Hong Kong’s Last Squatter Cafe

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.พ. 2020
  • Surrounded by modern high-rises, Ngau Chi Wan is one of the last shantytowns left in urban Hong Kong. But it could soon be demolished as the government plans to redevelop the area in the next decade.
    Po Fook Cafe is one of the few remaining stores in Ngau Chi Wan, having served its residents cheap and hearty breakfasts for over 50 years. The owner, Chou Chiu-soon, is sad to see it go but also acknowledges the changes that have happened around his neighborhood.
    If you liked this video, we have more on old Hong Kong landmarks, including:
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    Producer: Andersen Xia
    Script: Weiyu Qian
    Narration: Gavin Huang
    Editor: Nicholas Ko
    Mastering: Joel Roche
    Music: Audio Network

ความคิดเห็น • 74

  • @corinaleong1689
    @corinaleong1689 4 ปีที่แล้ว +201

    This is the heart of a community. I hope they can come to an agreement, regenerate the place so they can keep the community alive. There is nothing worst than having having a centre/town that is cloned with ubiquitous Starbucks, Gap etc like any high streets.

    • @sofaking3113
      @sofaking3113 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Community and comprise don’t mix

  • @kylin3197
    @kylin3197 4 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    he's such a chill and optimistic guy

  • @pandabear153
    @pandabear153 4 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    It's great to hear Cantonese these days. At least it sounds familiar to our dialect Hoisan va.

    • @njcdailo8934
      @njcdailo8934 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Slowly Cantonese is disappearing sadly.

    • @vcghosty9752
      @vcghosty9752 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@njcdailo8934 wdym guangdong and guangxi and hong kong still speak it

    • @njcdailo8934
      @njcdailo8934 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@vcghosty9752 true true.

    • @ken431256
      @ken431256 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      In Malaysia it's spoken a lot too

    • @CCP_zhongguo_sai_B
      @CCP_zhongguo_sai_B 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Cantonese is a language not dialect.

  • @Kwijiboi
    @Kwijiboi 4 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    Love it. Thank you for making this video! Stay safe in HK!

  • @herbw3841
    @herbw3841 4 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Here we have a similar situation in Kuala Lumpur. Right in the heart of the city, just across from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur City Centre & and surrounded by many high rise modern sky scrapers, condominiums is an area similar to this village in Hong Kong. The place is Kampung Baru and like its counterpart in HK the city underground rapid transit runs through that area with a stop there, also called "Kampong Baru". You can look it up for more details.
    🇲🇾 🇲🇾 🇲🇾

    • @MrBoliao98
      @MrBoliao98 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sekarang bukan Kampung Baru, jadi Kampung Lama

  • @LeSomeGuy
    @LeSomeGuy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +98

    Why is his place referred to as "squatter cafe"? It seems he legally owns the location and it is a place of business opened to the public?

    • @beanie741
      @beanie741 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      I dont quite understand the legalities but the village was originally/is a squatter village. Some of the homes (and maybe his shop) were informally purchased from other squatters if I understand correctly.

    • @MrBoliao98
      @MrBoliao98 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It probably ain't illegal, it's just the village land ownership is not as clear cut, they dont follow the same British system or the torrens system of record.

    • @keepitprivate3856
      @keepitprivate3856 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MrBoliao98 yeah, its not illegal, there were a mass development of squatter village back in 70s or earlier when there was no one claim the ownership
      basically its a slump until a fire burnt down most of the buildings, public housing then built by govt to solve this problem as well as most of the village in that area as they mentioned when the MTR was built most people were moved out, this is what they left

    • @MrBoliao98
      @MrBoliao98 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@keepitprivate3856 呢啲地契都係嗰啲英國人接受先至咁亂。有牌有名,唔係亂黎

  • @worldcitizeng6507
    @worldcitizeng6507 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I missed visiting HK, I used to crossed the border from Senzchen during 2013-14 to "renew" my tourist visa every 30 days since the school I was teaching was too cheap to apply a work visa on my behalf. I enjoyed every visit- shop, eat, sight seeing etc. Shopping was the best, the street vendors stayed open until midnight, and my motel was in the same neighborhood, so I can shop till midnight.

  • @idiobox
    @idiobox 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I hope this district remains. It's a piece of history and shouldn't be abandoned for the sake of "progress". It's like a step back in time.

  • @luia3911
    @luia3911 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love listening to the Cantonese speaking language , it sounds soothing👍doesn’t sound aggressive like Mandarin.

  • @s3kemo
    @s3kemo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    He might not feel sad about change but I do. I'll sorely miss places like these when they're all gone. For now, introduce my daughter to the real HK like this and help her build lifelong memories of her own.

  • @somethinglee2394
    @somethinglee2394 4 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    oh wow 2:14-2:16 is a beautiful shot

  • @Peichen01
    @Peichen01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The new development needs to include a hawker center like they do in Singapore so local shops can continue to serve the locals

  • @mimireuser5383
    @mimireuser5383 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I love Cantonese... it is so hard for me to learn for some reason, so I studied Mandarin. I might try Cantonese.

    • @holkn
      @holkn 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      mandarin is easier to learn. There are only 4 tones in mandarin but 9 in cantonese.

