A luggage label for The Hongkong Hotel, established in 1868.
Established in 1866, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH) is one of the world's oldest hotel companies, with a remarkable history spanning more than 160 years. The group owns and operates some of the world's finest luxury hotels under the prestigious Peninsula brand, alongside commercial and residential properties and iconic Hong Kong attractions, including The Peak Tram.
Originally incorporated as The Hongkong Hotel Company, HSH has played an important role in the development of Hong Kong's hospitality and tourism industries. Its history encompasses the opening of the original Hongkong Hotel in 1868, the development of the celebrated Repulse Bay Hotel in the early twentieth century, and the opening of The Peninsula Hong Kong in 1928. Over the following decades, the company expanded internationally, establishing The Peninsula as one of the world's most recognised luxury hotel brands.
A HSH Register of Mortgages book from the archives.
HSH also has a longstanding association with the Kadoorie family, dating back to the late nineteenth century, when Sir Elly Kadoorie first acquired shares in the company. This relationship has continued across generations, making the company's historical records an important part of the wider story of the Kadoorie family's business interests and Hong Kong's commercial development.
In her role as Collections Manager for The Hong Kong Heritage Project (HKHP), the archive of the Kadoorie family which was established in 2007, Amelia worked closely with HSH to acquire and preserve the company's historical records. Among the materials transferred to the archive were rare minute books dating back to the 1880s, providing a valuable documentary record of the company's early management, decision-making and development.
A historic Indenture Agreement from the HSH Collection.
Amelia subsequently catalogued the collection, making these historical records more accessible to researchers and those interested in the company's heritage. To complement the written archive, she also conducted more than 30 oral history interviews with former HSH employees, capturing personal recollections and first-hand accounts of working for the company. These interviews provided a valuable human dimension to the documentary record, preserving the experiences and memories of individuals who had contributed to HSH's history.
These records and more can be viewed at The Hong Kong Heritage Project Archives and Museum (CLP Pulse) in Hong Kong.
Working alongside the team at HKHP, Amelia also supported writers, researchers and film producers seeking to explore HSH's past. The archival records and oral history interviews have provided valuable source material for official corporate histories, films and documentaries, helping to bring the company's remarkable heritage to a wider audience.
