Mr Chu
Owner, Kung Wo Tong
“Kung Wo Tong is a family business that can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when herbal turtle jelly was consumed frequently. We first opened on Temple Street in 1904 when herbal turtle jelly was sold to people to detoxify their bodies. We were the pioneers of using turtle for medicinal drinks and we’ve been here in Causeway Bay since the mid-1980s. Not many stores use these copper vessels anymore as they take up a lot of space and are expensive but we still use it to keep our products warm. We begin making turtle jelly at 5am every day. It’s a long process of boiling and simmering ingredients that can take an entire morning. Turtles live in swamps and have natural detoxifying qualities. The main ingredient in jelly and tea is the tortoise plastron which is good for releasing heat and detoxifying. Other ingredients, such as rhino skin, used to be added into the mix but these are now banned.”
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Owner, Kung Wo Tong
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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.
-
Irene Lee
Chairman of Hysan Development
There are very few people who know the origin of a suburb, let alone one as integral to Hong Kong as Causeway Bay. But for Irene Lee, granddaughter of Lee Hysan and current chairman of Hysan Development, she can look back on the neighbourhood’s inception…
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Tia Antiyas
Indonesian domestic helper
“I’ve been in Hong Kong for 10 years and I feel it’s great here. It’s so much better because it’s so hard to make money in Indonesia. A lot of Indonesian domestic…
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Cindy
Newspaper vendor
“I used to be a secretary at HSBC. No one believes me when I say that! This newspaper stand was my uncle’s, but he decided not to work anymore and I took over…
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Mr Chu
Owner, Kung Wo Tong
“Kung Wo Tong is a family business that can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when herbal turtle jelly was consumed frequently. We first opened on Temple Street…

