20/02/2023
Aren’t these pretty?
I’ve gone down a rabbit hole reading all about the history of HK’s plastic industry …I stumbled upon this website hkmemory.hk / check it out
“Most of the founders of plastic factories started their businesses from the scratch. Some of them came from trading firms and raw materials companies. Others were from a technical background with expertise in molding or machinery. How a factory was established and developed had a close relationship with the background of its founder.
Entrepreneurs with a commercial background were more alert to the market. They had the edge in terms of purchase of raw materials and getting orders, but more reliant on experts in the technical aspect of their businesses. Those with a technical background were better at product invention and innovation of machines. On the other hand they had a lesser control in purchase of raw materials and getting orders.
Many entrepreneurs started as workers. They believed that “fortune comes from hard work” so they had a hands-on approach toward their businesses. During day time they would go out trying to get orders. And at night back to their factories they would handle the production which might required them to work overnight. First generation factory owners seldom received higher education. With a lack of knowledge in corporate management, they ran their business in a traditional style management even when production grew in scale. From 1980s to 1990s, their second generation with better education took over the businesses and brought in more professional system of production, finance and manpower management”
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