香港商業彙報編:《香港建造業百年史》,1958. 

譚肇康先生粤之新會縣人，少年事肆業於香港鐵崗聖保羅書院，精習英文，性喜工程學系，尤醉心繪圖畫則，故對於建築學，早存大志。及長，北走大連，仍以習建築工程學為旨趣，時歷四年餘，後因日俄戰爭爆發之影響，逃赴天津，獲當地人士賞識，委權負責興建賽馬場工程，如此浩大之建築工程，终能順利完成，足見其才之一班。

1906年南返香港，獲本港工務師聘為繪員兼外勤監工員，任職近一年，生利建造公司司理，見奇才智高深，且對建築工程學瞭如指掌，乃不惜任何代價，務求邀請為該公司服務，譚先生當此，人情難卻，遂受聘為書記及工程助手，每次承接工程，皆由譚先生悉心研究，方能決定，其責之重，其勞苦之功高，實為建築界罕見。

譚先生任職生利建造公司凡四年餘，其技術精進，卓然可觀，且對人節物，和藹可親，生活嚴謹，誠實可靠，深得生利建造公司之重用，乃於1911年資助其創立永利建造號，承接工務司，海陸軍部等工程，如樓宇、道路、水務、渠務、填海、海壆、碼頭、橋樑……等工程，無時或息，誠當時建築界之表表者。

永利建造號，歷年建造之工程，皆卓著成就，兹畧述如下。

1911年計有： 

• 工務司政府水務樓大泵房，爐房，機器房。

• 跑馬場全座之政府官員住所、開闢黃泥涌道及掃桿埔地盤、全年修箿政府樓宇、水務、渠務道路。

• 香港仔之填海，海壆，大水坑。黃埔船塢機器廠建廠，碼頭，船排。

• 海事處總寫字樓之新建部份工程，

• 九龍倉公司之總寫字樓及貨倉。

• 中環消防局之較按3500噸全套鋼陣工程。

• 香港電燈公司北角新廠之地盤，如海邊地段填海，海壆，深水大井， （按：深水大井由OD線下約40尺深，用挖16尺大圎上蓋泵水房泵水，以為凝凍汽喉變為淡水再入爐之用。）機器房，爐房，石矢碼頭，發電台，貨倉，電機師住所及職員住所等全部工程。

由1915年起直至1941年止，當此26年期間，仍繼續承建填海，海壆，及各項工程，計共工程費約有400餘萬元。

• 1911年，承接九龍中華電力公司之土瓜灣新廠地盤，如填海，海壆，機器廠，貨倉，爐房，職員住所等，一如香港電燈公司之工程，大同小異。

• 1924年，承接亞細亞火油公司之北角填港，海壆，碼頭，貨倉。

• 與及承接山頂火車站，改良車路線平水及梅道車站，柏架路車站等工程。按：該行工程限承商在六個月完成，故價甚高，而進行工程甚為危險，因一面行車，一年工作，且車上搭棚多屬要人，如港督，輔政司，按察司及政府高級官員，及洋行經理等為多，遂已慎重其事，夜以繼日，加工進行， 卒以五個月完成，獲得山頂纜車公司讚許，並奬一千元0以作酬該工程早一個月完竣之功。

永利建造號，不但對山頂纜車公司之工程獲得獎金，舉凡經由該公司承接各項工程，皆獲業主及則師之讚賞，認為港九建造業中之節先進者。

譚肇康先生主持永利建造號業務日形蓬勃，政府工程日益增加，為應付龐大工程起見，乃於1922年，再行成立裕利建築公司承建政府工務司，海陸軍部之填海，海壆，道路、水務、渠務、樓宇等工程。

裕利建築公司字開業以遠，其承建之工程計有：

• 石梨貝水塘及用新式機器洗沙之隔沙塘。

• 花園道之公眾花園之暗貯水塘，及泵水房。

• 油麻地山坵暗貯水塘及泵水房。

• 陸軍部之九龍兵房全部修葺工程及海軍部之船塢貨倉工程。

• 遠至廣州市曾埗新貯水塘及用新式機器洗之沙隔沙塘，與及電廠，泵水房。該項工程浩繁，並須由曾埗之河流泵水經過隔沙塘然後灌水塘，可見其工程之困難，而該公司亦順利完成，為當地人士所嘉譽。

