A historic hand-carved mahjong tile store in Hong Kong is to continue operating “until further notice,” after the stairwell store was said to be an unauthorised building work and was handed a one-month eviction order in September.
Biu Kee Mahjong, one of the city’s last remaining shops producing and selling artisan game tiles, may retain its decades-old store in Jordan for now pending discussion with the Buildings Department, the shop said on Facebook on Monday.
Monday was originally the deadline for Biu Kee to move out of its current location at the foot of a tong lau tenement building opposite to the busy Temple Street Night Market. The government informed the shop keeper and third-generation craftsman Cheung Shun-king in late September that the stairwell shop was in breach of building standards and had to be removed.
The Buildings Department would consider construction plans proposed by Biu Kee’s landlord to see if the shop could remain, Biu Kee said on Facebook. The shop would do its best to accommodate any building work in the future and would operate as usual until further notice, it said.
“Thank you again for your support and encouragement, we wish to bring you all some good news in the future,” Biu Kee wrote on Facebook.
HKFP has reached out to the Buildings Department for comment.
In 2014, mahjong tile making was listed as one of 480 items in the first Intangible Cultural Heritage list which identifies crafts, practises and customs that should be safeguarded.
Cheung, who is in his 70s and has been carving mahjong tiles for more than 50 years, told HKFP last month that he hoped the authorities could handle the case with discretion and allow him to continue running the shop at the current site in order to “delay the dying of the craft.”
“I have never thought about retiring. I would be more than happy to keep on working for 10 more years.”
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
LATEST FROM HKFP
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.
