Geekay Export & Import Company Limited was established by Kundan K Lalchandani in 1950. Over the years, the company flourished and has grown into a leading toy company exporting products under its own brand name, Zinoki. The company now acts as a buying office for major department stores supplying merchandise manufactured under customers' private labels.

In its early years, the company's main line of business was in textiles, finished garments, electronics and sundries, which it exported primarily to Australia and Africa. Besides branching into the toy business, Geekay now also exports household products, hats, caps and sundries to Canada, USA, South America, South Africa, Europe and Australia.

The original company was a metal stamping factory founded in 1922 in Swatow, Guangdong, China, as the Chiap Hua Manufactory. In 1937, a branch factory was set up in Hong Kong and following a brief halt in operations during the occupation of Hong Kong a new company was incorporated in 1947 to undertake ship-breaking and deep sea salvage operations for the Hong Kong Government.

Nanyang Cotton Mill Ltd is a manufacturer of textiles and fabrics (cotton & denim), yarns, threads, and fibres and is also involved in real estate and investment holding activities.

Founded in 1878, the SGS Group is the world's largest verification, testing and certification organisation. SGS group has been the pioneer in the quality assurance industry since it was founded in Rouen, France, to control grain shipment in 1878. After 41 years, the company moved its headquarters to Geneva and Socie«te« Ge«ne«rale de Suveillance SA became a holding company in 1975. To keep pace with the trend of electronic business, SGS Group entered the e-commerce world in 1999.

SGS Hong Kong Ltd was established in 1959. Accredited by HOKLAS in 1987, SGS Hong Kong Ltd was approved to conduct laboratory testing for textiles and garments, food, environmental, toys and children's products. In 1992, SGS Hong Kong Ltd. established its International Certification Services (ICS) Division to further develop certification services, and six years later was accredited by CNACR in China. To cope with its expansion, the company moved to a more spacious office in Siu Lek Yuen in December 1998.

Throughout its 75-year history, Unilever Hong Kong has seen many changes within its own organisation and in Hong Kong society as a whole. Against a political and economic background of both turmoil and triumph, Unilever has worked alongside Hong Kong to help create the vibrant economy it enjoys today.

In 1925, Lever Brothers (China) Ltd set up its first Hong Kong office as a depot of Unilever's China Soap Company. Then, in the '50s, Unilever began to focus on the local market with the launch of its first detergent products, Breeze and Surf. It was also around this time that the company employed its own Hong Kong sales force to replace trading through its agent. An influx of immigrants to Hong Kong from China in the '60s pushed up demand for soaps, and led to Unilever developing its personal wash range of Lux and Pears.

With the boom years of the '80s, Unilever continued to build upon its then substantial personal wash and detergent operations with the launch of Dove and Jif. In 1987, Unilever's third category, personal care, made its mark in Hong Kong with the integration of the Chesebrough-Ponds operation, bringing greater focus to Unilever's global brand names, Pond's Vaseline and Pears.

In 1990, Unilever entered the beverage business when it took back the distribution of Lipton and integrated its Rickshaw brand in 1993. It was also in that year that the company was renamed to Unilever Hong Kong, reporting to Unilever China. With the rising living standards in the Mainland, the company broadened its personal product range with the acquisition of Hazeline in 1996 and Helene Curtis in 1998.

Wah Hing Trading Co specialises in a number of product lines which it exports to the world's major markets.

Year joined, 1951

In order to improve the overall competitiveness and optimise the internal resource use, China Resources decided in the year 2000 to restructure the business as oriented to distribution, property, technology, strategic investment. The listed companies under CRC leadership engaged in the above-mentioned business. Now, CRC has over 300 subsidiaries, with approximately 50,000 employees. Its total assets have grown to HK$560 billion, and its annual turn over amounts to HK$292 billion.

Founded in 1949, CDHL is one of Asia's leading manufacturers in the woven fabric, dyeing and printing business. With the commissioning of a new production facility in Yuen Long in 1992, CDHL has continued to invest in technology and R&D to bolster quality and productivity.

Menash International, an import & export company established in 1988, was set up as a subsidiary trading partner for its 36-year-old parent company M Nathurmal Brothers (HK) Ltd. M Nathurmal Brothers began in 1952 as a partnership between brothers Mangharam B. Hemnani and Nathurmal B. Hemnani. They set up in two offices, with the elder Nathurmal heading their Japan office, and younger Mangharam building a base in Hong Kong. In 1972 a limited company was formed in Hong Kong, M Nathurmal Bros. (HK) Ltd, and by 1977 Mangharam Hemnani's son Ashok M. Hemnani took over the reigns of the company.

