Great Britain and Russia: Two Tactics of Running the Tea Business in China in 1861-1890
The article discusses the peculiarities of tea purchases in the international market of Hankow by the two main participants: British and Russian merchants. After opening of the port for foreigners in 1860s, in a few years Hankow has acquired the status of the main port for the supply of tea to Europe and Russia. During the first year of international activity in the market, trade rules for foreign entrepreneurs were developed. After a decade of lively commercial activity, two different ways of making tea purchases by foreigners finally formed in the port: the British accepted the general scheme of work proposed by the Chinese authorities, and the Russians developed their own way of running the tea business, which could only be implemented in Hankow at that time.