Shipping Slump Stops Some (but not the Noble House)

Recent media reports are spinning a yarn tale over the effect of the downturn on the shipping industry here in the Fragrant Harbour. Some are weighed down by charter chains, but no shipping firm has yet got into serious financial trouble (unlike some from Asia's second world city). Having started as a shipping and export firm, the Noble House knows the business back to front, although this forms a much smaller part of the company these days. Having always owned and used its own ships it is still sailing through the storm as Mr Howse has testified on the BBC (a slight lapse in memory for names can be forgiven!) while others are drifting towards the rocks and reefs. So for secure shipping through the financial turmoil, you can still be sure of the Noble House.

Swire Slick Spoils Seas

The Noble House is sad to learn of the disaster that has struck the Australian coast. The Swire-owned vessel Pacific Adventurer shed its cargo of oil after being caught in the tail of a cyclone. As Tai-Pan of The Noble House I would never permit a vessel to go to sea unless it was deemed safe, especially through typhoon-wracked waters. That is why Struan's reputation is unblemished, and is Hong Kong and the World's firm of choice when it comes to ocean transport.


The Pacific Adventurer before the incident

Noble House Records

The Noble House is proud to release the first album by our newest signing on the Struan Sounds label.



Available from all good stockists in Victoria.

If you are thinking of moving into the music industry, you would do well to read HKOB holdings' guide to making it in the record industry, based on an oiriginal idea by Noble House Publishing.

Financial Crisis hits home at Rothwell Gornt?

Browsing through the Taipan Times personal ads section, I happened to notice something that made me wonder if Gornt's company has quite the reserves he claims.

Sea Witch, currently of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club

Gornt's favourite cruiser, the Sea Witch (named after his ancestor Brock's clipper) is up for sale. And at a price I think is quite unreasonable for such a junk (all puns intended).

I fear that if he's trying to raise capital to attempt to purchase new property, selling this isn't going to even raise enough money for the taxi ride to the estate agent.

Struan's Cola - Hong Kong's safe Cola

The Noble House, as everyone knows, is the purveyor of Hong Kong's finest soft beverage - Stag Cola: The cool of the Highlands in the heat of the tropics.



As the Tai-Pan of the Noble House, particularly when it comes to our products, the safety and health of Hong Kong is a great concern of mine. I am particularly worried that Gornt is pressing ahead with the release of 'ExtraJoss - Active', after the scandal that arose during its recent trial period in the Philippines.



It turned out that the factory Gornt bought to make this product used to be a pesticide factory. Subsequently, the 'ExtraJoss - Active' was tainted with abamectin, chlorthiophos and kasugamycin. As their marketing gimmick inside the ring-pull would say: Bad Joss.

Not only has Gornt gone ahead with ExtraJoss regular here in Hong Kong, but the source is still the same. Can he guarantee the safety of this product? He has so far avoided any comment on this product, and ExtraJoss - Active is not even listed on the Rothwell-Gornt website.

Citizens of Hong Kong - if you want to stay safe, drink Struan's Stag Cola.

The Tai-Pan

Press Release: 2008 4th Quarter and Full-Year Results

The Noble House has now released its complete results for 2008, and is pleased to retain its position as Hong Kong's most profitable company.

Earnings in the 4th quarter dipped slightly, in line with the global financial crisis, but it was still a record 135th year straight of growth in profits.

2009 looks to be a financially challenging year for the world, but The Noble House is sure that its diverse portfolio and dedicated staff will help it maintain its position as Hong Kong's most profitable trading house.

Please contact Euthanasia Tan (ex. 5154) for the full report.

Year of the Ox

Report on the Annual Consultation with Master Yip

I have just returned from consulting our venerable 'Feng Shooee' advisor, Master Yip. The Noble House takes Chinese geomancy very seriously, as you are aware from the positioning of our office doors, and always consults Yip for his predictions over the following year for those members of staff who are keen to receive HK's most eminent astrologer's view upon the fortunes of the coming cycle. As Tai Pan of the Noble House, I have taken the liberty to interpret some of Yip's findings into business related contexts.

Yip: The Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch are both grounded in earth, with concealed seams of gold and hidden springs. The coffers re-fill, but are spilled anew by chaos.

Tai-Pan: Although seemingly stable and initially profitable, the property/land sector will drain the funds poured into it. Not a good year to invest in new building projects (Shame about your new developments in Central and Kowloon West, Gornt). This also could be a veiled hint that there will be a general disaster to hit Asia - but then the astrologers do get caught up with big events happening in China in years that end in 9 (PRC founding, Tiananmen, May 4th movement etc.).

Yip: The giants that fell leave space for new dragons; those that did not fall must bend like the bamboo or shatter.

Tai-Pan: The Noble House was largely unscathed by the financial crisis due to forethought and diligent diverse planning. There will be new competition filling the vacuum left by competitors no longer with us. Rothwell Gornt did not collapse, but will have to fight hard against its rigid structures to adapt to new times. The Noble House will survive and prosper due to its flexibility.


Yip: The rat leaves chaos, the Ox stabilises; restraint, toil, wisdom and determination are the characteristics of the Ox. Those like the Ox will prosper.

Tai-Pan: Not a year for excess, put your head down and work. I'll put off buying that new AMG SLK as an example to the rest of the Noble House.

Yip: Be careful those born in the year of Ram, Horse, Dragon and Dog.

Tai-Pan: I know his birthday is a closely guarded secret, but I'd wager Gornt was born under one of these signs. Advice I didn't need in this instance!


For a full report, please contact The Tai-Pan's secretary Dyspepsia Wong on ext. +5118.