Jardine jilts Hong Kong
Before there was a British crown colony of Hong Kong, there was Jardine, Matheson. The 152-year-old trading company, or hong, helped start the Opium War, forcing China to cede the island to Britain in 1841. In the years since, Jardine has evolved into an empire with $500 million in assets that handles everything from oil to finance. Last week the firm shocked Hong Kong by announcing that it will recharter itself as a holding company in Bermuda.
Jardine's move renewed the apprehension surrounding the 1997 expiration of Britain's lease on...
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