02/03/2026
【利希慎最風光的日子】
The Glory Days of Lee Hysan
銅鑼灣的發展要不能不提兩大集團：開埠時的怡和集團，以及1920年代的利氏家族。
早在1841年，怡和大班已對時稱東角的土地情有獨鍾，買了下來興建貨倉、冬季府邸，以及糖廠、棉紗廠等。它也是香港首次拍賣的土地之一，與中環其他地段同期發展，反映了香港開埠時的主要經濟活動。
怡和當時認為維多利亞城必會向東發展，東角的土地一定會升值。可惜他們的眼光早了80年，到1920年代，內地局勢動蕩，很多人南來相對穩定的香港，令人口急增，政府為解決住屋緊絀問題，才啟動灣仔至銅鑼灣的填海計劃。
其時，怡和卻鑑於銅鑼灣發展起來後，將變成華人社區，不宜歐洲人居住(detracted from the amenities of the place as a residence for Europeans )，因此把握當時地產熾熱的時機，於1923年將渣甸山連大班府邸以4百萬元天價，售予利希慎的公司。這一宗交易，當時在西方人圈子裡非常注目，多份報章都顯著報道，標題用上Passing of a Landmark(地標轉手)、Record Land Sale(刷新賣地紀錄)、The Old Order Changeth(舊有秩序不再)等。這次交易，見證著華人在經濟活動，尤其是土地買賣中愈來愈活躍。
利希慎買下渣甸山後，將它發展為利園遊樂場，它採用中式園林建築風格，佈置了假山假石，還有多尊民間信仰中的仙人雕像點綴其中。到了晚上，燈火璀璨，遊人不絕。每逢假日，更燃放五光十色的電光煙花。遊樂場還上演粵劇，以及舉辦國際級娛樂表演。
除了優雅景觀和精彩絕倫的娛樂，利園遊樂場還設有高級酒家，不少富商巨賈，都愛在園內宴請賓客，時任港督金文泰也曾是座上客。
利希慎是白手興家的好例子，讓我們看看他怎樣在20年內從走上富豪之路。
利希慎原籍開平，出生於檀香山，12歲來香港，入讀皇仁書院，畢業後，曾當教員和任職匯豐銀行，並到過美洲、南洋各埠，經營煙土業，後由親友介紹與，入股裕成公司，專營澳門鴉片，很快掘得第一桶金。1920年代地產暢旺，他大舉入市，買下渣甸山，之後再購買灣仔利東街、波斯富街、以及西營盤第三街多幢樓宇，他有I妻3妾，6子6女。據生意拍檔估計，他高峯期名下物業共有約1,000間。
利希慎也參與不少社會事務，曾擔任南華會會長，他除了捐贈比賽經費外，亦在南華會取得加路連山地段作會址後，捐款興建泳池和運動場。此外他也是皇仁舊生聯誼會會長，時常支持該會活動。
1928年在他人生顛峰之際，卻遭到暗殺，結束了他48歲的一生。我們在下一篇帖文再詳述他為何招惹殺身之禍。
#利希慎 #利園 #鴉片 #怡和 #渣甸 #匯豐銀行 #怡和集團 #銅鑼灣 #澳門
The story of Causeway Bay's development is inextricably linked to two powerhouses: the Jardine Matheson Group, whose legacy dates back to the early colonial era, and the Lee family, a dominant force in the area since the 1920s.
As early as 1841, the Tai-pan of Jardine's purchased the land then known as East Point to build warehouses, a winter residence, as well as a sugar refinery and a cotton mill. This was one of the first plots of land auctioned in Hong Kong, developing concurrently with other lots in Central, reflecting the primary economic activities of Hong Kong at the time.
Jardines believed at the time that Victoria City would inevitably expand eastward. Unfortunately, their vision was 80 years too early. It wasn't until the 1920s, when political turmoil in mainland China led many to seek refuge in the relatively stable Hong Kong, that the population surged. To address the severe housing shortage, the government initiated a reclamation project extending from Wan Chai to Causeway Bay.
At that time, however, Jardines felt that after development, Causeway Bay would become a predominantly Chinese community and that its development "detracted from the amenities of the place as a residence for Europeans." Therefore, seizing the opportunity of the then-booming property market, they sold Jardine's Hill, including the Tai-pan's residence, to Lee Hysan's company in 1923 for the sky-high price of HK$4 million. This transaction was a shock within the Western community at the time, with several newspapers running reports under headlines such as "Passing of a Landmark," "Record Land Sale," and "The Old Order Changeth." This sale witnessed the growing prominence of the Chinese in economic activities, especially in land transactions.
After purchasing Jardine's Hill, Lee Hysan developed it into the Lee Garden Amusement Park. It featured a traditional Chinese garden architectural style, complete with artificial mountains and rockeries, and was adorned with statues of immortals from folk beliefs. At night, the park was brilliantly lit. On holidays, spectacular firework displays were held, which were immensely popular. In addition to staging Cantonese opera, the amusement park also hosted world-class entertainment performances.
Besides its elegant scenery and spectacular entertainment, the Lee Garden Amusement Park also housed a high-class restaurant. Many wealthy merchants and magnates loved to host banquets there for their guests; the then-Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Cecil Clementi, was once an honored guest.
Lee Hysan is a prime example of a self-made man. Let's look at how he rose to become a tycoon in the span of 20 years.
Lee Hysan's ancestral home was in Kaiping, and he was born in Honolulu. He came to Hong Kong at the age of 12 to study at Queen's College. After graduation, he worked as a teacher and at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). He also traveled throughout the Americas and Southeast Asia ("Nanyang") engaging in the o***m trade.
Later, he invested in the Yue Shing Company, which specialized in the Macau o***m monopoly, and quickly made his first fortune.
When the real estate market boomed in the 1920s, he invested heavily, acquiring Jardine's Hill. He later purchased multiple buildings on Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai, Percival Street, and Third Street in Sai Ying Pun. He had one wife and three concubines, with six sons and six daughters. According to an estimate by a business partner, at his peak, he owned approximately 1,000 properties.
Lee Hysan was also involved in many social affairs. He served as the President of the South China Athletic Association. In addition to donating funds for competitions, he also contributed to the construction of a swimming pool and sports grounds after the association acquired its clubhouse premises on Caroline Hill.
Furthermore, he was the President of the Queen's College Old Boys' Association and frequently supported its activities.
In 1928, at the pinnacle of his life, he was assassinated, ending his life at the age of 48. We will detail why he met such a fatal end in our next post.
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