MEI HO HOUSE ALUMNI NETWORK ACTIVITY
SHAM SHUI PO KAIFONG GUIDED TOUR OF INDUSTRIES

“Mei Ho House Alumni Network Activity: Sham Shui Po Kaifong Guided Tour of Industries” has been completed successfully on 7 October 2018 (Sunday). Walking through streets and alleys following our docents from Hoi Bun Heritage Docents Society, our participants not only found the traces of different industries in Sham Shui Po, but also counted the changes from the past to modern times.

After leaving the Sham Shui Po MTR station, we arrived at our first stop of Fuk Wing Street, which is famous for selling toys. Our docents, who were born and raised here, said that the shops here keep changing their faces as the festivals approach. For example, just after the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, the toy lanterns that were originally hanged everywhere on the street have disappeared now.

Less than 5 minutes from the toy shops, we arrived outside the Golden Computer Arcade. Our docents told the stories standing opposite to the original site of a large cinema in Sham Shui Po. Before becoming a distribution centre for computers and peripheral products, it was originally a fashion zone specializing in all kinds of fashion clothing. As Apliu Street had been full of shops already, merchants began to open appliance shops here. Slowly it has become the Golden Computer Arcade and the Golden Computer Centre today.

After leaving the Golden Computer Arcade, and passing through Apliu Street, our docents took us to the second-hand market of the Lung Shing Centre. In the time of scarcity, many grassroots peoples had to pawn their properties securing their food and clothing, and the pawnbrokers and second-hand markets thus thrived. Today, these stores are few and far between.

The block next to Apliu Street is where Yu Chau Street, which is famous for selling clothing accessories, is located. Though only a few shops were opened, everyone has been deeply attracted by the colourful accessories displayed.

The itinerary had already been completed in half. Afterwards, our docents took us to the hawker stalls in Pei Ho Street, sewing machine companies, Kei Lung Street and Tai Nam Street, which are named as the streets of cloth shops, and other places.

Thanks to the Hoi Bun Heritage Docents Society for preparing the rich itinerary, and the stories in all walks of life in Sham Shui Po. And also thanks all participants for their support!