not just Hong Kong but India and Japan and the smaller countries too. Very interesting (and still impactful) slice of history that I bet like 99% of Americans are ignorant of. I certainly was.