In the Taipan novel, the "Noble House" trading company is based on Jardine Matheson trading company, which were founded in 1832 by Scotsmen William Jardine and James Matheson. Jardine, was for a very long time, till around the end of the 1970s, was one of the most powerful entities in Hong Kong, in fact, to this day, they remain one of Asia-Pac's most powerful corporations, although not as prestigious as it was 60+ years ago. It gotten its start as a major opium trader.

HSBC, which always had been and is still a major force in Hong Kong, was founded by another Scot, Thomas Sutherland. HSBC also started off processing finances for opium traders.

Scots made up a major group of employees and staff of the East India company, and where the company went, company itself were often the face of the British empire, until it was dissolved.

Of course, there was also several dozen other nationalities and traders as well from several parts of the world, but thanks to Jardine and HSBC, the reputation of Scots traders were larger than life.