Chuen Gor, like Pui Kee Shipyard, is in his 70’s. He spent much of his time in Shau Kei Wan by the sea, getting a nice tan from the sun. After work, he enjoys unwinding with a beer. Taking a sip, he recalls his childhood memories of Shau Kei Wan, many of which are linked to Ming Wah Dai Ha.

Founded by Chuen Gor’s father, Pui Kee Shipyard was initially located near Nam On Lane in the 1950s, when Aldrich Garden and Oi Tung Estate were still part of the sea. Back then, the fishing industry was thriving in the area, and most of the people who hung out around Main Street East and Sai Wan Ho Depot were living on the sea. Taikoo Dockyard was also close by, where ships were built and repaired. Chuen Gor started working at the shipyard when he was just over 10 years old. He fondly remembers a time when a fisherman came to place an order: “I want a 46ft boat for grouper fishing,” the customer said. Without hesitation, the builder replied, “Sure, what material do you want? Teak, fir, shorea…” Chuen Gor recalls that building a ship back then started with finding a piece of wood, before carving, burning and hammering it into shape. “We wouldn’t give them scrap wood.”

Fishermen used to get their supplies from Main Street East, which is now lined with restaurants. The shops along the street sold everything they needed for fishing trips, including fuel, kerosene lamps, fresh water and fishing nets. They were very particular about their nets. “Before the invention of nylon ropes, we had to soak the hemp rope nets in salted egg white to make them last longer. That’s why there were so many salted egg yolks for sale in the fishing village.”

For Chuen Gor, Shau Kei Wan was not only a place of work, but also his home. When he was younger, he worked at the shipyard during the day and slept there at night. He never hesitated to volunteer as a firefighter when there was a fire on the hillside. Chuen Gor vividly remembers one year, 1976, when a fire broke out in the squatter area near Aldrich Bay, where most of the fishermen lived. It was the second day of the Lunar New Year, and everyone was enjoying their family reunion. Even though the fire was far away from the shipyard, he told his mother, “Grab your stuff, and whatever valuables you could carry.” Then, he rushed to help put out the fire. He and his neighbours worked non-stop, holding onto the water hoses from afternoon until the next morning. “Then we went for dim sum,” he said.