History of the Association
In 1937, The Rice Merchants’ Union was officially renamed as The Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong”, and was chaired by Mr. Yeung Wing Yau, the son of Mr. Yeung Shui Sang from Yee Woo Loong. At that time, non-staple food was scarce and rice was the staple food for all. The Association was originally established to unite licensed rice merchants in order to work together to ensure adequate supply at stable prices for the people of Hong Kong. At that time, Tang Hoi, Chan Him Ting and Siu Chu Wan actively participated in the affairs of the Association and made great efforts to create a new order, prepared corporate articles, enforced punctuality and required proper attire.
During 1941 to 1945, World War II broke out and Hong Kong suffered devastation wrecked by war. Houses were deserted and businesses were closed. The affairs of the Association were also interrupted, and unfortunately all official records and documents were lost. Among the members, those who were in the rice wholesaling business before the war included Kwong Lee Company, Yee Woo Loong, Siu Fung Nin, Yu Fung Loong, Mau Yik Loong, Ying Yuen Chong and Mau Tai Hong.
While peace seemed to have returned in 1945, operation of the rice market was yet to recover. During that distressed environment, food was most important for the people. The visionaries of the Association Mr. Chiu Lut-Sau, OBE, JP and Mr. Tang Hoi advocated the revival of the Association in spring of 1948. Each donated HK$1,000 as preparation fund, and Mr. Chiu Lut-Sau, OBE, JP generously provided temporary office for the Association located at 4/F, Wing Fung Hong, No. 19 Connaught Road West. After public election, seven committee members were selected, namely Mr. Chiu Lut-Sau, OBE, JP, Mr. Tang Hoi, Mr. Yeung Wing Yau, Mr. Chan Wah San, Mr. Chan Tsz Hing, Mr. Chan Him Ting and Mr. Jim Chuen Kwan. Applications for registration were also submitted to the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs and the Labour Department. The Association office was subsequently relocated to 4/F, No. 212 Wing Lok Street West, Hong Kong. The official Reconvening Day was April 6, 1948. The founders navigated the Association through tumultuous times and successfully laying the foundation for its future.
In 1950, the Association was ordered by the Hong Kong Government (the “Government”) to set up The Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong Government Rice Sales Office, which was responsible for the registration and rationing of retail rice merchants, to sell government rice to rice retailers based on the allotted rations. The Association mobilized all its members and treated the control of rice prices and facilitating of the people as its core responsibility. Their work was subsequently honored by the Government. The Government later terminated the rice rationing system, and promulgated the “Import and Export Control Law of 1951”. It allowed rice import merchants who fulfilled the regulatory requirements to apply for rice importation. On November 25, 1954, the Government announced that there were 29 registered rice importers. The Hong Kong rice market entered the “three-tier system” era; starting from October 1, 1955, the Association began publishing daily reports on the market news, facilitating tripartite trade among rice importers, rice wholesalers and rice retailers.
In 1977, the Trade and Industry Department planned to expand the scope of rice control to include rice wholesalers; the Association submitted a proposal titled “Opinions on the Government’s Proposed Registration of Rice Wholesalers” to the Trade and Industry Department on December 8th in order to allow all its members to obtain priority registration. In 1979, all companies operating in the rice wholesale business were required to register with the Government. In 2000, the Government removed the restriction for rice importers and wholesalers that prevented them from operating other businesses. The Hong Kong rice industry market transitioned from the previous “three-tier system” to an era of “free import and export of rice”. The Association updated its constitution to include and integrate old and new industry stakeholders, and expanded from representing rice wholesale merchants to serving the entire Hong Kong rice market. Each year, the Association organizes a delegation to visit countries, working closely with the local government officials and business representatives from rice producing countries, to make improvements to the industry and enhance the vibrancy of the ecosystem.
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- Left: Rice sold at a retail rice shop Right: In the early years, rice sacks were packed in jute bags weighing 100kg each
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- Shipping documents
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- Rice sticks to record the number of rice sacks entering and leaving the warehouse
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- Rice samples and order books
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- Badge of the Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong
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- Certificate of Appointment issued by The Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong
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- Bamboo sieves for displaying rice samples
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- Envelopes, used for product delivery
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- A sifting machine to separate broken kernels from white rice
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- Iron hooks and probe for testing samples
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- An abacus with closed bottom used for negotiating prices
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- The Rice Merchants’ Association of Hong Kong 60th Anniversary Special Edition Publication
