Increase or decrease font size for easier reading :
A+A-
Old shops
In Hong Kong, many shops still carry out
an outdoor business such barbers, noodle stall, street food restaurants ("Dai Pai Dong"),
fortune teller, papercraft master, sewer shop, refreshment shop and so on...
Chow Kee shop
Many old traditional shops are being forced to close to make way for new
towers or because they cannot afford expensive rents.
Chow Kee shop
One of them was Chow Kee shop which dealt with paperwork associated with
traditional ceremonies (Hungry Ghost Festival or locally
known as Yu Lan festival). His shop had been on Stauton Street since one century.
The papercraft and offering store, Chow Kee,
stood out due to the lanterns and Chinese decorations in various shapes
of red decorating the front.
Paper body of the Hungry Ghost king
The old papercraft master born in year 1920 made
the paper effigy of the Hungry Ghost king on Aberdeen Street from scratch.
During the Hungry Ghosts festival, he created a five-meter tall "Ghost King" and
other figures from paper and bamboo.
In year 2008, the old papercraft master
was forced out of his century-old shop because of the high rent but
finally found a new shop on neighbouring Elgin Street (G/F, 14E Elgin Street, Central).
Chow Kee shop
A businessman even had offered the old papercraft master a space in Tsim Sha Tsui
but he preferred to stay in the neighbourhood as most of the customers were long-time residents
of the neighbourhood, who dropped by on their way to shop and chattered away.
Mr Chan's skilful hands had created large paper sacrifices for
traditional religious functions and delicate goldfish lanterns.
Old shop in Wan Chai
The economic boom and the lack of government backing (no cheap rental for
traditional crafts) have placed many traditional festivals in danger of disappearing.
There is a wish to have them recognized as intangible heritage items.
Chow Kee shop
Taking such photo becomes rare because almost no generation in
Hong Kong has picked up such skill nowadays.
Chow Kee shop
Mr Chan worked one to two hours a day. He was leaving in a shop house.
According to Mr Chan, the 1930s decade was the prime period
for the ritual paper craft business.
Chow Kee shop
Chow Kee paper shop was located in Central district on Hong Kong island.
Mr Chan, old papercraft master, was still working there. In June and July he was always
working on the paper effigy of the Hell King that was displayed on
Aberdeen Street during Hungry Ghost festival.
Mr Chan Kwei-chow, 95, had retired to mainland China with his wife
in year 2013.
