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.