The Orient Tobacco Manufactory [1908-????]
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Submitted by David on Mon, 2017-01-23 20:33
Current condition:
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed:
c.1908-01-01 (Month, Day are approximate)
The factory was completed in 1908 (see point 35 of the PWD Annual Report for 1908: "A Cigar Factory on K.I.L. 1203, Yaumati, was completed.")
The site is shown on the 1924 map at http://www.hkmaps.hk/map_1924.html, labeled "The Orient Tobacco Factory".
The 1941 Juror's List uses the "Manufactory" name, and lists several staff:
| c | Almeida, Jose Maria d' | Accountant, Orient Tobacco Manufactory | 582 Nathan Road, Kow1oon. |
| c | Basto, Arthur Jose de Castro | Clerk, Orient Tobacco Manufactory | 8 Humphrey's Avenue, Kowloon. |
| c | Tavastjerna, George Alexander | Store Manager, Orient Tobacco Manufactory | 228 Nathan Road, Kowloon. |
Hugh has gathered further information about the factory at http://industrialhistoryhk.org/orient-tobacco-manufactury-company/
Photos that show this place
 1910 |
 1934 |
Comments
Children's working conditions at the factory in 1921
This factory was included in the review of children's working conditions in 1921, and the interview with the manager is recorded on page 131:
Mr. Seiling, Manager, Orient Tobacco Factory—Mong Kok Tsui.
We employ from 500 to 600 hands, of whom 24 are children. There are 18 girls and 6 boys. The ages are as follows:—
1 of 12 years
9 from 12 to 14 years
14 „ 14 to 16 „
The children are day workers, they earn about 12 cents a day. They work 9 hours a day for 6 days a week. The children are the children of adults in our factory. I prefer children as we can train them. There is no overtime and no Sunday work. They work from 7-12 and 1-5. Most of our old hands came to us as girls and were trained by us. We have wages lists and could send returns. The pay of an adult is from 50 cents to $1 a day.
The full document is available at HKGRO: "REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE CONDITIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN HONGKONG, AND THE DESIRABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF LEGISLATION FOR THE REGULATION OF SUCH EMPLOYMENT."
1910 Oriente Tobacco Manufactory
Mention is made here of the operation of the Oriente Tobacco Manufactory in the Hong Kong Telegraph dated 29 January 1910. Scroll to Page 2.