得忌利士洋行 Douglas Lapraik & Co.

  前身為英商道格拉斯汽船公司（Douglas Steamship Company），從事自香港至福州間的航運運輸。其後在1883年成立得忌利士洋行，為英國在華茶商合資經營之船運公司，其中一條航線，以廈門為連接點，經香港、汕頭、安平、打狗、滬尾。而滬尾自開港以來，1880年代已進入加速成長階段，得忌利士洋行恭逢其會，尤其茶市興旺，往來茶貨、人客絡繹不絕，該洋行之輪船往返滬尾、廈門、香港各埠，獨擅其利。清法戰爭滬尾之役，1884年10月2日砲戰時，得忌利士洋行充當外僑避難的集合地點，洋行後屋竟被一枚炮彈擊垮，險象環生。洋行占地甚大，原設有碼頭，以及事務室、倉庫、住家、宿舍、檢查場和輸入品置場等。（文：張建隆）

  Douglas Lapraik & Co. was established in 1883 by the Douglas Steamship Company, a shipping company that carried goods between Hong Kong and Fuzhou. The shipping company was a joint venture between British tea merchants operating in China. One of the routes connected Xiamen with Hong Kong, Shantou, Anping, Takau and Hobe (Tamsui). By 1880 Hobe (Tamsui) had entered a period of accelerated growth as a trading port. Douglas Lapraik & Co. benefited hugely from the constant stream of tea and passengers, enjoying a virtual monopoly on the shipping between Hobe (Tamsui), Xiamen and Hong Kong. During the Sino-French War of 1884, expatriates sought refuge at the company offices during the October 2 bombardment. One of the shells even hit a rear building. The premises of Douglas Lapraik & Co. were once quite extensive. It included a wharf, offices, warehouse, residence, dormitory, first inspection site and import warehouse. Only two buildings now remain. It was eventually designated as a historic site and restoration work was completed in 2013. (Text: Chang Jian-Long)