Through its subsidiary company, H M Ashok was able to explore new markets and product lines with a fresh brand. Today Menash International operates independently under the partnership of Sunil A. Hemnani & Anil A. Hemnani.

Shroff & Co was established in Hong Kong in 1950 by S J Shroff, who was later joined by his brother H J Shroff. The firm's main line of business was initially buying silk from China to sell locally and to Macau. After a few years, the company started trading in various other fabrics and textiles, and expanded its markets to include re-exported to Middle Eastern countries

In the late 1950s, the company developed a garment manufacturing business in men's and children's wear. In the early '60s, the company expanded into the sundry business, including householdware, which later grew to account for 50 per cent of the company's turnover.

Year joined, 1953

In 1925, the decision was taken to expand operations beyond Shanghai and a company was set up in Hong Kong. Following the death of Haakon J Wallem in 1951, this was the base for the expansion of the group in the 1950s and 1960s, catering principally to the new breed of Hong Kong shipowners. Wallem's ship management skills helped numerous Hong Kong shipowners to get their budding fleets under way.

The late 1960s and 1970s saw a rapid expansion of shipowning in Hong Kong with new-buildings ordered from Japan and long-term charters to Japanese industrial groups. Making good use of Hong Kong's lower operating costs, Wallem was to become one of the largest independent ship managers in the world.

Through the decades, Wallem has continued to build its network, opening offices through Asia and in Europe and the USA. Wallem returned to its roots with the re-establishment of its Shanghai office in 1987 to take advantage of the opening up of China's economy.

In December of 1959 the company was incorporated and had by that time moved its offices from Wyndham Street to 27 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong. The company was mainly involved in the import of fabrics and gift items from Europe and USA for sale in Hong Kong. By this time two of Mr Sani's sons, Lal and Ishwar, had joined the family business and the third son, Dipo, followed in their footsteps in 1961.

In 1965 the company moved its offices to Prince's Building, Central. It was also during this year the company first started its export department and invested in manufacturing which specialised in the export of hair products, sweaters and woven garments to Europe and United States of America.

In the mid-seventies the company further expanded and moved its offices from Central to Ocean Centre in Kowloon. By this time the company concentrated its efforts on the production and export of ready-made garments sourcing from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia exclusively to the U.S.

In March 2000 the company moved its offices from Kowloon back to Hong Kong Island and is currently situated in the Bank of America Tower, Central. With a combined staff of over 100 and offshore offices the company continues to specialise in the export of ready-made garments to America. This year the company will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1947, United Chinese Bank Limited is one of the oldest independent Chinese banks in Hong Kong. The bank has a strong tradition of providing professional and efficient services to its customers. The Bank became a part of The Bank of East Asia Group in 1995.

A. de O. Sales & Co Ltd was formed in 1955, and its main activities are trading and investments. The company was preceded by R. C. Sales & Co in the 1930s in Hong Kong and J. P. Sales & Co in Canton in the first quarter of the century.

About six months after Wei Yit started producing basic vacuum flasks for the local market, Hong Kong fell to the invading Japanese forces, but production was re-established soon after the war.

Initially, essential parts for the flasks were made in five small workshops located in different parts of Kowloon. In 1956, all major production departments were moved into a purpose-built integrated factory at Tai Kok Tsui, and the company developed significantly.

In 1964, Wei Yit became the first local factory to make deep-drawn 18/8 stainless steel hollowware and insulated serving lines for the hotel and catering industries, as well as domestic applications.

Wei Yit developed markets in Europe and the U.S. to expand its traditional exports to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as well as local sales. Then, in the 1970s the company co-operated with some European factories to manufacture custom-made products.

The steady growth of the company meant that it had soon outgrown its factory by the early '80s. The company bought a plot in 1982 in Kowloon Bay, and in 1986 again moved into a custom-designed factory housing eight manufacturing departments. Today, it is still the sole user under the ownership of the Leung family.

"Looking back on the last half century, Wei Yit is the only vacuum flaskmaker in Hong Kong out of a dozen in the '50s. We believe in high quality products and would like to live up to the literal meaning of Wei Yit -- "Unique."

In 1950, Pacific Air Maintenance (PAMAS) merged with Jardine Air Maintenance Company, to form Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ð today better known as HAECO. Listed on the Hong Kong stock market since 1965 and controlled by Swire Pacific, HAECO is the largest aeronautical engineering company in Asia in terms of capability, employing a staff of some 3,700.

Manetta & Co Ltd is involved in the trading, services and wholesale business. The Company's chief is K S Fung.

Lea Hin Co Ltd is a typical Hong Kong trading company, and is headed by Siew Wai Lau.

