The book talk on “Transforming from Colonial Chemist to Global Health and Beauty Retailer:A S Watson” is about the history of an iconic chemist, A.S. Watson, which can trace its humble beginnings to the Canton Dispensary in the Thirteen Factories in Shamian, Guangzhou in 1828. By 1900, it was the largest supplier of opium cures, soda water and worm cakes in the Far East, and operated or sold to a 100 drug stores in China and the Philippines. Today, A S Watson is a leading global retail health and beauty retailer with national brands of Dirk Rosmann, Fortress, Kruidvat, ParkNShop, Savers, Superdrugs, Watsons and others in 28 markets in Asia and Europe.
Dr Stuart Anderson, a renowned academic on the history of pharmacy in the British Empire, comments “In this highly readable and lavishly illustrated book, Patrick Chiu makes an important contribution to the history of pharmacy in Asia and the legacy of European Colonialism. This book records the firm’s highs and lows in an often turbulent political and economic environment, from its beginnings to the twenty-first century. It will be of interest not only to pharmacy and business historians but also to those interested in the history of Hong Kong and China.”
The Speaker
Patrick Chiu (Manchu name Irgen Gioro) is a writer and pharmaceutical historian.
Born in Guangzhou and grew up in Hong Kong, he could trace his origins back to the Bordered Yellow Tribe inhabited near Changchun, Manchuria (now Jilin province, Northeast China). Patrick graduated with a B.Sc. degree at De Montfort University, Leicester, an MBA at the University of Hull, England, and has attended a Global Management Programme at IMD, Lausanne. His career spanned across the business, charity, and health service sectors.
Patrick’s original research work on modern medicine and pharmacy of China’s treaty ports have been published in the Pharmaceutical Historian since 2016. Patrick’s first book, A History of Western Pharmacy in Colonial Hong Kong, was ranked as a top 10 seller in the Autumn 2017 Commercial Press Book Fair in Beijing. He is a regular contributor to the Master-Insight, an economic and political news media for the Greater China audience. He is married and lives in Hong Kong.
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm Hong Kong Time (desk reception opens at 6:30pm)
Admission: $150 for members, $200 for guests /non-members, numbers are limited. No charge for alternative Zoom.
Booking: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk in advance to register your attendance for either Café 8 or Zoom.