• 1930年，香港置地公司購得香港大酒店火燬之地，重建為告羅士打大廈，當時投票方式開投工程，裕利建築公司以第三票獲得承建權。縁當時得厘柯倫治則師對業主——香港置地公司司理推薦，並向業主解釋該行工程係位於繁衝地帶，必有熟識地形和高深建築工程學人才，方能承建此項工程，遂介紹裕利建築公司司理譚肇康與該業主洽商工程，一方面詳述譚肇康先生歷向承厘柯倫治之工程，具有30年悠久歷史，每項工程必依期完成，曾獲不少業主之嘉奬，故香港置地公司司理深信譚肇康先生確有超卓才幹，乃簽訂合約，期限以24個月為期，所有鐵鋼鎮6000噸及潔具，厚大玻璃，銅器，鋼窗，俱由業主供給。當開工後，業主所供給之鋼鐵陣等，因運輸關係未能如期供應阻延四個月之久，然而裕利建築公司之司理譚肇康，運用天賦智慧，設法解決運輸之困難，並加開夜工，親自督導工程進行，直至工程完竣，而仍依期24個月交樓驗收，對於業主延期四個月供應材料問題，業主自動奬花紅港幣三萬二千元。

該項龐大工程，業主所付出之建築費約計五百萬元，兹分述之：材料方面：鋼鐵鎮六千，當時價值100餘萬元，厚玻璃，銅鐵，鋼窗，潔具，水厠，浴缸，；冷熱汽喉，電器，昇降機，鎖，插，較等材料共價200餘萬元，建築費方面約150萬元倘以1932年與1958年之價值比較，相抵五倍計，須2500萬元方能完竣。

• 1954年承建本港政府之兒童教養院。

• 1956年承建本港政府荃灣官立學校。

• 1958年承建本港政府佐敦道官立學校，該校工程，現仍在進行興建中，完成後，九龍油麻地方面，當有一所華麗壯觀之官立學校，供資當地兒童就學之良機矣。

譚肇紹康先生固對兩公司業務運籌帷幄，每事親力親為，然而不忘善舉，服務人群，曾於1921年，會同林蔭泉先生等，召集建造行同業，發動組織香港建造商會，擬具會章呈請華民司憲，獲批準註冊立案，譚肇康先生被公推為第二屆會長，向對會務，不遺餘力，方克今日建造商會之成就。

譚肇康先生自創建造商會後，復為培育建造工程人才，協助政府完成一所工業學校、獲得政府嘉許，並在工業學校門前， 刻碑紀念譚先生知功績。

譚肇康先生曾於1932年任東華三院首總理。1933年任新會商會副主席。1934年任保良局首總理。1955年建造商會在軒尼詩道設立醫療所委為董事兼幹事值理，同年建造商會籌建學校，委為購料主任，兼代表商會以業主身份與承接地盤工程承商簽訂工程合約。1956年商會興建學校上蓋，並代表商會與承商簽定建築學校工程（連工包料）合約等要職，由此，足以顯著譚肇康先生是功高偉績也。

Mr. Tam Shiu-Hong is a native of Sun Wui Prefecture in the Province of Kwangtung, China.  In this youth, he was educated in St. Paul’s College Hong Kong, studying English.  He paid sole attention to the research of Civil Engineering, of such science his genius displayed itself even at the time of this youth.  After successfully attaining his researches, Mr. Tam went to North China helping in the development of the new pot Dairen near Port Arthur (now Dalian). 

Owing to the outbreak of the Russo Japanese War, Mr. Tam left Dairen and sojourned in Tientsin (now Tianjin)  During the time of this staying in the latter place, the people there learned and respected his ability in building construction and invited him to supervise the work of erecting the well-known racecourse being personally responsible for putting this big job into entire completion satisfactorily and earning the name of an excellent and able supervisor and designer. 

In the year 1905, Mr. Tam returned back to Hong Kong, and at a brief interval after, was engaged by Public Works Department as a draughtman and out-door work assistant for not more than one year when the local Government Contractors, Messers. Sang Lee & Co., know his achievements in building works and advised him to join their firm as a helper in the transaction of their business.  In consideration of the sincerity of their friendship, Mr. Tam was obliged to accept their offer of the appointment as a secretary and building assistant.  Whenever there were tenders required to be submitted for works, the firm’s consultations with him concerning calculations, together with the studying of  the conditions and specifications appertaining thereto, were indispensable.

