Former site of Hutchison

Former site of Hutchison

Hutchison is located in Baota bridge, Xiaguan, Gulou District, Nanjing city. It is the first factory opened by foreign capitalists in Xiaguan after the opening of Nanjing port. It is the largest and most modern food processing factory in Nanjing and even in the whole country at that time. It is also an industrial enterprise with the nature of colonial comprador. It is also the forefront of the struggle against imperialism, feudalism, exploitation and oppression of the working class in Nanjing. It is also the research center of Chinese workers' movement It is one of the important bases of history.

Hutchison was founded in 1913 and funded by "United Refrigeration Co., Ltd." in London, England. The company was the most modern food processing plant in the world at that time. There were many foreign companies in China, among which Hutchison in Nanjing was the largest and the most modern food processing plant in China at that time. Nanjing Hutchison is not only one of the auspicious places of modern Chinese industry and trade, but also the most modern food processing plant in China at that time. It has the titles of "the first cold storage in Asia" and "Nanjing's Arctic". It is also one of the first batch of reinforced concrete buildings in China. The remains are not only rich in history, but also very representative.

On January 27, 2018, it was selected into the "China industrial heritage protection list".

Historical evolution

Hutchison is located in baotaqiao, Xiaguan District (now 168 baotaqiao West Street, Xiaguan District). In 1911, the West brothers, the boss of "United Refrigeration Co., Ltd" (also known as "Universal Import and export company") in London, sent mackeiyie, the comprador Han Yongqing and Luo Buzhou to Nanjing to acquire 600 mu of land on both sides of the Jinchuan River in Xiaguan and prepare for the establishment of "Jiangsu International Export Co., Ltd." commonly known as "British Nanjing Hutchison", or "Hutchison" Egg factory. The United Kingdom "Hezhong Refrigeration Co., Ltd." was the most modern food processing plant in the world at that time. There were a number of foreign companies in China, collectively referred to as Hutchison. Among them, Hutchison in Nanjing was the largest and the most modern food processing plant in China at that time.

The factory was built in 1912 and officially opened in 1913. At the beginning of the factory, there were only a few square meters of white iron buildings. In just a few years, the egg factory, pig slaughtering factory, cattle slaughtering factory, chicken and duck processing factory, air-conditioning room, hall room, box room, Kang egg room, machine room, stove room, can factory, ham factory, oil boiling factory, leather factory, feather factory, feeding factory, etc. were rapidly expanded. More than 300 Waizhuang (acquisition stations) have formed an enterprise with Nanjing as the center, built water plants, trestles, wharves, barges and water fire boats for special use in the Yangtze River Delta (today's Baota bridge area). By 1915, the enterprise had begun to take shape, covering an area of more than 40 hectares. In the same year, it was registered in Hong Kong as "British business Hutchison limited", referred to as "Hutchison foreign company".

By 1922, it had developed into an area of 52 hectares, slaughtering about 3000 pigs per day, processing more than 20000 chickens and ducks, and producing more than 100 tons of egg products, up to 300 tons, with an annual output of 50000 tons. It employs four to five thousand Chinese workers, the largest of which was more than 10000 in 1919. It is located on the South Bank of Jinchuan River, reaching Xianqiao in the East and laojiangkou in the West.

In 1956, Hutchison transferred to Shanghai Dahua enterprise for debt repayment. Later, with the approval of the State Council, the Ministry of Commerce invested 10 million yuan to build a large-scale joint meat processing plant with its original equipment.

Major events

Workers of Hutchison were exploited by capitalists

At the beginning of the 20th century, Hutchison foreign company employed long-term workers and temporary workers. The number of long-term workers is very small. The technicians and staff in charge of electrical, boiler, machine room and repair room are usually long-term workers, and their monthly salary is only about 10-20 yuan. But British capitalists have to deduct 10% of their salary, which is called "deposit deposit". This kind of deposit can't be withdrawn at ordinary times. It can't be withdrawn until it is cut or resigned. In fact, it is still put into the pocket of capitalists. In the peak season of eggs and livestock, British businessmen employ a large number of temporary workers, up to tens of thousands at most, accounting for about 90% of the total number of workers. Among them, female workers and child labor accounted for the majority. They work more than ten hours a day, but their wages are extremely low, which is more miserable than long-term workers. The monthly wages of male temporary workers are only about seven yuan (equivalent to more than 130 Jin of rice). Apart from their own food and accommodation, there is little left. The wages of child labor and female workers are lower, and they can only support themselves. Besides being exploited by capitalists, temporary workers are also exploited by foremen. In the peak production season, the big foreman contracts tasks to the factory and then to the small foreman. The small foreman recruits temporary workers and is in danger of being dismissed by the capitalists at any time. Workers are not only economically exploited, but also have no personal freedom. Capitalists can detain and hang workers at will. Factory doors will be searched. If they don't comply with the foreman's wishes, they will be listed in public, and some will even be killed alive.

