Photographers fined last week for causing a nuisance in Victoria Park yesterday defied a government warning and continued to take pictures for domestic helpers.
To Shing-kwok, a former photojournalist from Beijing, said photography was his only skill and he would never bow to official pressure to stop his job.
Most of his customers are Indonesian domestic helpers working in Hong Kong who pay $6 for each picture.
Mr To, 65, is one of three photographers who were fined between $250 and $300 each by Eastern Court on Wednesday for soliciting business in the park.
The photographer attacked the punishment as absurd and unreasonable. 'I make only few hundred dollars a day here by standing for hours under the sun or rain to making a living. Why has the government got to target me?' he asked.
Mr To came to Hong Kong in 1990 and worked as a security guard, insurance agent and salesman. He started taking photographs in the park in 1993 when he was jobless. 'I am too old; no company will hire me. I do not want to get social security; I want dignity,' he said.