The keepers of Shau Kei Wan's maritime past
Pockets of Shau Kei Wan's maritime past remain, but you have to dig deep. Joyee Chan meets some determined locals keen to preserve those memories
Isaac Wong King-yip called the Shau Kei Wan typhoon shelter home for the first three years of his life. He played on the deck of his family's austere wooden houseboat, while his grandparents taught his parents how to pack preserved fish for sale at a wet market.
Several times he fell into the sea. "My father and grandfather had to dive in to rescue me," says Wong, 31, a pastor.
When his grandparents retired in 1984, they sold their floating home and moved into a high-rise apartment. Many other families did the same, becoming dry-land neighbours.
But the former boat dweller hasn't forgotten his roots, and he doesn't want others to either.
Last October, Wong used his talent for design and writing to launch a free, fortnightly magazine, titled . The aim is to help locals appreciate their vibrant culture, and each issue focuses on a different topic. It costs him HK$2,000 a month to produce.
He has also recently written a book, , which offers insights into the fisherfolk's unique parades to celebrate sea deity Tam Kung's birthday in May, contrasts life on houseboats and hillside shacks, and delves into other local topics.
