Ben Keswick ?

I have done this site especially for Ben Keswick
in order to visit thishousewillexist.org

Sorry for my poor english translation.

1987 was a good year for Jardine Matheson, the Fortune 500, otherwise known as Jardines, JMS, firm or Noble House. In his press conference starting in 1988, Simon Keswick (the great, great, great, great nephew of William Jardine, co-founder of Jardine Matheson & Co.), proudly announced the resumption "full advantage of the group after its difficult years in the mid-1980s.

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HONG KONG, THE END OF AN EMPIRE

The Keswick, pillars of the local finance,

left the ship before the storm

LONDON

From our correspondent

particular

Attentive, delicious ways with more than a century of colonial gentry business (and knows), gesture and verb short of men of order and authority, without being brittle remote Simon Keswick, 51, brains of the Jardine Matheson group, may be only very classic "taipan", that great patron of Scottish trading house in Hong Kong, immortalized by the best-seller by James Clavell.

In fact, the chief engineer of the oldest company in the British colony often chose the risk. Like the acquisition of the British conglomerate Trafalgar House in 1992, a disastrous investment for releasing the venerable house of territory to the impending handover to China, which will occur in mid-1997. One can imagine what this son of internal rifts family of the Empire must have felt when reselling March 4 to a third of its value this lame duck in the Norwegian group Kvaerner.

PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY

Yet it is very difficult to be seen as a sentimental when it was formed at Eton College and when is an industrial dynasty of that ilk. His ancestor, who made his fortune by selling drugs to Mandarin, was the cause of the Opium War of 1842 and the seizure of the Crown Victoria Island. His father, Sir William, was director of the Bank of England and patron of the Hudson Bay Company. His elder brother Henry, president of the holding company, is married to an influential Conservative Party. Another brother, "Chips Keswick, chairman of the London merchant bank Hambros. The sudden burst of Simon, who, unlike his two brothers, has not been to university: state in its record of "Who's Who?" His passion for football club Tottenham Hotspur, installed in one of the poorest neighborhoods of north London.

CEO of Jardine from 1984 to 1989, Simon Keswick will transform the firm failed as a result of bad investments in real estate, oil or shipping a powerful and diverse group whose florets are Dairy Farm (supermarket chain. ..), Hong Kong Land (real estate company), Mandarin Oriental (hotel chains) and Jardine Fleming (bank).

Keswick style? "Loyalty is the first virtue. The brothers are animated by the inflexible determination that nothing escapes their control, "says a former right hand of Henry. This also continues to call the company "my company" when the family owns only 10% of capital. The two brothers that surround a small team of dedicated and faithful men, Scottish preference. If Asia continues to provide two-thirds of profits, the heart of the organization Jardine is installed in the City.

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BACK TO LONDON

Since signing the "Joint Declaration" of 1984 Sino-British under which Great Britain undertook to return the territory to China in 1997, Keswick no longer like Hong Kong. In London they were women and children, friends and business relationships. Is this the reason why, while Swire Pacific or Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation have chosen cooperation with China, the duo has continued to defy him in Beijing? Since 1984, the holding company is registered in Bermuda, a British colony. In 1989, following the events of Tiananmen, Henry publicly treats the Chinese government of "Marxist-Leninist thug and oppressive." In 1992, Simon goes on to argue the democratization projects of Governor Chris Patten, former Tory party chairman and family friend, exacerbating the already low. Last year, Jardine, whose center of primary listing in London, has withdrawn from the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong to register in Singapore.

Following the sale of Trafalgar House, Keswick Brothers are back to square one. They are currently negotiating the purchase of land in China ...