Thins going on like that for a period of over four years, and , on account of his honesty, diligence and modesty by instinct, Mr. Tam got the respect and honour of Sang Lee & Co’s principals, who, in order to repay him for his good services, supported him financially for the establishment of a new building firm of his own in the name of Wing Lee & Co., which afterwards beame a renowned contractor by the execution of all kinds of building and engineering works for the Hong Kong Public Works Department, Naval and Military Authrorities. 

Some of the comparatively principal works done by the founder of Wing Lee & Co., Mr. Tam Shiu-Hong , may be enumerated hereunder:-

Pumping station of Pokfulam Road, whole block of Subordinate Officers Quarters at Happy Valley, levelling sites for buildings for the new development of Old Wong-neichong Village and Sookunpoo, seawall and reclamation at Aberdeen, reassembling and erection of 3,500 tons of steelwork for the framing of Central Fire Brigade Building etc; all these works were done for the Public Works Department.  Construction of slipway jetty and machine shop at Hunghom for the Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd.

Erection of entire block of Head Office buildings and godowns of Tsimshatsui for the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co., Ltd.

All the foregoing works were executed and completed between the years 1911 and 1914.

Construction of seawall and reclamation for the formation of the present generating station on M.L. 321 at North Point, inclusive of the sinking and completion of 16-ft. dia. deep-water wells, boiler and engine houses, turbine bed, R.C.C. wharf, electrical engineer’s and staff quarters etc.

Commencing from the year 1915 and terminating at the end of 1941, a period extending to 26 years, Wing Lee & Co., continued to carry on to erect seawalls and excavating and filling works for reclamations and other description of building works, the cost of all of these aggregating over $4,000,000.00.

In the year 1919, a major contract was awarded to Wing Lee & Co’, for the construction of seawalls for reclaiming the foreshore at Tokwawan Kowloon, for the China Light & Power Co., to build a new electric station, including the erection of engine house and boiler house, godowns and staff quarters, being about typical of those built for the Hong Kong Electric Co., at North Point.

In 1924, a contract was entered into for reclamation and sea walling works and the building of wharf and godowns at North Point for the Asiatic Petroleum Co.  In the same year, a rather important job was also entrusted to Wing Lee & CO., to perform which was the improvement and regrading of the Peak Tramway between May Road and Barker Road Stations.  The time limit for the entire completion was 6 months and the carrying out of such work was very dangerous, owing to the fact that working must be going on even the cars were still in motion.  Bound by the limitation of  time for completion, the work was carried out day and night continuously.  Ultimately, hardships and difficulties were overcome and the work was brought to completion earlier by a month before the contract time, and for this a handsome bonus was awarded to Wing Lee & Co., by the Peak Tramways Co., together with their praise for expeditiousness and satisfaction. 

Because of works being done by Wing Lee & Co., and always met with the approval and satisfaction of the Government and private property-owners, enormous amount of contracts were patronized to the Company, and, in order to cope with the congestion of works and execute them efficiently and satisfactorily, the manager, Mr. Tam Shiu-hong, founded in 1922 another contracting firm named Yee Lee & Co., which was eventually authorized by the Public Works, Naval and War Departments for submitting tenders for constructional works.

Since the inauguration of Yee Lee & Co., the works carried out and finished by them were the building of the byewash dam and rapid gravity filter beds at Shek Li Pui, Laichikok, the construction of the covered reservoir at the Botanic Gardens of Hong Kong, and another on the Yaumati Hill of similar capacity of over 1,000,000 gallons each, the temporary Military Camp at Mautauwei, Kowloon godowns in H.M. Dockyard, and as far away as in Canton where the construction of a big service reservoir at Tsang Po inclusive of rapid gravity filter beds and pumping station on the satisfactory completion of these gaining the admiration of the then Mayor of Canton. 

