Homeless barber may go to the wall
A 71-year-old barber in a Wan Chai back alley lost his home and workplace yesterday so a small part of wall could be repainted.
The Urban Council ordered Hui Wah to remove his shop even though he has a licence to operate on the site he has occupied since 1947.
Mr Hui lost his only source of income and a roof over his head, and was faced with finding about $4,000 to rebuild the place.
'I have to buy new materials and parts to put the sides and roof on again. Even so, it would only be temporary because the wooden frame has already been broken during the demolition,' he said.
Mr Hui pays $3,000 a year for his fixed pitch hawker licence and a $600 pitch fee. He earns about $100 a day.
He says his customers are usually old people, who want a simple short back and sides, or labourers, who like an army-style haircut.
Mr Hui accused the owners' association of the Wai Lun Building, to which the wall belongs, of conspiring against him because he refuses to pay them rent.
'This is a public area. My shop is not fixed to their wall,' he said.
The chairman of the Incorporated Owners of Wai Lun Building, Mak Hoi-chung, admitted they wanted Mr Hui to move.
'The old man has been very stubborn and refused to move for us to maintain the wall,' Mr Mak said.
'His presence made the lane very damp but he would not contribute to the maintenance.' The Urban Council said Mr Hui had not been forced to leave, just to move his shop.
A spokesman said no compensation would be paid to Mr Hui.
