瑞興百貨曾是香港最具代表性的華資百貨公司之一，尤其在1950至1970年代更是九龍區百貨龍頭。從灣仔雜貨店起家，到成為尖沙咀繁華地標，瑞興見證了香港戰後經濟起飛與現代零售文化的誕生。
Shui Hing Department Store played a major role in shaping Hong Kong’s retail culture during the twentieth century. From a modest grocery business to one of Kowloon’s most influential department store chains, the company reflected the city’s transformation into a modern commercial metropolis.
中文
香港瑞興百貨（Shui Hing Department Store）是香港歷史最悠久且最具代表性的華資百貨公司之一，由古瑞庭於1926年創辦，在1950至1970年代更成為九龍區最具影響力的百貨龍頭。瑞興百貨的發展歷程，不僅見證香港由戰後城市逐步發展成國際商業都會，更代表香港本土華資百貨由傳統雜貨經營邁向現代化零售模式的重要時代。瑞興百貨的故事最早可追溯至20世紀初。創辦人古瑞庭的家族早年於非洲毛里裘斯經營洋雜生意，因此古瑞庭自幼在海外成長，能夠說流利英語，亦熟悉外匯與貿易業務。1920年代初，古瑞庭原本打算返回中國家鄉成親，但由於當時內地局勢動盪及戰亂頻繁，他最終滯留香港。初到香港時，他曾在香港水務局擔任抄水錶公務員，但憑藉對國際商品與外匯市場的認識，他很快意識到香港作為國際港口的巨大商機。其後，古瑞庭辭去公職，與朋友合資在灣仔開設「瑞興雜貨店」，開始經營洋貨與日用品買賣。隨著生意穩步發展，1926年瑞興百貨正式於中環德輔道開業，成為香港早期華資百貨公司之一。1937年抗日戰爭爆發後，大量內地居民湧入香港避難，香港人口急速增加，市場對日用品與生活物資需求大幅提升。瑞興百貨憑藉穩定貨源與靈活經營模式，在戰亂時期迅速壯大，逐漸建立起本地百貨品牌地位。1946年，創辦人古瑞庭因心臟病突然離世，由年僅二十多歲的兒子古勝祥接掌家族業務。古勝祥接手後，為瑞興百貨帶來真正的黃金年代。當時香港大型百貨公司大多集中在港島中環，而九龍區仍缺乏大型現代百貨設施。由於當年尚未興建海底隧道，九龍居民前往港島購物並不方便。古勝祥看準九龍市場的發展潛力，決定把瑞興業務重心轉移至尖沙咀彌敦道，建立大型百貨商場。這項策略極為成功，令瑞興迅速成為九龍最具規模的百貨公司之一。1950至1960年代，瑞興百貨幾乎成為九龍區大型百貨的代名詞，不少香港家庭都會專程到尖沙咀瑞興購物。瑞興百貨亦是香港零售業創新先驅之一。1956年，瑞興率先於香港引入自動開關玻璃大門，在當年引起巨大轟動。由於當時冷氣尚未普及，很多市民從未見過自動門，大批市民甚至專程到瑞興「參觀」自動玻璃門開關情景，成為當時香港街頭熱門話題。除了設備創新外，瑞興亦積極引入歐美高級時裝與皮具產品。1950與1960年代，瑞興直接從法國及意大利進口服裝與精品，成為香港較早經營歐洲時尚商品的百貨公司之一。其商品定位明顯高於一般街坊店或傳統國貨公司，因此吸引不少中產人士與追求西式生活品味的消費者。1963年，瑞興更邀請意大利建築師潘地主理尖沙咀店設計，並於同年聖誕節期間在店外設置大型聖誕樹與燈飾。當時香港仍未普遍出現大型節日燈飾活動，因此瑞興聖誕佈置成為九龍區著名節日景點，不少家庭會特地到尖沙咀欣賞燈飾與拍照留念，成為一代香港人的集體回憶。1970年代是瑞興百貨發展最鼎盛時期。除了中環與尖沙咀店外，瑞興亦開設「瑞榮超級市場」，並把業務擴展至新加坡市場。同時，瑞興成功在香港上市，成為本地重要零售企業之一。1990年，瑞興更承租旺角惠豐中心原永安百貨舖位開設大型分店，希望進一步拓展九龍市場。然而，1990年代香港零售市場競爭環境出現重大變化。日資百貨如崇光、八佰伴、大丸等積極擴張，加上大型購物商場興起，傳統華資百貨逐漸失去優勢。瑞興雖然擁有歷史與品牌知名度，但面對高昂租金與消費模式轉變，經營壓力日漸增加。1997年亞洲金融風暴前夕，古氏家族決定以9.7億港元將瑞興百貨業務及上市公司售予永義國際，正式退出百貨零售行業。易手後，瑞興各間店舖陸續結業或改建，這個陪伴香港近七十年的百貨品牌亦正式成為歷史。儘管如此，瑞興百貨仍然是香港戰後零售發展的重要象徵，它不但見證九龍商業區崛起，更代表香港由傳統社會邁向現代化消費文化的重要年代。
English Version
Shui Hing Department Store was one of the most influential Chinese-owned department store chains in Hong Kong throughout the twentieth century. Founded in 1926 by Koo Shui Ting, the company became especially famous during the 1950s and 1960s as the dominant retail giant in Kowloon. More than simply a department store, Shui Hing reflected the rise of Hong Kong’s modern consumer culture and the transformation of Kowloon into a major commercial district after the Second World War. The story of Shui Hing began far beyond Hong Kong itself. Koo Shui Ting’s family had operated a trading business in Mauritius, where they sold imported goods and daily necessities. Because of this overseas upbringing, Koo developed strong English language skills and gained knowledge in foreign exchange trading and international commerce from an early age. In the early 1920s, he originally intended to return to mainland China for marriage arrangements, but political instability and warfare prevented him from doing so. Stranded in Hong Kong, Koo initially worked as a meter reader for the Waterworks Department. Yet he soon realized the city’s growing importance as a trading hub and decided to leave government employment in search of business opportunities. Together with several partners, he opened Shui Hing Grocery Store in Wan Chai, focusing on imported merchandise and household products. As the business grew steadily, Shui Hing Department Store officially opened on Des Voeux Road Central in 1926, becoming one of Hong Kong’s earliest locally owned department stores. The outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 dramatically changed Hong Kong’s population and economy. Large numbers of refugees fled south into the city, increasing demand for food, clothing, and household essentials. Shui Hing benefited enormously from this rapid population growth and successfully expanded its operations during a difficult and uncertain era. In 1946, founder Koo Shui Ting died suddenly from heart disease, leaving the company to his son