General strike in support of the May 30th Massacre

In May 1925, the May 30th massacre in Shanghai shocked China and foreign countries, which aroused great indignation of Nanjing people. On June 1, the students of the middle school attached to Southeast University of Nanjing first went on strike, and the primary and secondary schools in Nanjing also went on strike one after another to support the struggle between workers and students in Shanghai. On June 2, students organized a propaganda team to make a speech in Xiaguan to protest against the atrocities of British imperialism. On June 4, the student speech team gathered at the gate of Hutchison foreign company to tell the workers the truth of the May 30th massacre, shouting "workers unite!" "Strike, protest against British imperialism!" And so on. Under the encouragement of the student propaganda team, the workers took active action.

Under the leadership of Party members Wan Xiyan and Cao zhuangfu, Hutchison established a strike committee and a relief strike committee. At the meeting, seven demands to the capitalists were discussed, including compensation for the "May 30th" casualties, punishment of the murderers, increase of wages and restriction of working hours. It was decided to hold a demonstration on June 6. On June 5, the strike committee posted a notice at the gate of Hutchison's factory, announcing the general strike of the whole factory. On June 6, more than 5000 workers in the factory organized 10 groups to hold a demonstration. The general public poured out from the streets and gathered on both sides of the road to give strong support to the workers' actions. Under the guidance and escort of the student bicycle team organized by the Nanjing academic support Committee for the Shanghai case, the angry workers first came to the British Embassy in SaJiaWan, shouting "down with imperialism!" "Revenge for the dead!" In the afternoon, the procession arrived at the Confucius Temple in the south of the city. At the meeting, Wu Lanying, a female worker of Hutchison foreign company, and Jiang yourong, an old worker of Hutchison foreign company, represented Hutchison workers and made a bloody complaint against the cruel boss of British businessmen and the feudal leaders they employed. The student representative delivered an impassioned speech. The scene was filled with indignation, with slogans, firecrackers, gongs and drums.

On June 10, the strike committee of Hutchison foreign company held a meeting of workers' representatives. At the meeting, 13 demands were put forward and resolved, such as organizing trade union, abolishing contract labor system, reasonable payment of wages and workers' labor insurance and welfare security, as the conditions for returning to work and sending negotiators. British businessmen not only refused to accept the negotiation terms of the workers, but also threatened to let the sailors on the British warship moored at the wharf of Hutchison foreign company log in and enter the factory to intimidate the workers. However, the workers were not frightened. They still insisted on the strike and declared that they would never return to work if British businessmen did not accept the negotiation terms. On June 26, with the help of the Nanjing Branch of the Communist Party of China and the Nanjing prefectural committee of the Communist Youth League, Hutchison trade union held a founding meeting. Under the guidance of trade union organizations, workers launched a more in-depth struggle. The strike and struggle of the workers made the company lose more than 10 million ocean. On July 17, under the mediation of Nanjing garrison headquarters, Nanjing chamber of Commerce and Xiaguan chamber of Commerce, foreign firm comprador Luo Buzhou and comprador Ma Jiade were forced to accept most of the requests for resumption of work, and Hutchison foreign firm officially signed and issued a document to Xiaguan chamber of Commerce for preservation. The strike lasted 42 days and won.

"Record the massacre of Guan"

As a matter of fact, the capitalists' acceptance of the conditions for returning to work is only a delaying tactic, and they are secretly plotting a new conspiracy. Half a month after the start of the project, the factory owner falsely claimed that there was a shortage of raw materials and announced the shutdown, in order to expel the workers. After hearing the news, the workers elected representatives to negotiate with comprador Luo Buzhou, demanding that the original treaty be fulfilled and full monthly salary be paid. Luo Buzhou, adhering to the wishes of the factory owner, only promised to pay half a month's wages. Before the ink of the treaty was dry, the British businessmen drove the soldiers of the British marine corps into the factory and shot at the workers. Ten workers were killed and injured, and more than 100 workers were arrested on the spot, creating the famous "Xiaguan Massacre" in Hutchison.

The bloody suppression of the British imperialism aroused great indignation from all walks of life in Nanjing and the people of the whole country. On August 4, people from all walks of life in Nanjing held a large-scale demonstration and set up the "Xiaguan massacre support association". The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League jointly issued the book of suing workers, students and soldiers, condemning the crimes of British imperialism and calling on the people to fight to the end.

The flames of the workers' movement

Deng Dinghai, a Communist Party member, actively carried out his work under the leadership of the party organization of the factory. He used every opportunity to connect workers, mobilize the masses, organize brotherhood and sister associations, and contacted and United a group of activists such as Zhou Hanqing, song Ruhai, Wang Shaopeng and Wu Lanying. In September 1929, according to the decision of the Party branch, Deng Dinghai secretly mobilized the workers and jointly demanded that the factory increase the workers' wages from 9 yuan to 12 yuan,

Chinese PinYin : He Ji Yang Hang Jiu Zhi