The Herald Group embraces toy, houseware, computer head and timepiece divisions with operations in Hong Kong, Mainland China, UK, France and Germany. The group has its origins in Herald Metal & Plastic Works Limited, now the operating company of the toy division, first established in 1969. In the mid 1980s, Herald diversified into other fields of manufacturing through the acquisition of two other businesses Ð houseware and computer heads.

Mitsubishi Corporation is one of the world's most diverse enterprises. Generally classified as a trading company, Mitsubishi Corporation has decades of experience doing business around the world. The company's extensive network and wide-ranging activities give it a decisive edge in gathering the timely, accurate market information vital to success.

From a small chemicals company founded in Brooklyn in 1849, Pfizer has grown to become one of the world's premier research-based pharmaceutical companies dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines for both humans and animals.

Yee Lee Industrial Chemical Ltd was established in 1936 as a supplier specialising in a wide range of high-quality industrial chemicals and materials. The company has established longstanding relationships with international chemical manufacturers and acts as a distributor or local sole agent with clients in the textile, electronics, electroplating, plastics and food-processing sectors.

Headed by Men Fong, Lea Tai's main business line is in services, but the company is also involved in property, construction and engineering.

Dah Way Co Ltd is a traditional Hong Kong trading company specialising in a variety of product lines. The company is headed by Hing Sai Lai.

Aurora Chow & Company was established in 1941 in Shanghai by Aurora H T Chow. The company moved to Hong Kong in 1950 and set up office on the second floor of 49 Queen's Road Central. In the 1960s it moved to the P&O Building on Des Vouex Road, where in the 1980s it opened a lapidary under the name Taiwan Jade and Gem Corporation. In 1986 the company bought its own premises in Quarry Bay.

Aurora H T Chow ventured to start a Limited Company in Taipei, as well as another in Tokyo, all under the name of Aurora. However, due to differences in business principals with the local opeating partners, the Taiwan branch was sold off and the name changed to Aurora Corporation Taiwan. The Japan branch was also sold and its name changed to Aurora Trading Company.

The import and export of a wide range of goods was the core of Aurora's business in its early years, but it was the gemstone business that was the founder's greatest love. Today, founder Aurora H T Chow, now in his eighties, still exhibits great enthusiasm and love of gemstones. With the help of his son, Peter Chow, the company is still extremely active dealing in both finished and unfinished gemstones.

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd was established in 1996 when Bank of Tokyo and Mitsubishi Bank merged to create the largest bank in the world at that time. Both banks were established in Japan in 1880.

Its operation in Hong Kong started in 1952 when Bank of Tokyo established its representative office and in the following year opened the branch to focus on trade finance business for local companies. Mitsubishi Bank started its operation in Hong Kong in 1970 as many international companies, including Japanese companies, were looking into the growing economy in Hong Kong. During 1980s and 1990s, both banks expanded and diversified their operations to accommodate for the increasing business volume from both local and international customers.

In the 1990s, more Japanese companies expanded their businesses to Hong Kong, which was known to be the gateway to Mainland China, and received support from both banks. Since the merger, with the co-operation of its Kowloon and Shenzhen branches and Guangzhou representative office, the bank's customers who are extending their businesses to Southern China received enhanced benefits in services.

Established in 1936, Cheoy Lee provides shipbuilding and ship repairing service for all types of vessels, fibreglass craft and yachts as well as shipping services and operator of mild/alloy steel foundry.

Eisenberg & Company Hong Kong was established more than 30 years ago, as part of the Eisenberg Group of Companies. Eisenberg & Co (HK) Ltd has strong connections in China and Far East Asian countries and has vast experience in trading activities dealing in a wide range of goods.

The Federation of Hong Kong Industries was established by the government in 1960 under the Federation of Hong Kong Industries Ordinance. The federation's prime objectives are to serve the many needs of Hong Kong industrial and business communities. It actively promotes trade, investment, technological advancement, manpower development and business opportunities in Hong Kong.

The company is mainly involved in trading clothing and clothing accessories, but also trades cereals, oils, sugar, spices, toys and toiletries among other items.

S Framjee & Co Ltd, was established in Shanghai in 1934 by the late Soli Framjee Shroff. Initially, the company specialised in the manufacture and export of silk goods mainly to India and the Middle East. The firm moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and joined the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in 1960. In Hong Kong, the firm's main business was the manufacture, import and export of silk and cotton textile goods and garments to the U.K., South American and the Middle East.

In the early 1980s, through an initial contact introduced by the HKGCC, S Framjee & Co Ltd diversified its product base by exporting small quantities of watches to the USA under the brand name ÒFOSSIL.Ó The watch business developed to such an extent that it forced the company to curtail its traditional textile trading business and concentrate on building up an infrastructure to sustain its fast expanding watch business.

