from Retro Hong Kong
1970s: The Age of Transformation
Sustaining the spirit of the last decade, Hong Kong in the 70s was a period of transition. With soaring land prices, Hong Kong’s manufacturing industry was gradually replaced by the emergence of retail businesses. The launch of the MTR in 1979 was the keystone of the new era. With Cantonese opera and foreign films co-existing, theater-going was a favorite pastime. Big theaters, such as the former Lee Theatre and Tai Ping Theater had facilities for both. “Going to the cinema was a major event; it was a collective activity,” says cultural critic Mathias Woo. “The big theaters were architecturally interesting and had an immense social impact.” The theater-going experience wasn’t complete without a stroll along the nearby street market for snacks. “It used to be an experience which could be enjoyed by every class. Today, lower income groups are deprived of the chance to go to the cinema in the mall,” adds Woo.
Experience the 70s at:
Kung Fung
Kung Fung in Kowloon City is a great reminder of the snacks and sweets we used to enjoy, especially as movie snacks before the days of popcorn. The snacks mostly preserved fruits and pickles, but try the melon jelly candy there—it’s made by Smith’s, Hong Kong’s last existing candy factory.
132-134 Nga Tsin Wai Rd., Kowloon City, 2382-2468.
Kwong Sing Café
Dining out was a much simpler process in 1960s. Either you couldn’t afford it, or you were posh enough to head down to the local diner, known as Bing Sut in Cantonese for a cup of shaved ice with red bean and a pineapple bun (pictured right) to listen to the radio and while away a few hours. But with an influx of food choices in the past few decades, Bing Sut has become a rarity and Kwong Sing is one of the last ones standing. This Sheung Shui café is proud to be the only one that still shaves the ice by hand, and has made only a limited number of dishes for the past 40 years. Those in the know keep coming back for the food because it’s simple and good. And new clientele has surfaced lately—people who are looking for a retro touch, just like us.
10 San Sing Rd., Sheung Shui, 2670-4501.