Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala

Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala
Born	Bombay, British India
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Years active	1852–early 1900s
Known for	Founder of the Star Ferry; founder of King Edward Hotel

Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala was a British entrepreneur of Parsi heritage based in Hong Kong.

Early years

He came to Hong Kong in 1852, arriving as a stowaway from Bombay, and began his career working as a cook.

Establishment of the Star Ferry

In 1888, Naorojee established the Kowloon Ferry Company to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods, including bread, between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The firm was renamed the Star Ferry in 1898 and continues to serve as an essential mode of passenger transportation in Hong Kong.

Involvement in the hotel industry

Naorojee also ventured into hospitality, founding the King Edward Hotel during the colonial era. Reports indicate that he leased the Hong Kong Hotel for a decade starting in 1873, and subsequently managed hotels located on Pottinger Street as well as in Kowloon. Between 1906 and 1907, together with partners Mr Madar and Mr Farmer, he opened the King Edward Hotel at 3 Des Voeux Road on Hong Kong Island, likely operating under a franchise arrangement rather than establishing an original property.

After concluding his business activities in Hong Kong, Mithaiwala retired and returned to India, where he eventually passed away.