Today, Jal Soli Shroff, son of the founder of S Framjee & Co Ltd, is a director of ÒFOSSIL Inc,Ó a public company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange with annual net sales in excess of US$500 million. The company has manufacturing plants in China and its management offices in Hong Kong employ over 700 staff.

From humble beginnings, S Framjee & Co Ltd Ð like many other local companies Ð has through hard work, integrity and honesty expanded far beyond the imagination of its founder.

Mitsui & Co. (HK) Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co, Ltd, Japan, one of the world's largest international trading companies, ranked 6th in ÒFortune Global 500Ó in 2000.

Mitsui & Co. was founded in July 1876 to pursue trade as a private enterprise. It has helped drive the development of the Japanese economy and has contributed to growth in many economies around the world by creating new flows through business investments in new enterprises and industrial sectors. It has built its extensive global network, which includes more than 880 consolidated subsidiaries and associated companies and more than 10,000 employees at fiscal year-end.

Mitsui's Hong Kong branch was set up in 1878 and Mitsui & Co. (HK) Ltd. was incorporated on March 23, 1976. It has 124 employees and 21 subsidiaries and associated companies, with trading transactions of HK$14.8 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000. Mitsui & Co. (HK) Ltd. is positioned to play a very important role in meeting client needs more precisely and offering high-value-added solutions to help clients attain their business objectives mainly in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta and is striving to enter into China's growing market through joint ventures with Hong Kong's business partners. Under the new Long-Term Management Vision released in April 1999, Mitsui is aiming to give new value to its services by enhancing its IT-related capabilities and combining these seamlessly with its financial technology and logistics technology to offer the additional value for clients.

From its modest beginning as Sony's first representative office in Asia, Sony Corporation of Hong Kong has grown to become a major operation for the Sony Group in the Asian region. Today, the company has expanded to include five main business units, namely Hong Kong Marketing Company, Broadcast & Professional Products Asia Company, Electronic Devices Marketing Hong Kong Company, Consumer Sales & Marketing Group, and Recording Media & Energy Sales & Marketing Group. The company has also established four representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Sony Corporation was founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita in 1946. The word ÒSonyÓ was coined by combining Òsonus,Ó the Latin root for sound, and Òsonny,Ó meaning little son. The name intends to personify a very small group of young people who have the energy and passion for unlimited creation.

Sum Shui was founded in 1956 as a small factory employing around 100 workers to make leather watch straps. In its early years, the company exported most of its production to Southeast Asian markets, but as business grew it opened a branch factory in Macau in the 1960s and expanded its markets to include Japan, USA, England and continental Europe. When China opened its doors to investment in the early 1980s, Sum Shui moved its Hong Kong and Macau factories to the Mainland, which helped the business expand rapidly.

The core of Sum Shui's business focuses on manufacturing and exporting watch straps, but it has also moved into production of all kinds of non-metal straps made of various natural skins and manmade materials. The business is supported by a strong design team, as well as a modern engineering and tooling department. Sum Shui is also a regular participant in the world's most important watch fairs Ð the March show in Basel, Switzerland, and the Hong Kong show in September.

G Doulatram & Sons has been involved in trading since 1927. Over the years, it has built up a reputation for quality exports from the Far East, due to its connections with manufacturers in source countries. The company's main line of business is in the textile and clothing business, but it also handles a wide range of goods from spices to furniture, and has branch offices in the Mainland, Taiwan, Thailand & Vietnam.

Hay Nien is involved in the distribution, wholesale and environmental services, and trading in a wide range of goods, from textiles to vehicles.

Established in 1959, Perfekta is one of the leading OEM toy manufactures in Southeast Asia. The company has factories in Guangdong, China, employing over 5,000 workers. Perfekta manufactures all kinds of toys, including pre-school toys, soft toys and dolls for most of the major toy companies in America.

The company has been trading in Hong Kong for over 40 years, buying engineering components, spare parts, raw materials and garments from Mainland China, which it then exports to its primary markets Ð Japan, Europe and the U.S.

The company moved into manufacturing in 1964 with the establishment of Interocean Fishery Supply Ltd to produce plastic monofilament, twine and ropes for use in the fishery industry. In 1972, it opened a polyurethane (PU) synthetic leather factory Ð the first such factory in Asia outside Japan Ð which was relocated to Shenzhen in 1992. In 1985, the company established ÒXiamen United Oversea Enterprises Ltd in Xiamen City, Fujian to produce polyolifin bags.

In 1992, an associate company, United Fujian Electricity Investments Ltd, was formed to invest in a 200,000 KWt power plant in Fujian Province.