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Dairy Farm battered by competition
On October 21, 1999

In spite of disappointing interim results on its main markets, the regional leader maintains its Asian investments. Independently.
"Disappointing" was the comment of Dairy Farm International for its first half results, with sales down 1% and net earnings, excluding items, is down 16%. The group has suffered "more difficult trading conditions, intensifying competition and deflation caused by the economic crisis," says Ian Durant, Chief Financial Officer who replaced the French Island Ettedgui last year.
The two main markets of DHA were affected. In Australia, profits fell by half. Besides the fierce competition, the efforts of the Franklins brand to increase the supply of fresh produce have not had all the desired effect. Hong Kong, meanwhile, posted a sales decline of 8%, marked by a decline in consumption due to recession and a price war.
"Dairy Farm lack of aggressiveness and suffered movements in management, as the departure of boss Wellcome. This gives an impression of uncertainty and lack of direction, "judge a distribution specialist.
A slowdown in contrast to the original
In Taiwan, the group, which operates two hypermarkets with Casino, was that the start-up losses were higher than expected. "It is too early to judge the results and draw conclusions. We are trying to adjust the supply of products. Perhaps we will open a third store in 2000 but nothing is certain, "says Ian Durant. For its part, Casino announces study closely the situation: new local partnership or disengagement?

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But thanks to its focus on Asia, DFI is a powerful group and has a large war chest - he has just been awarded 166 million euros (1.09 billion francs) special dividend - which allows him to pursue a policy of systematic acquisition. And Dairy Farm has created in India, a joint venture (to 49/51) with the RPG group, which already owns 29 supermarkets. The idea is to develop a hundred stores in two years.
In 2000, DFI has three priorities. He wants to renovate and open new stores with an emphasis on fresh produce and innovate by introducing, for example, a corner fast food in its "convenience stores", explains the purchasing manager, Philip Gerard, a former Casino Director of Marketing and Development. Finally, the group aims effectiveness. In Hong Kong, the three brands share the services procurement, human resources and finance. An experience he wants to expand.
Chairman Simon Keswick is very clear: "This should take at least another year before Franklins recovers. The intensification of competition in Hong Kong will also be a negative impact on 1999 results. But he remains confident in the ability of DFI to becoming the leading Asian food and drugstores. While remaining an independent channel.
"Disappointing" was the comment of Dairy Farm International for its first half results, with sales down 1% and net earnings, excluding items, is down 16%. The group has suffered "more difficult trading conditions, intensifying competition and deflation caused by the economic crisis," says Ian Durant, Chief Financial Officer who replaced the French Island Ettedgui last year.

-> Site for Ben Keswick

The two main markets of DHA were affected. In Australia, profits fell by half. Besides the fierce competition, the efforts of the Franklins brand to increase the supply of fresh produce have not had all the desired effect. Hong Kong, meanwhile, posted a sales decline of 8%, marked by a decline in consumption due to recession and a price war.
"Dairy Farm lack of aggressiveness and suffered movements in management, as the departure of boss Wellcome. This gives an impression of uncertainty and lack of direction, "judge a distribution specialist.
A slowdown in contrast to the original
In Taiwan, the group, which operates two hypermarkets with Casino, was that the start-up losses were higher than expected. "It is too early to judge the results and draw conclusions. We are trying to adjust the supply of products. Perhaps we will open a third store in 2000 but nothing is certain, "says Ian Durant. For its part, Casino announces study closely the situation: new local partnership or disengagement?
But thanks to its focus on Asia, DFI is a powerful group and has a large war chest - he has just been awarded 166 million euros (1.09 billion francs) special dividend - which allows him to pursue a policy of systematic acquisition. And Dairy Farm has created in India, a joint venture (to 49/51) with the RPG group, which already owns 29 supermarkets. The idea is to develop a hundred stores in two years.
In 2000, DFI has three priorities. He wants to renovate and open new stores with an emphasis on fresh produce and innovate by introducing, for example, a corner fast food in its "convenience stores", explains the purchasing manager, Philip Gerard, a former Casino Director of Marketing and Development. Finally, the group aims effectiveness. In Hong Kong, the three brands share the services procurement, human resources and finance. An experience he wants to expand.
Chairman Simon Keswick is very clear: "This should take at least another year before Franklins recovers. The intensification of competition in Hong Kong will also be a negative impact on 1999 results. But he remains confident in the ability of DFI to becoming the leading Asian food and drugstores. While remaining an independent channel.

