P A G E 4 P A G E 5 S W I R E P R O P E R T I E S S W I R E P R O P E R T I E S MESSAGE FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE This is an important year for everyone at Swire Properties as we celebrate our 50 th Anniversary. It is a milestone that allows us to acknowledge our achievements over five decades. We are proud of what we have achieved; the places we’ve transformed and the vibrant communities we’ve helped to build in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Miami and South-east Asia. We are looking to the future with confidence and we will continue to maintain our leadership in sustainable development. But what defines us and truly sets us apart is our commitment to originality. It captures our creative and innovative spirit; inspiring ideas that will drive future achievements. Originality has helped us set new industry standards in all we do; from how we manage our office, retail, residential and hotel properties to how we create exceptional places where people can live happier and healthier lives. This eBook illustrates why we have chosen “ORIGINAL. ALWAYS.” as the theme for our 50 th Anniversary. I hope you enjoy reading it. Tim Blackburn Chief Executive Swire Properties Swire first came to Hong Kong in the 1870s determined to capitalise on the island’s ideal location to support its flourishing trade with China. To do so, the company built a new dockyard and a sugar refinery. While both successful commercial entities, Taikoo Dockyard and Taikoo Sugar Refinery spawned a vibrant community. Here most of the components we would expect in today’s ideal neighbourhoods were to be found. There was housing constructed for the workers; there was a social club and recreational facilities, as well as free health care. There was even a funicular railway to help people get around. This site is where Swire created one of the city’s earliest examples of placemaking. Taikoo Dockyard and Taikoo Sugar Refinery Photo Credit © Swire Archives