The Hong Kong Land Investment & Agency Co., Ltd., in 1930 purchased the burnt-out former Hong Kong Hotel of that portion facing Des Voeux Road Central.  After dismantling the damaged structure and in a little over a year like the phoenix arising from the ashes, there rose up a new modern building which is the present Gloucester Building.  The builder of this magnificent edifice was Yee Lee & Co., who were awarded this large job although their tender was not the lowest.  Due to the well-known reputation of Mr. Tam Shiu-hong, the contract was specially entered in to with them.  The whole mansion was systematically and finally finished by 4 months before the time of completion as specified in the Contracts, and, in acknowledgement of their expeditions and good work, a deserved remuneration was rewarded to the Company by the owners.  The construction only of this huge superstructure cost the owners over $5,000,000.00.

From the years 1954 to 1958, Yee Lee & Co., had built for the Public Works Department the Remand Home at Mautauwei Road, two Government Schools – one at Tsun Wan in the New Territories and one at Jordan Road, the latter being still in progress and nearing completion. 

Albeit Mr. Tam Shiu-hong pays his wholehearted attention to his business and work as a building contractor, still be never for a moment neglects his duty towards charitable affairs and social welfares.  He was one of the promoters in the establishments of the Building Contractors Association as well as Life Hon Chairman.  With a view to educating the young generation in building trade in Prospect, Mr. Tam suggested to the Government the erection of the original Trade School at Wood Road which proposal was accordingly accepted and carried out.  In 1932, he was elected a Vice Chairman of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and Vice chairman of Po Leung Kok in 1934.  He serves as a member of the Committee for promoting the Building Contractors Association Clinic at Hennessy Road and also Committee for the Association’s School at Tin Hau Temple Road. And for the construction of which he was the chief supervisor.

…1920年註冊， 1921年成立，這就是今天的香港建造商會。最初該會擁有會員貳佰餘名，第一屆會長由林蔭泉擔任；至1922年，譚肇康出任該會第二屆會長；訂定旗號、徽章、積極發展會務。而在譚氏任內，建築業工友曾一度發生罷工風潮，政府建築工程亦因連帶關係受着影響，後由工務司出面調停，對勞方加薪要求折衷辦理，工潮卒獲合理解決。當年建造業工潮發生經過是這樣的：

距今36年前 ，本港有若干工團為了加薪問題，發生風潮，建築業也不能另外。先是由華工總會，協和詳木匠總工會等去函建造商會，要求加薪三成；接着油漆、銅鐵、泥水、打石等約有10行工友加入，紛紛響應木匠總工會的加薪要求。當時全港建築行商在建造商會領導之下，團結一致，連成一條堅強的陣線，對勞方所提要求未允接納。而在工友方面，堅持原議，並以罷工為威脅——勞資雙方經過幾番談判，终無結果，果然，與建築業有關的十行工友，於談判失敗後竟發動罷工，全港建築工程大受影響。

勞方在一致行動的口號下，罷工後即派出糾察隊，分往港九各建築工場巡邏，勸喻工友合作，不要單獨與資方會談解決。

在建築工友罷工後，某一些建築行商，由於建築工程限期將滿，深恐不能預期完成，影響信譽，便向廣州方面招騁「三行」工友來港，希望在進行中的建築工程得以依期完成。可是，這個辦法終於行不通，當廣州「三行」工友在港工作時，竟被人制止，雙方因此發生衝突，而有好幾次。當任建造商會會長譚肇康為此，曾向官方請示，但未獲致圓滿解決。

當時有幾項的政府建築工程，急待完成。不能任令久延 ，曾由工務師催促勞方復工，依然無效。後由當任輔政司與建築業鉅子譚肇康回會商，決定採取談判解決步驟，建造商會派出代表三人，參加罷工那幾行工會，每一公會派出代表一人，約定日期同往立法局會議廰，展開談判。屆時勞資雙方代表出席會商，由公務司任主席，勞方代表堅持照原薪增加三成，資方代表則以政府建築工程是在勞方要求加薪請承接的，倘若接納勞方的要求，建築公司所受損失太重， 工務司以雙方所提出的各具理由，為要求作公平合理解決，不能偏於任何一方，後由工務司提出折衷辦法，准許工友加薪二成，今後建築公司承接工程先將工資提高計算便不會遭受損失，至於建築公司在工友罷工前接得的政府工程，由工友加薪那天起，至工程完成那天止，工友加薪的數目，政府愿補回半數，以彌補建築商損失。當時勞資雙方代表，以工務司提出的折衷辦法，實在公平合理，雙方都願意讓步不再堅持，於是建築工友隨即宣布復工，這在本港歷史上第一次集體罷工的建築業工潮，終於獲字圓滿解決。

