In a new episode of TVB’s “Hong Kong Series,” host Louis Yuen visits three family-run businesses in Sham Shui Po, Tai Hang and Tsim Sha Tsui that are using creativity and grit to safeguard the city’s fading heritage and community spirit.
HONG KONG – In a city where digital consumerism and fast-paced living often overshadow tradition, a handful of small shop owners are proving that the “Lion Rock Spirit” of adaptability and perseverance remains alive. Airing Monday night, the latest installment of TVB’s Hong Kong Series follows veteran entertainer Louis Yuen as he explores a fabric shop, an iron-sheet hut bookstore and a rooftop bar—each a custodian of local memory in its own way.
Fabric of Memory: A Sham Shui Po Cloth Shop Bridges Generations
At a 30-year-old fabric store in Sham Shui Po, second-generation owner Regal has infused traditional textile craftsmanship with modern flair. He reimagines classic Hong Kong brands, nostalgic signage and public-housing motifs onto everyday products such as tote bags, drawing younger shoppers and tourists alike. Yuen, guided by Regal, tried his hand at sewing and earned praise for his first attempt—quickly joking that any skill shown was thanks to the shopkeeper’s instruction.
The program also featured Regal’s father, the store’s founder. Mr. Li admitted he initially had doubts about handing over the reins, but seeing his son’s success brought relief. “It may be a small business, but each piece of fabric carries a piece of Hong Kong’s story,” Li said. In a touching gesture, the two owners presented Yuen with a custom bag printed with his portrait and the show’s name.
A Quiet Corner in Tai Hang: The Iron-Sheet Hut Book Haven
Moving to Tai Hang, Yuen discovered a tiny bookshop housed in a corrugated iron structure—a rare cultural oasis amid a sea of concrete and digital noise. Owner Li Mei-kei, who also works as an independent designer, hypnotherapist and tattoo artist, opened the shop nearly four years ago. It specializes in spirituality, philosophy and literature.
“People in the city desperately need space to pause and reflect,” Li explained. The shop regularly hosts tea gatherings and outdoor film screenings where neighbors sit side-by-side on the street. Resident Tiana praised the bookstore for injecting warmth into the community, calling it a vital retreat. Yuen marveled at how the humble space contained so many stories and acts of goodwill, allowing passersby to slow down, converse with themselves, and untangle life’s knots.
Tsim Sha Tsui’s Rooftop Cinema Bar: Wong Kar-wai Meets Cantopop
The final stop took Yuen to a Tsim Sha Tsui upstairs bar conceived by owner Chung Man. Designed to evoke the nostalgic cabaret atmosphere of Wong Kar-wai’s film In the Mood for Love, the venue blends Hong Kong cinema with Cantonese pop music—serving as a decompression chamber for office workers. A giant graffiti mural of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung dominates the terrace, instantly catching the eye.
Chung curated a cocktail menu named the “Love Octet,” each drink titled after a classic Cantopop song. Patrons receive instant Polaroid photos to preserve their memories. At the episode’s close, Yuen gifted the bar a box set of songs by legendary composers Joseph Koo and James Wong, along with classic CDs by Sam Hui and Danny Chan, urging the owner to keep sharing the precious legacy of Cantopop.
Broader Implications: Holding onto Identity in a Rapidly Changing City
These three enterprises illustrate a growing grassroots movement across Hong Kong: small business owners leveraging flexibility and personal passion to preserve elements of local identity that mainstream development often steamrolls. From fabric that encodes communal history to a bookstore that nurtures mental well-being and a bar that fuses cinema with music, each venue demonstrates that economic survival and cultural preservation are not mutually exclusive.
As Hong Kong continues to evolve, such independent spaces serve as living archives—and reminders that the Lion Rock Spirit is not just a nostalgic slogan but a daily practice of adaptation and heart. For visitors and residents alike, seeking out these hidden gems offers a more textured, human understanding of the city’s soul.
