RUSSO-CHINESE BANK.
A branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank was opened at Peking some two years ago by the present Russian Minister, D. D. Pokotiloff. The premises, which are situated in Legation Street, are the Bank's own property, and here all forms of business usual to large Banking Corporations are transacted. The headquarters of the Bank are in St. Petersburg. There is a London office in Threadneedle Street, and nearly fifty branches have been opened in different parts of the world. The capital amounts to 15,000,000 roubles, and there is a reserve fund of 9,240,000 roubles.
Mr. E. Wilhfahrt, who has been in the service of the Bank for the past eleven years, has charge of its interests at Peking.
DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE BANK.
A branch of this Bank was established in Peking by Mr. Heinrich Cordes in 1905. The new premises in Legation Street were opened in 1907, and are the Bank's own property. The present managers are Mr. Conrad H. Cordes (manager), and Mr. Alfred J. Eggeling (agent).
Mr. Heinrich Cordes was born in Lübbecke, Westphalia, in 1866, and was educated at the High School of Bielefeld and at the University of Berlin, where he graduated in modern languages and law in 1892, and passed with honours in Chinese. Entering the foreign service in 1892, he was attached to the German Legation at Peking, where he attained the position of Second Interpreter in 1896. During the following four years he was attached to various Consulates in Southern China. In 1900 he took part in the negotiations between the Chinese Government and the Diplomatic Corps preceding the outbreak of the Boxer troubles, and was accompanying the German Minister, Fréiherr von Ketteler, when the latter was murdered on the way to the Tsung li Yamen. Mr. Cordes was himself seriously wounded. Recovering from his injuries, he returned to Germany in 1901, and it was then that von Hausemann, the great financier and head of the renowned banking institution, Direction der Disconto Gesellschaft, Berlin, engaged his services for the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, and as representative in China of the "Syndicate for Asiatic Affairs." Under his management the branch has negotiated several important loans for the Imperial Chinese Government.
P. KIERULFF & CO.
Established in 1874, this firm carry on business as general storekeepers, silversmiths, jewellers, saddlers, drapers, outfitters, wine and provision merchants, and tourists' providers. A speciality is the manufacture of the Peking enamels, so greatly admired. Insurance is also effected, the firm being agents for the Hamburg Fire, Magdeburg Fire, Mannheim Life, Netherlands Life, and Equitable Life Insurance Companies. The capital of the firm is entirely German. The proprietor is Mr. J. Kruger, and the manager is Mr. H. Westphal.