Koo Sing Cheung, who was only in his twenties at the time. Under the younger Koo’s leadership, Shui Hing entered its golden age. Most major department stores in Hong Kong during the post-war years were concentrated on Hong Kong Island, particularly in Central. Kowloon, however, lacked large modern retail facilities. Since the Cross-Harbour Tunnel had not yet been built, many Kowloon residents found traveling to the island inconvenient. Recognizing this market gap, Koo shifted the company’s focus toward Tsim Sha Tsui and Nathan Road, developing large-scale department stores in Kowloon. The strategy proved remarkably successful and established Shui Hing as the leading department store brand on the Kowloon side of the harbor. During the 1950s and 1960s, Shui Hing became synonymous with modern shopping for countless Hong Kong families. The company also gained a reputation for introducing new retail innovations to the city. In 1956, Shui Hing became the first department store in Hong Kong to install automatic glass doors. At a time when air conditioning was still uncommon and most residents had never encountered automated entrances, the doors attracted enormous public attention. Curious visitors traveled to the store simply to watch the doors open and close automatically, making it one of the city’s most talked-about attractions. Shui Hing also distinguished itself through imported European fashion and luxury products. The company directly sourced clothing, leather goods, and accessories from France and Italy during the 1950s and 1960s, giving it a more upscale image compared with ordinary neighborhood shops or traditional Chinese goods stores. Middle-class customers increasingly viewed Shui Hing as a destination for stylish Western living and modern urban sophistication. In 1963, the company further enhanced its reputation by commissioning Italian architect Poon Tei to redesign its Tsim Sha Tsui flagship. During the same year, Shui Hing introduced elaborate Christmas decorations and a giant outdoor Christmas tree, creating one of Kowloon’s earliest large-scale festive displays. The annual decorations quickly became a holiday tradition, drawing families from across the city to Nathan Road to admire the lights and celebrate the Christmas season. The 1970s marked the peak of Shui Hing’s business empire. Beyond its flagship department stores, the company launched Shui Wing Supermarket and expanded operations into Singapore. Shui Hing also became a publicly listed company in Hong Kong, strengthening its status as one of the territory’s major retail corporations. In 1990, the company opened another large branch in Mong Kok’s Wai Fung Plaza, occupying premises previously used by Wing On Department Store. However, Hong Kong’s retail landscape changed rapidly during the 1990s. Japanese department stores such as Sogo, Yaohan, and Daimaru aggressively expanded, while modern shopping malls transformed consumer behavior. Traditional Chinese-owned department stores struggled to compete against newer retail concepts, rising rents, and changing customer expectations. Facing increasing pressure, the Koo family decided to sell Shui Hing’s department store business and listed company shell to Easyknit International for HK$970 million shortly before the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. After the acquisition, Shui Hing’s remaining stores gradually closed or were redeveloped, ending nearly seventy years of retail history. Even after disappearing from Hong Kong streets, Shui Hing remained one of the city’s most important retail pioneers, symbolizing the rise of Kowloon’s commercial identity and the evolution of Hong Kong into a modern consumer society.
總結
瑞興百貨曾是九龍最具代表性的華資百貨龍頭，以創新設備、歐美時尚與節日燈飾聞名，陪伴香港走過戰後經濟起飛與零售黃金年代。
Shui Hing Department Store helped define modern shopping culture in post-war Hong Kong, combining innovation, international fashion, and festive city life into one of Kowloon’s most memorable retail legacies.
