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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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.
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Co-working in Causeway Bay
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For Thomas Hui, it’s all about building communities. He’s the co-founder and CEO of theDesk, a co-working brand with four offices in Hong Kong, and one upcoming office in Shanghai. For Nancy Yip, it’s about creating a welcoming environment. She’s the Area Director for International Workplace Group…
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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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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…
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Dr Lau
Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Dr Lau Tai-yum can recall the days when Lee Garden was just a quarry where he and his school friends would play. “There were only a couple of shops…

