Chinese capitalism in colonial Malaya, 1900-1941

摘要

By 1900, the British controlled much of the Malay Peninsula; many Chinese traders and enterprises flourished within the new political and economic order. William Tai Yuen's book Chinese capitalism in colonial Malaya clearly aims to try to address the dearth of literature on the development of Chinese capitalism during the first four decades of the twentieth century 'within the context of a colonial economy' by 'tracing its trajectory in some major industries, trades and services' (p. 9). Tai also asserts that 'this book examines the growth of capitalism in Malaya in its world context and within the political and socioeconomic framework of Malayan society' (p. 9). Based on his Ph.D. dissertation submitted to the University of Hong Kong, it is a thoroughly researched project, with an extensive use of primary sources held in London, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.