Chinese Middlemen in Hong KongAEs Colonial Economy, 1830û1890 (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia)

The traditional view of the Hong Kong colonial economy is that it was dominated by Western companies, notably the great British merchant houses, and that these firms enlisted support from Chinese middlemen ? the compradors ? who were effectively agents working for the foreign firms. This book, which presents a comprehensive overview of the compradors and their economic and social functions over the full period of colonial rule in Hong Kong, puts forward a different view. It shows that compradors existed before the beginning of British rule in 1842, discusses their economic and social roles in the colonial economy, roles which included activities for foreign firms, for the government and to support compradors? own commercial activities, and outlines how the comprador system evolved. Overall, the book demonstrates that the compradors played a key role in the formation and development of Hong Kong?s economy and society, that they were active participants, not just passive servants of foreign companies.

• | Author: Kaori Abe
• | Publisher: Routledge
• | Publication Date: Nov 01, 2017
• | Number of Pages: 162 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Hardcover
• | ISBN-10: 1138684406
• | ISBN-13: 9781138684409