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!"#$%&'()*+ Small factories in , 1955

UN Section 2

Chapter 2

Sham Shui Po

re-war Sham Shui Po had developed into a mini industrial P area. The main industries were weaving and clothes manufacturing, usually small-scale ones. Mr. Chan Tung of the Sham Shui Po Industry and Commerce Association remembers the majority of Sham Shui Po residents were mainly lower- class people, and it was an area with many factories. There were already motor bus and ferry services, but most people chose to walk, as they were still living in poverty. Electricity supply had reached the district before the war. Yet kerosene lamps were still used in many of the squatter huts. The shops and stalls were also dimly lit.

!"#$%&'()*+,- Small factories in Sham Shui Po, early 1950s

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!"#"$%&'()*+,-.% !" !"#$% Sham Shui Po Kaifong Association, established in 1949, the term Sham Shui Po in Chinese was commonly written in two forms.

!"#$%&'()*+,-./012345,678$9 Industrial Building, constructed in 1957, brought prosperity to industries in the Sham Shui Po area

UP r. Chan Yim Pui of Sham Shui Po Kaifong Association

Section 2 Mremembered clearly that in the early years of the postwar period industrial development was relatively important in the district. In those days the main industries were the manufacture of rubber shoes, electric torches and electric conductors.

Chapter 2 “Fung Keung” and “Nam Chum” were among the famous factories. Hong Kong Cotton Quilt also had a factory in the district. Besides, there were other factories nearby: “Kwong Tai” at Fuk Wing Street, and clothes-making factories such as “Sam Cheong” and “Lee Kung Man”.

Mr. Wong Ping Hon of Cheung Sha Wan Kai Fong Welfare Association recalls with regard to these developments that, since the !"#$%&' ()$*+ factories had insufficient capital, CLP rented !"#$%&'()*+,(-./01 electrical appliances such as motors, to assist !"#$% them in their businesses. It shows that CLP Laying of a time capsule at the Company’s has long been applying a flexible and new Sham Shui Po Centre by Lord Kadoorie innovative methodology in helping the with his daughter Rita Kadoorie and son Michael Kadoorie in July 1963 development of the community and people’s livelihood.

!"#$%&"' !!"# The newly completed CLP Sham Shui Po Centre, 1966

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!"#$%&'()*+,-!.(/ Chun Au Garments in Sham Shui Po was one of the famous old brands in Hong Kong

!"#$%&'()*+ Herbal tea shop at Tai Po Road, now still doing business UR he establishment of the kai fong association had a great influence

Section 2 T on the struggle for improvement of people’s livelihood. Sham Shui Po was the first community to establish a kai fong association.

Mr. Cheng Kam Wah of Cheung Sha Wan Chapter 2 Kai Fong Welfare Association still remembers some interesting scenes: In the 1950s, the squatter areas of Sham Shui Po had no electricity supply. Many people living in hillside squatter huts stole electricity from the street lamps. They had therefore to wait until night to get electricity, when the street lamps were turned on. The herbal teashops used televisions to attract customers. The shopkeepers would post a schedule of television programmes on the wall. Only those who went in to buy herbal tea could watch the television programmes. Today the Pak Kat herbal teashop is still there, but the television was removed years ago. In the 1960s, people living in the Chinese-style flats usually had only one lamp and the light was very dim. At that time not many residents of that community could afford electrical appliances. The American News Agency held foreign movie shows at the Po On Road playground. People watching movies practised the method of “grasping one’s clothes’ edge”—two persons using one ticket to slip into the cinema.

!"#$%&' Sham Shui Po in the 1960s

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UT r. Chan Chi Shing of Sham

Shui Po Residents’ Section 2 M Association recalls that in the 1950s, because of financial problems, many Hundreds of meter readers were employed to walk the streets of families lived in small rooms separated by to read meters in the days thin wooden boards. Conditions were in one before computerization. Often they instance so bad that a family of eight had to would have to climb several flights of sleep on a single bed. The electricity supply stairs in multi-storey buildings to Chapter 2 make their readings. Eighty per cent was insufficient and there was only one 25W of the company’s business in billing light bulb in the corridor. People’s lives were and collecting cash was done harsh and they could not afford the charges manually in those years. for electricity. Radios, usually provided by Mr. Dean Barrett the landlords, were hired at $15 to $20 a month.

In the 1970s large numbers of immigrants came to Hong Kong. Since there was not enough living space in the hillside squatter huts, people turned to building cottages on the roofs of buildings. In early times there was no electricity supply for these houses. People had to steal electricity from the flats downstairs. Later, CLP helped in the inspection of the safety of wooden houses. Displaying an open-minded attitude, CLP decided to supply electricity to the inhabitants of the cottages.

!"#$%&'()*+, ! Electricity thieves were active in squatter areas during the 1960s and 70s UU

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!"#$%&'()*+ Resettlement area of Lei Cheng Uk, built in 1955 UV !"#$%&'()$* t was very common for fires to occur, ! caused by the use of kerosene or

Section 2 Shek Kip Mei Estate, the first from stolen electricity. After the great resettlement area with power I supply by CLP fire in 1953 at Shek Kip Mei in Sham Shui Po, the government built the first public housing estate in Hong Kong, which was called a “resettlement area”. CLP designed specifically an electricity supply system for these large estates, but with some limitations Chapter 2 in the supply. In the 1970s, the living standards in Hong Kong had risen, and the expectations of the people also rose. According to Mrs. Yu Leung Oi-chun of So Uk Yin Ngai Society, in the early times the in Sham Shui Po did not have as many facilities as today. The supply of electricity was insufficient. People had to apply for an increase of electric power if they wanted to install air-conditioners. And there was a rule limiting the power of the air- conditioners to 1 horsepower. It was not until the 1970s, when electric power was greatly increased and electricity meters were installed on every floor, that each family could enjoy air-conditioning without having to make extra applications.

!"#$%&'() Night scene of Sham Shui Po during the 1970s

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!"#$%& '( Electric machine games in Amusement Park before its closure

!" ! !" Lantern festival in the Sung City next to Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park

VN emand for cheap electrical appliances increased rapidly

Section 2 D among the people in the community. A special commercial area thus began to form. Soon Apliu Street became the most famous centre for second-hand electrical appliances in Hong Kong.

Chapter 2

Thanks to the development of the electricity industry, a delightful scenic spot emerged in Sham Shui Po: the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park. Completed in 1949, the park was a centre of amusement with electric machine games, a cinema and opera inside. It was not only the largest entertainment place during those days but also a little paradise that brought limitless happiness to many children. The Sung City was built beside the park in 1979. It was also an attractive scenic spot for tourists.

!"#$%&'()*+,- Apliu Street is the most famous market for second-hand electrical appliances in Hong Kong

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