建造商會的會所，最初設在德輔道中78號4樓，在1922年譚肇康會長入內，玄玉籌款救治會所，後因工潮問題影響，弦子1923年，才求得大道東一八號及102號為會所。後來他灣仔填海工程完成，該會將大道東會址出售再在灣仔自建會所一間， 1931年開幕，那就是今日矗立軒尼詩道180至182號那座五層大樓了。

Sang Lee & Co (生利建築) – leading contractor from the 1900s to 1950s

July 6, 2020 York Lo  Articles, Construction, Industrial Buildings + Demolitions, People

York Lo: Sang Lee & Co (生利建築) – leading contractor from the 1900s to 1950s

From the 1900s to the 1950s, Sang Lee was one of the leading building contractors in HK responsible for many notable public projects such as the old GPO Building and the Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir which were completed in the 1910s and the massive Wanchai reclamation project in the 1920s. 

Sang Lee under its founder Lam Lau (1900s-1920s) 

Based on the profile of the firm in Seaports of the Far East published in 1907, Sang Lee was founded in around 1892. The founder of Sang Lee was Lam Lau (林柳), also known as Lam Yam-chuen (林蔭泉), who allegedly worked in the Public Works department for years before starting Sang Lee with his colleagues and hence very familiar with the bidding process and helped Sang Lee secured many government contracts.  

The first important contract landed by the firm was Mountain Lodge, the summer residence of the Governor on the Peak ordered by Governor Henry Blake in 1900 and designed by Palmer & Turner. The Lodge was completed in 1902 at the cost of $97000 and was regarded as the most magnificent building in the Peak at the time but sadly was demolished in 1946 due to high maintenance costs. 

The success of the Mountain Lodge project was followed by other government contracts such as the Western markets, No. 7 Police Station and the cattle depot in Kennedy Town and the Sharp Memorial Hospital (Matilda Hospital) on the Peak. In 1907, Sang Lee was operating out of 59 Des Voeux Road Central and employed over 60 skilled foremen and at times hired over 2000 workmen for its various projects. (Seaports of the Far East, 1907) 

In August 1905, Sang Lee outbid Lam Woo (which did the foundation work for the project) and won its largest project up to that point – the construction of the General Post Office Building in Central, which was completed in 1911 at the cost of $800,000. Stones used for the construction came from a quarry in Ngau Tau Kok. (Far Eastern Review, 1906) The building, which was regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in HK history stood for six decades and was sadly demolished in 1976 to make way for the construction of the Central MTR station and World-Wide House. Today, four stone pillars of the original building can be found at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. 

Sang Lee Tai Tam Tuk

In October 1912, Sang Lee won the contract to build the Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir which was completed in 1918 and its name as contractors is still visible in the foundation stone laid by then Governor Sir Henry May. In the 1910s, Sang Lee was also responsible for the construction of two markets in Sheung Wan – the one near the Tram Road in 1914 and the one near Queen’s Road Central in 1920. In December 1914, Sang Lee completed Block E of the Victoria Prison on Arbuthnot Road, which was the first building in HK to use reinforced concrete. 

In 1920, Sang Lee founder Lam Lau led a group of 17 contractors including Tam Shiu-hong (who worked for Sang Lee from 1907 to 1911 when he started his own firm Wing Lee & Co), Tsoi Po-tin and Wong Cheuk-hing who were covered earlier in the formation of the HK Building Contractors Association (HKBCA) and was elected its founding chairman, highlighting his status in the industry. As a result, Sang Lee’s HKBCA membership number was no. 1. 

In October 1921, Sang Lee won its largest contract – $2.7 million for the removal of Morrison Hill for reclamation in Wanchai. To prepare for the project, Sang Lee which operated out of 24 Gage Street at the time, ordered 5 miles of 35 lb and 28 lb rails, 5 small locomotives and an 8-ton barge crane. (Iron Age, 1921-11-24) The project was originally expected to be completed within 6 years but the Canton-HK strike of 1925-26 caused delays, as did the harder than expected rock formations in Morrison Hill. The project was finally completed in May 1929 at the cost of $5.4 million, 2 years longer than expected and over $2 million over budget. 

