True old school of Kwun Tong

In 1976, Alex Lam Kwok-keung saw the possibility of development in Kwun Tong and decided to extend his Kai Kee Mahjong empire to East Kowloon.

"There was still muddy land everywhere outside our parlour when it first opened," said the 89-year-old mahjong veteran. "But I had a feeling that the area would develop vibrantly later on and bring a lot of customers to us."

Dozens of celebrities - including the late comedienne "Fei Fei" Lydia Sum Tin-ha and the late actor and filmmaker Alan Tang Kwong-wing - officiated with Lam at the opening ceremony of the mahjong parlour, making the news headlines.

At that time, Lam did not know his business in Yan Oi Wai would fall within the 570,000 sq ft Kwun Tong redevelopment, the biggest single project undertaken by the Urban Renewal Authority, or that he would have to move out today.

But Kai Kee - despite being in what some call a sunset business - isn't ending its presence in Kwun Tong as it celebrates its 83rd anniversary.

It will reopen tomorrow at a new site five minutes' walk away.

Now in its third generation, the business was established by Lam's father, Lam Kwan, as a result of a piece of good luck that is still reflected in its name.