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Northern Electric in the crosshairs of Trafalgar

Fabrice ROUSSELOT

London

Our correspondent The power company is the subject yesterday of a hostile takeover. This is the first time a takeover attempt is made against one of the firms privatized by John Major in 1990.

In an unprecedented announcement, the conglomerate holding the Ritz hotel chain and cruise ship Cunard has launched a takeover bid yesterday against Northern Electric, one of the twelve British electricity companies, based in Newcastle (Northern England ) and which serves 1.4 million people. Trafalgar House, which has interests in construction, had announced his intentions last week. "We are confident in our ability to help Northern Electric to operate more efficiently, had assured the group's chairman, Simon Keswick.

Detailing of its offering, including Trafalgar House has offered to buy the shares of Northern Electric in groups of ten, while offering 65 shares to new investors. The conglomerate has also proposed that a discount of about 20 pounds (170 francs) au1er quarter of all consumers connected to the network of Northern Electric.

Even if the British government had agreed to electric utilities to sell their capital, the OPA should be followed closely by the City.

Surplus of companies "We are on uncharted territory, said yesterday an analyst for James Capel. This should result in many others. If the takeover is concluded, we will witness a revolution in the electricity network in the UK. So far, the twelve regional companies have made large profits and we could see a powerful international groups quickly attracted to this market. "

Controlled by the Jardine Group, based in Hong Kong, Trafalgar House have actually decided to take this initiative to diversify its interests before the takeover of the islands by China in 1997. "The acquisition of Northern Electric will represent a major step in developing our infrastructure and usher in a new major force in British industry, has yet commented Simon Keswick.

A few days ago, including Trafalgar House had announced annual profits of 45.6 million pounds (380 million francs) for the year 1993-1994, after experiencing heavy losses the previous three years. A result that undoubtedly helped the group to venture into Northern Electric.

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The other story of Hong Kong

Between two typhoons, send the pirates. A horror that will last until the 1930s. It is a regional specialty. In from Sun, the wizard-pirate of the fifth century, the mob has always had its court, its kings and even queens. One of them, in the early nineteenth century, is called Ching-Yih Saou, aka "Ms. Ching." From his base - the creeks of Bias Bay - it controls the six-headed dragon: a confederation of pirates with six admirals, hundreds of junks and some 20,000 fighters.

The writer Jorge Luis Borges wrote about Ms. Ching: "It was a woman glance off bone. When she had chosen her prey, she never opened over the hooks until victory. "She derusted the Imperial fleet in 1810, before giving up arms against the titles, honors, lands and money. But others have taken up the torch. Their "agents" proliferate in Hong Kong. They attacked the houses, including that of Matheson - two died in the attack. They take mostly, and near, the departures of clippers to Japan, America, India and England. And are engaged as sailors ... When a ship disappears, it's very, very bad sign and Shap'ngtzai Chuiapoo, pirate leaders whose fleets are hiding in Bias Bay and the Gulf of Tonkin, boil their prisoners. But the trouble is in range of binoculars. In 1862, two-step, three moves, the North Star became offload 12,000 gold dollars - and the crew go overboard - just 7 miles from the harbor! The watchman of the Victoria Peak rushed to the port, but it was already cooked.
Conclusion? Nearly Everything, passes through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Amoy, Fuzhou, Ningbo: tea, silk, Nanjing, china. And rhubarb, ideal against constipation. What is there for Hong Kong? The "devil's drool." Opium. Mountains of opium. The custody of General Saltoon - is to him that Cambronne said shit to Waterloo - Hong Kong becomes the most beautiful of narcotic filing of all time. And, indeed, safe from Asia.

