As the founder of "James Hatton Hall and Company," he operated a general merchant business and proudly referred to himself as "a pioneer in Brunei and North Borneo.
"[1] His journey into chartered company territory began at the turn of the 20th century, leading to his long tenure as the manager of the expansive 8,000-acre (3,200 ha) Woodford Estate in Beaufort, situated along the Padas River.
In 1910, Hall established a private estate at Berakas in neighbouring Brunei, fully dedicating himself to its development after departing North Borneo in 1917, a year marked by significant global upheaval, including the Russian Revolution.
Edward Stubbs of the Colonial Office questioned Hall's involvement, suggesting that the monopoly had been previously granted to a Chinese monopolist who would have been more effective in curbing smuggling.
The firm operated a sago plant and sawmills in Beaufort and became agents for a range of industries, including shipping, insurance, petroleum, wines, tobacco, and rubber.
Hall returned to the United Kingdom on 14 August 1906, and his efforts bore fruit when the Beaufort Borneo Rubber Company, Limited was founded the following April.
Originally a tapioca plantation, Woodford Estate—or at least part of it—was named by Chee Swee Cheng, a Borneo revenue farmer who would later become a prominent Malayan banker and philanthropist, in honour of Birch.
[1] During his leave in the United Kingdom in 1910–1911, Hall arranged for an automobile to be imported for the estate, an event so notable that it made headlines in late 1912.
[6] Hall's strong reputation is reflected in his appointment as manager of the North Borneo State Rubber Company's 5,000-acre Lumat Estate in 1913, where he earned an annual salary of $400, along with a 2.5% commission.
Additionally, Hall played a key role in founding the Jesselton Ice and Power Company, incorporated in Singapore in November 1913.
[8] On 16 May 1917, it was announced that Hall had moved to Brunei, where he planned to reorganise his private estate at Berakas and expand it by an additional 500 acres in partnership with Cheng.
[3] Meanwhile, while James Hatton Hall and Company of Jesselton remained successful, it was acquired by Harrisons and Crosfield (Borneo) Limited on 1 July 1918.
He had previously faced private criticism from the acting governor and the court for his failure to communicate effectively with his staff, which led to some unrest.
It seems that he may have left his dual positions at Woodford and Lumat somewhat abruptly, with one source referring to the "termination" of the "late manager's services," though it may not be entirely accurate to interpret this as a formal dismissal.
[3] He was survived by his widow, Mabel Edith, and their two daughters, Dorothy and Winifrede, as well as a son, Herbert Christopher (1892–1946), who notably adopted the surname 'Hatton-Hall.'