Aside from cost overruns and delays, Sang Lee also got fined by the government twice in 1923 for blasting at the wrong hour – first time in June and second time in August for $25 for blasting at 1130am opposite the London Mission building in Bonham Road, half an hour before the stipulated time. (HK Daily Press, 1923-8-23) In 1925, Lam Lau was still manager of Sang Lee and its head office was listed as Praya West opposite No. 2 Police Station. (Comacrib Directory) 

For whatever reason (perhaps related to the Wanchai project), the old Sang Lee firm dissolved in 1928 and its business and goodwill were assigned by the old partners to three firms which all continued to carry the “Sang Lee” name – the first and second one operated out of 2 and 8 Tin Lok Lane (known as Sang Lee No 1 and No 2 branch) respectively and shared some common shareholders while the third one which operated out of Thomson Road in Wanchai had different shareholders. Lam Lau’s son Lam Yet-kuen (林日權) was a partner of the No 2 branch while Lam Lau himself started the rival firm of Tung Shan & Co (東山建築, which has the Chinese meaning of “comeback”) and was elected principal director of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (1932-33) and director of Po Leung Kuk (1930-32) in the early 1930s. When the third firm went out of business in 1934 after its contract on the Government Civil Hospital (opened as Queen Mary Hospital in 1937) failed, one of its creditors – Lee Yan Wo of 278 Hennessy Road in Wanchai filed a lawsuit against Sang Lee No 1 and No 2 branch. (KSDN, 1935-5-30; HK Telegraph, 1935-5-29). In January 1935, Lam Yet-kuen was thrown into the Victoria Prison after losing a lawsuit filed by the Chinese banking firm of Shun Loong over $8800 in debt. (KSDN, 1935-1-11). Despite the setbacks, Lam Lau’s Tung Shan remained a major player in the 1930s, winning a $324,601 contract to build the foundation of the new Government House in August 1939. Tung Shan operated of 7 Wood Road after the War and was run by Lam Tsui-kui (林翠嬌) in the 1950s and 1960s.   

Sang Lee under Yu Yok-kwai (1930s-1950s) 

Sang Lee Contractor Image 3 York LoLeft: Ad for Sang Lee in 1950 (HKBCA); Center: Yu Yok-kwai, Sang Lee leader from the 1930s to the 1950s (HKBCA yearbook, 1954); article about the death of Szeto Woon in 1949 (TKP) 

By the 1930s, Yu Yok-kwai (余若夔, also U Yak-kwai) had emerged as the leader of Sang Lee, supported by Szeto Yuen (司徒浣). The shareholder situation at Sang Lee remained complicated after the 1935 lawsuit and according to testimony given by Yu Yok-kwai during the ARP inquiry in 1941, there were over 40 partners in Sang Lee at the time, of which he only remembered four names and most of them belonging to the same clan from Toishan as himself and some of them resided in the mainland. 

Despite the challenges with shareholder disputes and the woes associated with the Wanchai reclamation and Queen Mary’s Hospital project, Sang Lee remained a leading contractor for public works in the 1930s. In May 1934, Sang Lee completed the HK Stock Exchange building on Ice House Street designed by the architectural design firm of Little Adams & Wood. (China Mail, 1934-5-11)  

In 1936, Sang Lee branched out into the entertainment business and secured the operating rights of the World Theatre (新世界) in Sheung Wan (built in 1921 by the Lai brothers) for $5500. The contract was renewed in 1939 but the theater was operated by others after the War before its closure in 1981.In 1937, Sang Lee won the contract for construction of nullah and road improvement work in the Kai Tak Airport which were completed in December after delays caused by the massive typhoon in September. 