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In Taipan, bestseller universal writer James Clavell contrasts the Scottish Struan in English Brock. He invents nothing. Faced with Jardine and Matheson, there are the brothers Dent. Is the cross of St Andrew cons to St. George. Rivalry. Hatred. As for opium for tea one day ahead of the competition brings huge financial gap. They will swing up their mail at the sea is normal. It's him or me. Duel to death. Let him die! The announcement of a partner in bankruptcy, unsold inventories, falling prices and the specter of ruin - that of the other - is not far. But this knife fight is accompanied by a similar desire. Displayed since the first time: enter the Chinese market.

With an agent in each port, they try to sell soap, mirrors, wine, wool. Zero. Their products will remain in a carafe, Hong Kong. We do not need anything! The words of Lord Macartney Qianlong returning echo. Because even the second Opium War (1856) and the Treaty of Peking (1860) - with assignment of Kowloon and Stonecutters Island, the Yangtze and access to ten more ports - will change nothing. Flat market. Little things. So little. Endemic poverty, corruption imperial do not explain everything. China trembles in the war of the Taiping Rebellion to the arrival of the red, it will never stop, and Mao will only pass on Confucius for business, the truth, it was not until 1977 and Deng Xiaoping, with the firing of "openness" and "four modernizations". So, years from 1870 to 1941, the forceps is that our Scottish and their heirs peddle railway lines, guns Armstrong, mining technology, will install mills, presses - and a brewery, the famous beer ewo, Shanghai. They will lose in 1949.

In Hong Kong, with billions of opium merchants are raising our castles, mansions to lose his head: French garden, kiosk Viennese Venetian fountain. And let's go! It is their way of responding to London, which - to be long - doubts about the merits of the colony. The Jardine Matheson's, teeth, put Gibb Crown fait accompli. They enliven the landscape: cricket, tennis, polo. And garden parties in the mosquito bites. They braved malaria the Amateur Dramatic Corps, the Regatta Club, Hong Kong Club, follow the Victoria Recreation Club, the Jockey Club. At the racetrack in Happy Valley, when it does not mount itself, the taipan of the Noble House on the lodge of his rank. The best.

All governors who will baptize an avenue, a street, a dock, Square, forget the names of these merchants. "It disgusts me beyond any measure!" In his grave, Alexander Matheson he calmed knowing that there is, in 1997, Jardine's Bazaar in Wanchai? Not sure. It was a wonderful blast tube. And visionary: "If they do not impede trade, Hong Kong is the emporium of China!"

Dr. Jardine will do nothing. In 1843, a tumor has prevailed in 59 years. He was buried at Lochmaben, his hometown. Rich as Croesus, Baron James Matheson off at Menton in 1878 to 82 years. Our lads had no children. The firm is in danger of death? A little, yes. Became director of the Bank of England, Sir Alexander says the empire of Donald Matheson, his cousin. Fed on evangelism, the very religious Donald suffers mental agony to sell drugs. He can not go. It all plate. The Highlanders then leave Hong Kong on tiptoe. They keep a toe in Asia, through Matheson & Co., based in London, Lombard Street. In 1878, it will be a farewell to arms, the terminus of Matheson, who sell their London base. Who? The question does not arise. In 1997, No. 3 Lombard Street, we find the brain of the Noble House: Henry Keswick. Descending - freefall - John Jardine, the sister of Old Rats.

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In 1866, Dent, they have shattered. With the collapse of Overend & Gurney - first bank discounting English - everyone plunges in Hong Kong. All merchants. All. Except Jardine. They are doing because they have not speculated on tea. And because a miracle happened: a captain of the Noble House has taken twenty-four hours in order to ship the British Treasury. From Singapore to Hong Kong from Shanghai to Manila, he emptied all the accounts of the firm before they are blocked. A year earlier, March 3, 1865, the Dent attended the birth of a legend: the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. The Bank, as it is known today. Soon she will beat money. This will be the cornerstone of the entire financial edifice of the concession. And a large part of the activities of colonial Britain in the Far East. Dent's disqualification, the Jardine's is the preferred partner to the Bank.

