The last minibus sign writer in Hong Kong, Mak Kam-sang

‘At his shop in Yau Ma Tei, Mak Kam-sang’s walls are covered in calligraphy signs he has written. Passers-by stop and peer into the store, curious about what it sells as it is so different from everything else in the area

Now 60 he has been in this business since 1978, when he first opened his shop to serve all kinds of businesses from restaurants to individuals looking for unique gifts.

In 1982 he moved his store to Battery Street, where he has since stayed.

“When we moved here, there was a minibus station in front of my shop. The bus drivers told me to do some signs for them, so I started the minibus signboard business,” he recalled.

“In 1984, the government approved air conditioning for minibuses. At that time, Hong Kong had a total of 4,350 minibuses. They needed to replace all the buses within two years, so it was big business for us. [I earned] about HK$3 to HK$4 million in those few years.”…’

Mak Kam-sang, sign-writer Courtesy: SCMP

This article was first posted on 26th June 2017.

Source: How Hong Kong’s last writer of minibus signs is forging ahead despite the dying trade SCMP 14th May 2016

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