In 1939, Sang Lee obtained contract from the government for the construction of the Wanchai Gap Police Station and Shingmun Catchwater valued at $237,853 and medical observation building for $9425. From September to December that year, Sang Lee completed hospital huts for refugee camps in King’s Park, Ma Tau Chung and North Point. in 1940 was awarded the contract for Yaumatei Police Chamber for $55,154. (1939 Public Works Department report)

The firm reported profits of only $1000 in 1939 but earnings soared to $50,000 in 1940 with the war related construction contracts. In 1941, Sang Lee won the contract for extending the seawall in North Point worth $229,655 and another water work maintenance contract worth between $30,000-40,000. The firm and Tung Shan were involved in construction of air raid shelters for the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) department and as a result both firms were sucked into the sensational ARP scandal in late 1941 surrounding corruption at the department headed by Wing Commander A.H.S. Steele-Perkins with Yu Yok-kwai being asked to testify during the trials in September 1941. Three months later the Japanese occupied HK and the whole affair which captivated the colony faded into history. (China Mail, 1941-9-3) 

During the Japanese occupation, Sang Lee allegedly was responsible for the construction of the hybrid Japanese/neoclassical tower in the Government House commissioned by the Japanese military commander which are still standing today. After the War, Yu Yok-kwai, Szeto Yuen and others reorganized Sang Lee as Sang Lee & Co (1945). 

In September 1949, tragedy struck when the 74 years old Szeto Yuen was fatally injured when his KCR train got into an accident in Po Kut near the border on his way back from a business trip in Canton and died the next day at the St Teresa Hospital in Kowloon. He survived by 8 children including his second son Szeto Wai (司徒惠, 1913-1991) who at the time was the chief engineer of the Wong Kiang River hydro-electric project in Yingtak, Kwangtung. (TKP, 1948-9-9) A graduate of St John’s University in Shanghai, Szeto Wai studied in the UK and built a successful career as an architect in HK, having designed So Uk Estate, Choi Hung Estate, Kwun Lung Lau, Kowloon Methodist Church, No 1. Hysan Avenue and many buildings on the campus of Chinese University in Shatin. He was also an unofficial member of the Legislative Council from 1964 to 1974 and the Executive Council from 1972 to 1976 and was awarded CBE and appointed Justice of the Peace. Sang Lee’s address at 2 Tin Lok Lane was listed as Szeto Wai’s correspondence address in the yearbook for the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

In the 1950s, Yu Yok-kwai was still in charge of Sang Lee and continued to serve on the board of the HKBCA. In 1954, Sang Lee won the tender for the construction of a new 80 feet by 50 feet public pier (identical to the Queen’s Pier in Central) in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon for HK$163,819. (KSDN, 1954-7-4) 

The Next Generation (1950s and Beyond) 

By 1962 when Yu Yeok-kwai’s third son Yu Choi-kee (余采基) married Au Yeung Suk-hing (歐陽淑卿), Yu Yok-kwai was listed as former chairman of Sang Lee so it can be assumed that he had stepped down by then. By this time, Sang Lee was represented on the Council of HKBCA by U Wang (余宏) and he and U Fook-hang and U Fook-tang (presumably his sons) were listed as managers of Sang Lee in 1969 which was still operating out of 2 and 8 Tin Lok Lane.

In 1985, Sang Lee was awarded a HK$49.5 million contract from the Public Works Department for road construction and improvement program for a new town in New Territories supervised by Maunsell Consultants Asia which included a bridge over the KCR line. (Financial Times)

As a firm, Sang Lee Construction Co Ltd was incorporated in 1966 but dissolved in 2006. 

Aside from Szeto Wai, other famous descendants of the partners of Sang Lee include Mary Yee Lai-ching (余麗清1908-1999), who married Frank Fat (鄧世發Dong Sai-fat, 1904-1997) in 1924 and started the famous Chinese restaurant Frank Fat’s in Sacramento, California in 1939 which is still in business today; Yue Man-hing, another descendant was a student at Columbia University in 1931 and married Kenneth Kuan-sheng Chen, a Buddhist scholar who was later professor at Yenching, Harvard and Princeton. The most interesting however was Yu Sau (余修), who married the Communist revolutionary Chu Kuang (朱光, 1906-1969) who became the deputy mayor of Guangzhou after the formation of the People’s Republic in 1949. To rebuild Guangzhou, Chu allegedly enlisted the help of his father in law to obtain construction materials from HK. In 1954, Chu Kuang became the mayor of Guangzhou and his wife was appointed deputy chief of the city’s Overseas Chinese bureau (廣州僑務局副局長). The couple were later purged during the Anti-Rightist movement and the Cultural Revolution.