Until 1949, the Allied Bank, Noble House be the banker of Imperial China and the Republic. It must be retrained. Since 1872, opium escapes him. In Bombay, David Sassoon controls three quarters of production, undercutting and dries out the competition. But Jardine's keeps a foot in the mud "through his strike force insurance, distribution, ocean freight. On 7 May 1913, the British Parliament, the member taipan William Keswick resumed the song Old Rat: "It is no more evil than drinking a beer or wine." He then asked if his son would leave pull the pipe. "Certainly not. But opium is the establishment of a Chinese that the whiskey and port are the establishment of a Briton. "Amazing. On 20 September 1945, a final agreement prohibits opium. Amen.

In this year 1945, animated skeletons emerge from the peninsula of Stanley: who, Hong Kong, survived the Japanese concentration camp. The Noble House has paid its toll - 52 dead - the desperate defense of the colony and the horror that followed. That day, the taipan is lending a gun by the Royal Navy and the thunder is noon-day gun! Life resumed. The business, however, here as in Shanghai. During the war, President Roosevelt - a descendant of opium kingpin, Warren Delano - tried everything that the Crown makes its "island" in China. Since 1906, surpassing London and New York, Hong Kong became the first port in the world. This means if the whim of the President of the United States will politely yawn Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten - whose adviser is none other than John Keswick.

Beijing fell in January 1949 and Shanghai in May; Canton in October. These red, unlike the Americans, the British do not feel. Nothing but excited. Bombers. Since the 20s, in response to the attacks, strikes, riots, the Crown responded: Fire! Omnipresent in consultative bodies, the Noble House has sometimes agreed - reluctantly - the muscular reactions. But here, no more laughs. In 1949, Jardine's employs 250 000 people on the Chinese soil. This stinks of blow. John Keswick Shanghai will leave in September 1951. Some members of the firm will spend even a few nights in jail. In 1954, the end to the "negotiation" between Jardine's and the People's Republic of China: Our Scots drop everything. We do not give them a choice. They will remember.

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In 1841, Hong Kong, coolies and robbers were fused to the handful of merchants. Then each will bring its civil war refugees, with their intelligence, their courage, their spirit of enterprise. The batch of post-1945 will be the best. Escaped the corruption of Chiang Kai-shek and Mao cudgel - or vice versa - 2 million Chinese joining the ranks of the colony. It is the chance of Hong Kong. Two of them, Yue-Kong Pao and Li Kashing, will build fortunes planets. Today, the island hit parade of the twenty richest companies, eighteen are Chinese. This was the case already in 1880 and was part of Jardine's leaders. With 300 million net profit in 1996, she would rather part of the bunch tail. But it is still there.

Remain in the post-war period. In 1950, the Korean conflict, Americans have returned to earth: Mao made the teeth chatter. Their ally, faithful Albion subjected to an embargo of China. Total. Even the shrimp caught in waters affected are equivocal. To compensate for its lack new, Hong Kong develops and manufactures light industry. The money flowing again. Direct heirs and the majority, Buchanan-Jardine out of the Noble House, which, in 1961, goes public. They are fighting for titles. With 10% of capital and their old London-based the Matheson & Co. - control the Keswick store. That year, for the first time a Chinese accesses the board of the Hong Kong branch. It is the image of the colony: the Chinese community - 90% of the population - is under-represented in the proceedings, and that property beyond indecency. It was not until 1974 that the Chinese language is recognized with English. Wait for decades 70 and 80 for Murray MacLehose, the Governor, reform the executive and legislative councils. And the words colony, colonial and Chinese business vocabulary administrative disappear. Not too early. Not too late? At that time, Communist China is investing in Hong Kong. Strength.

