William Tang Tat-chi
It's two decades since fashion designer William Tang Tat-chi first took Hong Kong by storm. Now 45, he talks to Victor Chau about growing up in a 600-year-old walled village, tai-tais and why he's here to stay.
I grew up in a walled village called Ping Shan in Yuen Long in the 60s. The people there were quite rich. We had lots of farmland. But we didn't have infrastructure, such as running water and electricity. We drank from a well and used lanterns for lighting - just like in an old black-and-white movie.
I helped on the farm until I was about 12. I enjoyed it very much.
Catching fish in the stream and birds in the bush was my pastime. When it got dark, all I could see was a starry sky.
But when I started kindergarten, I witnessed the "modernization" of my village. We got water and electricity supplies, and the growth was rapid.
When I reached Form Four, I went to Ontario, Canada, for education. My great-uncles were the first overseas Chinese students at Harvard.
The farmland we used to own has been converted into a car park. I have written so often to protest the Government's stupid urban-planning policies. The officials only have urbanization in mind and know nothing about preservation. I feel very sad.