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By delving into the story of the Swire family, you can not only see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also glimpse how commercial power influences the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng
- PublisherJoint Publishing (Hong Kong) Company Limited
- Publication Date2022
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By delving into the story of Jardine Matheson, one can not only see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also glimpse how commercial power influences politics and affects the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng
- PublisherJoint Publishing (Hong Kong) Company Limited
- Publication Date2022
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- Listening Sample
The Parsees, who emphasize "think not but of thy duty, and dare not to do what is not right," originated from Persia (now Iran) and settled in India. They believe in Zoroastrianism, worship fire, practice endogamy, and preserve the tradition of sky burial... These unique cultures not only make the Parsees stand out, but also affect their way of survival and business. Although the Parsees have a small population, their characteristic of being "good merchants and profit-makers" has made them loyal to the British Empire. They were selected as "Empire Partners" and followed the U.K. as it expanded globally. They have played their strengths in industries such as trading, transportation, shipbuilding, industry, banking, insurance, finance, and real estate, not only creating huge wealth for themselves, but also making their ethnic name engraved in modern business history. In Hong Kong, Parsee businessmen were once prosperous, but with the decline of the U.K.'s national strength and wealth, their business growth was also impeded. In addition, the endogamy culture and the change of reproductive attitudes of the new generation have made many Parsee family businesses unable to continue, and the ethnic group has gradually disappeared in Hong Kong. By revisiting the stories of four Parsee families - the Tatas, Modis, Godrejs and Wadias, not only we see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also how commercial power affects the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng Wan-tai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2022
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As Hong Kong opened up for international trade, the British, Jews, Parsees, and Chinese all made breakthroughs in business. However, the Macanese, who had the advantage of being a close neighbor and were already intermediaries between Chinese and Westerners, showed a "lack of business vigor". Some scholars even pointed out that "when the Chinese were swimming in a boundless ocean, the Macanese seemed to be trapped in a stagnant pool". As the non-Chinese ethnic group with the second largest population in Hong Kong, the Macanese can speak multiple languages and understand Chinese and Western cultures, giving them advantages in business ventures. However, they are not interested in business and would rather choose to be supporting workers in offices. The small number of Macanese who choose to start their own businesses have not been able to fight as hard as other ethnic groups, and as a result, they have not been able to create their own business empires. The story of the Braga family, which spans five generations, may be a typical example of the development of the Macanese in Hong Kong. This family has a long history in China, and when they moved from Macau to Hong Kong, they took advantage of the situation. The family is big, with high level of education, and were meticulous and hardworking... but even though they achieved success in many fields and had considerable influence, they did not leave a prominent mark on the history of Hong Kong's business. By delving into the story of the Braga family, not only can we see the interaction between family inheritance and corporate rise and fall, but also how business power influences the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng Wan-tai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2022
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The Sassoon family, once described as "unmotivated to be pioneers," did not rush to seize opportunities or strive to be the first in business, but always managed to stay ahead of others. As their business grew, they became one of the wealthiest Jewish families in the world. David Sassoon, who claimed to be a descendant of King David, was born in Iraq and was originally wealthy and well-known in the area. However, he was forced to flee to Mumbai after offending those in power. He then formed a business with his eight sons, relying on the trades of opium and cotton across two major markets of India and China, creating a grand commercial empire. With great wealth, the descendants of the Sassoon family made friends with the powerful. They succeeded in investments, and expanded their influence throughout the world. The descendants also excelled in different fields such as politics, business, and culture. But later, due to the fact that the descendants did not marry or have children, the family's headcount continued to shrink, and its development could not sustain. By delving into the story of the Sassoon family, not only can we see the interaction between family inheritance and business ups and downs, but also grasp how commercial power influences the development of modern China and the world.
- AuthorVictor Zheng Wan-tai
- PublisherJoint Publishing
- Publication Date2022
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