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The Jardine's is then on the verge of dying.
Spectrum before the 1 July 1997, our Scots have made to Hawaii, San Francisco, Great Britain, Spain, the Middle East, Australia: the sugar insurance, building distribution, oil cargo. They sell it at a loss. A stray out of their rice fields, the blind do not see - and missed - the historic boom in Hong Kong. Its golden age: real estate. With the currency of the Crown and the support of the Bank, the Chinese of the "island" went on the attack. The other side, too. We will relocate hundreds of thousands of individuals who were languishing in chicken coops. Building roads. Develop the New Territories - sold in 1898 for ninety-nine years. New cities will emerge: Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan - with universities, clubs, racetracks, museums. The price per square meter explodes. But then explodes.

And the blitz began, through the Exchange. In 1979, Yue-Kong Pao swallows the Wharf Company. Ah! that life is cruel: founded by William Keswick in 1889, the Wharf's assets include the Star Ferry to Kowloon and the whole system of trams in Hong Kong. That to sob, saying. And now Li Kashing, in 1980, the Hutchinson-Whampoa swallows - house created in the nineteenth century. In the process, it attacks the flagship of the Jardine's: Hong Kong Land. The Noble House has invested in real estate too late. Highest. Delirium. This time, there is really on fire. Keswick brothers, Henry and Simon, then fight like hell. Demons. They reject the collision.

On 1 January 1979, the United States recognized the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong has kept its calm. The what? Surrender? Okay, we avoid the subject, it pushes. In 1982, Simon Keswick, the first turn nervous and loudly: "We must all work together to stop the Communists. At any price. "In September, Beijing, the encounter between Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping ended with a white anger of the Emperor:" Take it out of my sight. "She did not understand. Without the lace, she whipped out the treaties of 1842 and 1860. She made her lose face. At another time, it would have skinned alive.

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An armada of companies soar
So screwed. Folded. Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe is preparing a retreat without a torch: the Joint Declaration, signed December 19, 1984. Basically, it comes with a soft transition where "nothing will change for fifty years", Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR), and an envoy of Deng replace the British governor. Is that all? That's it. And after? Hey, ho, we'll see. On 19 December in Beijing, the atmosphere is neither the triumph or the hand on the shoulder. We applaud force. Because Beijing chokes, choking with the Noble House. How dare she? It moved its headquarters to Bermuda! And price increases in 1994, is being wiped off the coast of Hong Kong to that of Singapore. Two typhoons on the beautiful bay. And an armada of companies that fly. Why? Because, as of July 1, surveillance of trading here will report to the PRC. And tomorrow, if there is any scam in the air, our Scots lose control of their group. So is trust. But no more. They already did it in 1949.

Beijing. June 1989. Tiananmen. The carnage. Dyed candle, hands shaken, Deng greet the "brave men" who stopped the "cons-revolutionaries." Kids. Kids gunned at close range. Hong Kong has stopped breathing. Disgusted. Horrified. Simon Keswick, he explodes: "The Foreign Office view of a bat!" And it gives one and a good one: "The assurances of Sir Howe in 1984 are comparable to those of Neville Chamberlain waving After his paper after his meeting in 1938, with Hitler! "Henry, the eldest of Simon, a regular in silence, expresses publicly his nausea. Trafficking and Deng and his clique "Marxist-Leninist" of "rogue" and "oppressors"! In July, Keswick will be behind the campaign to have British passports issued by Hong Kong "to all who ask." They have to take these two.

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In 1992, he disembarked in Hong Kong on the twenty-eighth governor of its history: Chris Patten. Just put this former Tory Party chairman launches a public consultation and an open Republican - desperate? - Beijing to ulcerate. Needless to say: Sir Chris is an old friend of Scotland ... In July 1994 the Legislative Council vote on the constitutional reform. It would have sufficed for a voice that does not pass. A. One. That of Martin Barrow, manager of the Noble House. Who voted ... white. China enjoys a grin and swear it will cancel this farce of legislation. But, as Mao said: "Who are our friends? Who are our enemies?

That is the question. "Maybe. Hongkong Wholesale binding sites for 2000 - even in the afterlife. An airport on Lantau Island. A marine terminal designed to containers, CT 9.