//16.4 In Picture
「Made in Hong Kong」 was something ubiquitous and universally known from the 1960s until the turn of the century when Hong Kong was primarily a manufacturing city. This little label embodied the city’s cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and community spirit.
In a collection of photographic essays in the book Hong Kong Reminiscence, Lam Hiu-man documented the city’s intangible cultural heritage, from traditional crafts to culinary practices. Sadly, these shops are on the decline.
Mee Wah Qipao (美华时装)
Shop 3, 88 Queen’s Rd W, Tai Ping Shan Street, Hong Kong Island
Mee Wah Qipao, established in the 1920s, is one of Hong Kong’s oldest dress-making shops. For nearly a century, it provided tailoring services. At its peak, in the 1970s, it boasted over 30 skilled tailors, most of whom hailed from Shanghai. Today, with fewer young people entering this specialised tailoring industry, the shop is facing serious challenges, with the only two tailors currently carrying on this legacy.
Wai Long Hou Herbal Tea Shop (惠隆号东莞佬凉茶)
G/F, 41 Pei Ho Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
Wai Long Hou Herbal Tea Shop has been a staple in Sham Shui Po district for over 70 years, offering herbal tea to customers seeking relief from a variety of ailments. Originally located near the pier, it served as a shelter and resting spot for passengers commuting to and from Central. However, following the demolition of the pier and the termination of ferry services in 1992, the shop has fewer customers.
Kam Fat Mahjong Shop (金發麻雀)
2A-4 Bulkeley Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon
Located on the ground floor of a tenement house in Hung Hom district, this small shop selling hand-carved artisan mahjong tiles occupies less than 100 square feet and has been home to six family members since its establishment in 1962. Mahjong tile-making was listed as an intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
Yuet Tung China Works (粵東磁場)
3/F, Kowloon Bay Industrial Centre, Unit 1-3, 15 Wang Hoi Rd, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Yuet Tung China Works is the only shop in Hong Kong that produces hand-drawn china. Hidden within an industrial building in Kowloon Bay, it has a history of over 90 years. Since its founding in 1928, the shop has evolved from traditional Qing dynasty patterns to a unique fusion style that combines Chinese and Western designs.
Coi Gei Birdcage Repair (財記精工修理漆籠)
59 Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, Mong Kok, Kowloon
Uncle Coi started making birdcages when he was 13 years old and launched his own business in the 1970s. The bird-keeping culture in Hong Kong flourished in the 1950s but gradually declined over time, as did Uncle Coi’s birdcage-repairing business. In 2013, the craftsmanship of birdcage making was recognised and included in the list of modified intangible cultural heritage. ■
From the Author:
Since the book’s publication in 2021, some of these old shops have quietly disappeared. However, their legacies will forever live on through these photographs. For those shops that still are in existence, I continue to visit, fully realising that with their aging proprietors, each of my visits could very well be the last.
As times change and as the city undergoes its renewal, many traditional cultural businesses will fade away or transform to suit modern tastes. This change is inevitable, positively or negatively. I feel grateful that I can help preserve these historical moments through my documentation.
— Lam Hiu-man
Photo credit: Hong Kong Reminiscence (香港遺美) @ hkreminiscence
For an interesting read on Hong Kong’s industrialisation past, see Hong Kong Memory: The Rise and Decline of Hong Kong Industry