There is only one store doing business on this street in Kwun Tong; the others are locked up - bought out for redevelopment by the government.
The last shop standing is the Ling Kee Bookstore. It has rented out books from this location - a side street off Yue Man Square, in Kwun Tong - for almost 50 years. Owner Chan Lap-man, who took over the shop from his father, has worked the business into the fabric of the long-established neighbourhood.
'The future will bring more residential and commercial buildings,' he said. 'And the new stores on street level - they won't be for us [the old neighbourhood businesses]. Only chain-stores like Mannings will be able to afford the prices.'
Ling Kee Bookstore served as a community library, renting out favourite reads to locals and factory workers for low fees. However, government redevelopment will force it to relocate, and the compensation will not be enough for the family to reopen in the district.
'I just want to reopen our store in this neighbourhood. I want to do this more than I want money,' said Chan. To him and his father, Chan Hi-lung, who founded the business, it was their neighbours and the sense of community that made the business worth doing.
Ling Kee will receive HK$300,000 in compensation. That sum is based on the bookstore's monthly rent - which in Ling Kee's case is only HK$8,500 - multiplied by 36 months.