Sheltering stars and royals: Hong Kong's 'Umbrella Man' dies at 87

A fixture of the Central street scene dubbed the "Umbrella Man" for the decades he spent helping Hongkongers stay dry has died at the age of 87.

Ho Hung-hee set up his umbrella repair stand on Peel Street in 1947 and worked there until his retirement at the end of last year. He passed away peacefully in hospital on Monday.

While his stall was modest, Ho's work became famous, making it into the record books and the hearts of celebrities - including the British royal family. Newspaper stories on his exploits covered the walls of the stall.

A funeral procession will be held at Po Fook Memorial Hall in Sha Tin at the end of next month, Chinese-language media reported. He had been admitted to hospital frequently in recent years. According to reports, none of his nine sons plans to continue the business. One son, Ho Kwok-sing, said his father had asked him to donate all the 100-plus umbrellas at the shop.

Originally from Guangzhou, Ho learned his trade from his brother-in-law who had an umbrella factory across the border.

In 1994, he made it into Guinness World Records for his most expensive umbrella, made from American ox skin and featuring a 100-year-old German frame Ho found on a building site in 1982. He sold it to an Englishman for £167, about HK$2,370 at the time.

His umbrellas were popular among celebrities, including the mother of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. The umbrellas he made for the royal family are showcased at Britain's Windsor Castle museum, Chinese-language media reported.