Freddie Fong

HK Magazine: Why would you name your bar Brecht’s?  
Freddie Fong: It’s all about a guy called Bertolt Brecht. He was a German poet and theater director during the Second World War. He was so influential at that time, and you can see it in the decoration of my bar. Each painting has a political meaning behind it. In Hong Kong, we are lucky to have so much freedom. Come to our bar and you’ll find out more about them.

HK: Who are the painters?
FF: All my friends and customers contributed to these paintings! My customers come from diverse backgrounds: fashion, music, art… They make use of my place as a temporary gallery and exhibition space!

HK: What else is special about Brecht’s?
FF: We don’t just play indie music. We also have rock, alternative, jazz, hip-hop… We don’t play Chinese or Korean songs because there are lots of westerners here. They would feel weird if we did. I choose the playlists myself. Our bar is ranked in the top five in “Lonely Planet,” and we attract lots of backpackers. I am always happy to help. We tell them everything about Hong Kong, like where to go and the normal price of certain electrical appliances.

HK: What stands out to you after 20 years of running the bar?
FF: I feel strange when I see a customer who is 40 now. She was just a little girl 20 years ago! Once I met a British soldier in my bar. He was one of the soldiers during the Iraq War and responsible for bomb disposal. It was a really dangerous job. The day he came in was the Hungry Ghost Festival and we were burning fake money for ghosts. He was curious about it and asked us why. After that chat, I learned to cherish everything you have, since you never know what will happen. Another memorable thing is that we used to hold weekly opera shows in the bar’s early years. Around 30 people came each time and it was really fun. They were subsidized by the government!

HK: Is it difficult to stay open in the face of rising rents?
FF: It is really tough for me. You can see the restaurants opening opposite us. Rents are going up like crazy. Our contract will be ending this year. I would use a song by The Smashing Pumpkins to describe my feeling: “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning.” I have no idea if I can continue my business but it can be another beginning for me.

HK: What’s the secret to running a bar for 20 years?
FF: Just be yourself. The most important thing is having your own personality and character for your bar. All our staff are very friendly and dress casually. We hope to offer a chilled-out place for chatting and relaxing. I owned a bar called D26 in Lan Kwai Fong before. But I love the location here because it’s quieter and more chilled. My mottos are: don’t be greedy and cherish everything you have. Keep working hard and others will appreciate your effort.