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Jimmy Lee


Owner, Red Pepper

“In 1967, I worked as an apprentice at an architecture office by day and then went to night school. I worked on the first floor of the Lee Garden building when there were a lot of government offices but after three years, realised I wasn’t interested in that. At first, my family had a restaurant called Coffee House on Hysan Avenue and it was popular for western style pastries. Later, in 1971, we opened Red Pepper. Back then, there were not a lot of Sichuanese restaurants in Hong Kong. I would finish work in Central and then come back every night to help my dad. In those days, young people didn’t really have their own lives in the same way they do now and so I spent a lot of time in the family business. Our clients are quite international, even from the start. There were locally based British people and fewer Cantonese. Then later in the 70s and 80s, there were more Japanese – their economy was doing very well and there were a lot of Japanese department stores in Causeway Bay. It gets very full during rugby season every year and people would book multiple tables. People used to get quite rowdy, taking off their clothes and jumping around. We get international press and customers have shown us that we were mentioned in The New York Times. Bruce Lee fans know that Game of Death was filmed here and so we get asked about that. I wasn’t there during filming but my brother was to make sure that the film crew were taken care of over those few days.”

More Stories

Causeway Bay: Then & Now


Feature

Causeway Bay embodies the many facets of Hong Kong – the fast pace, fascinating contrasts and dynamic energy. From the city’s very beginning to the present day, its diversity and vibrancy makes it a beloved neighbourhood.

  • Sandy Ki


    Owner, Old San Yang

    It’s difficult to imagine Causeway Bay as anything but a bustling metropolis, but Sandy Ki has witnessed the neighbourhood evolve into the burgeoning business and shopping hub it is today…

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  • Christ the King Chapel


    33 Caroline Hill Road

    Dedicated to Christ the King, this chapel is part of the St Paul’s compound in Causeway Bay which also houses a convent and hospital. Its history can be traced back to 1848, when four Sisters of St Paul of Chartres arrived in Hong Kong…

    Streetsnaps
  • Jimmy Leung


    Martial artist and Founder, THE FIGHTERS CLUB

    If it were up to Jimmy Leung, he’d have begun his martial arts training when he was a little kid. But the biggest adversary to his plan wasn’t some opponent in the ring…

    Interviews
  • Noonday Gun


    A beloved tradition

    A loud ‘bang’ echoes from the Causeway Bay waterfront at precisely 12pm every day. It’s the Noonday Gun, a three-pound artillery gun…

    Streetsnaps
  • Karen See


    Co-founder, {embrace} worldwide

    “I worked for a global advertising agency as its Chief Communications Officer for many years and used to catch the minibus from Causeway Bay nearly every day…

    Streetsnaps
  • Hong Kong Street Snack Stalls


    Hong Kong street snack stalls are peppered throughout the city’s densest districts, serving office workers, hungry shoppers, teenagers and tourists. Each stall has its own specialty. In Causeway Bay, many of them are busy all day ladling out their signature siu mai and curry fishballs…

    Streetsnaps
  • Otto Leong


    A childhood spent at Lee Theatre

    Lee Theatre was once one of the city’s most glamorous institutions. Standing at the very edge of Percival Street, it opened to the public in 1927 and hosted a range of shows from Cantonese opera to film screenings, and even the Miss Hong Kong pageant during its heyday…

    Interviews
  • JJ Acuna


    Owner of JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio

    JJ Acuna’s connection with Causeway Bay began the moment he arrived in Hong Kong from New York more than 12 years ago. “It was my first neighbourhood…

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Celebrating Causeway Bay


Feature

A neighbourhood in flux, Causeway Bay’s constant evolution keeps residents and visitors coming back for more. Whether it’s fashion, food, film or art, it’s a part of Hong Kong that keeps people mesmerised and inspired.

Causeway Bay: Then & Now


Feature

Causeway Bay embodies the many facets of Hong Kong – the fast pace, fascinating contrasts and dynamic energy. From the city’s very beginning to the present day, its diversity and vibrancy makes it a beloved neighbourhood.

  • Karen See


    Co-founder, {embrace} worldwide

    “I worked for a global advertising agency as its Chief Communications Officer for many years and used to catch the minibus from Causeway Bay nearly every day…

    Streetsnaps
  • Hong Kong Street Snack Stalls


    Hong Kong street snack stalls are peppered throughout the city’s densest districts, serving office workers, hungry shoppers, teenagers and tourists. Each stall has its own specialty. In Causeway Bay, many of them are busy all day ladling out their signature siu mai and curry fishballs…

    Streetsnaps
  • Otto Leong


    A childhood spent at Lee Theatre

    Lee Theatre was once one of the city’s most glamorous institutions. Standing at the very edge of Percival Street, it opened to the public in 1927 and hosted a range of shows from Cantonese opera to film screenings, and even the Miss Hong Kong pageant during its heyday…

    Interviews
  • JJ Acuna


    Owner of JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio

    JJ Acuna’s connection with Causeway Bay began the moment he arrived in Hong Kong from New York more than 12 years ago. “It was my first neighbourhood…

    Interviews