  • @yudo2639
    @yudo2639 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I didn't understand the language but it feels like home. I want to visit the uncle❤️, the place ,the people, the uncle, everyone feels so connected❤️❤️

  • @trex1448
    @trex1448 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great stuff.

  • @rebeckyc1401
    @rebeckyc1401 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hard working, earnest family values that is missing in today’s society . I love hearing his comfortable folksy Cantonese. ❤️

  • @64kdawg
    @64kdawg 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love the old cantonese culture. South China is so beautiful but dying now due to china mandarin only government

  • @bigsweet6472
    @bigsweet6472 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Next time I go to HK I definitely want to visit this place

  • @ligmanuzz2824
    @ligmanuzz2824 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    He seems like a wise man

  • @gerardyoung6050
    @gerardyoung6050 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    man kind cant conquer time, just fade away. the sadness in the old man eye reflect every-one of the same passage.

  • @et3naltwilight
    @et3naltwilight 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do these businesses get regulars from outside the village?

  • @user-vp5iy8ec9q
    @user-vp5iy8ec9q 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    after consulting locals, i would keep some of these old hk, & helps keeping healthy & clean

  • @yongxianghe1432
    @yongxianghe1432 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    3:09 that guy is a tvb actor(or used to?)😅

  • @Oblivion4870
    @Oblivion4870 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Interesting how everyone says "Made in China" when referring to poorly made items. Look at these guys, with roofs that last over decades. I know of multi-million dollar apartments here in Hawaii that were built not five years ago, but have cracks developing in the walls of the apartments already.

  • @CBs-Home-Vids
    @CBs-Home-Vids 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    it's nice that the development is coming right when he's about ready to retire and there's no love lost in his case. Fortunate for him at least.

  • @Obscurai
    @Obscurai 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Nice, a video I can understand without subtitles. 😊

    • @NicknameBasis
      @NicknameBasis 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I was about to say too...finally my Cantonese can be of use lol

  • @abeu
    @abeu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    There is certain charm about HK Cafe food, instant coffee, instant noodles with fried egg. Cheap, nasty and hits the spot.

  • @crazymonkeyvk714
    @crazymonkeyvk714 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    shout out to Cantonese!

  • @joyjoyoo
    @joyjoyoo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    我还挺喜欢香港茶餐厅的。很有感觉

  • @RasPutintheGreat
    @RasPutintheGreat 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Kind of place I want to eat, drink coffee and past the time.

  • @longlivehumanity3664
    @longlivehumanity3664 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hongkong goverment should build high rise buildings and accommodate as more people as it can to cope with the vast housing crises in hongkong. I have watched so many videos of people living in cage homes in hongkong so they should make optimal utilization of the limited land.

  • @slerk9
    @slerk9 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Before watching I thought people were actually squatting without seats

  • @Phlegethon
    @Phlegethon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This guy is actually a multi millionaire any time he wants to be.

  • @verdellellis4043
    @verdellellis4043 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The economy is Vastly changing with no more than how it use to be.

  • @mr.kaboom8729
    @mr.kaboom8729 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Damn i like to travel cuz I'm a traveller like my spiritual leader Jinggis Khann. We must come to this wonderful place with our hordes and drink good traditional coffee.

  • @sekarayu8600
    @sekarayu8600 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hongkong .😁👍👍👍👍👍

  • @josephgarza5265
    @josephgarza5265 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Such a sad shame that progress destroys our past.

  • @xiaogeju2011
    @xiaogeju2011 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    For foreigners it is very romantic but for the people living there it is very unsanitary and unhealthy. I hope they will find the way out. But ofcourse - that what is done by own hand is more valuable....

  • @ZhongliAcross7NationsOfTeyvat
    @ZhongliAcross7NationsOfTeyvat 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I think we need this kind of area in every country. To keep a part of the past, the traditions alive. Like a living museum on how people of a nation or ethnic used to live. So our future sons and daughters can learn from them.

  • @asoka4048
    @asoka4048 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    They are not squatters they own the place lol

  • @mwjw14
    @mwjw14 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    this vid should be titled a man made peace with time and himself

  • @mrpopenfresh
    @mrpopenfresh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Are villages like this threatened by gentrification? Seems like the most hipster place to be.

  • @tinavien3769
    @tinavien3769 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for ya ya doing honey honey bye bye ya dear dear mom bye ya dear honey bye honey ya ya how’s your mom doing how’s your doing ya how’s your mom doing doing honey honey ya ya honey how’s your mom doing doing ya how’s your mom doing how’s your day today

  • @timotl36
    @timotl36 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "Po Fook" cafe? Puh-lease. You can't come up with a better bad pun than Po Fook...?

  • @yingchao9286
    @yingchao9286 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I can’t believe that’s Hong Kong; that looks so poor and nasty.

    • @thiefrules
      @thiefrules 3 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      A lot of the areas were very poor until they were redeveloped to look nicer so up until recently, this type of place was very common. In the 60's and 70's, you saw these types of villages everywhere, or you lived in government housing with shared bathrooms and showers, kitchens, and 6 to 7 people living in one room. Because it was high traffic, low income, and not a lot of time, stuff was thrown together since they couldn't afford proper builders or they didn't have time to do it themselves, so it was usually dilapidated and worn.
      You have to remember, Hong Kong has extreme wealth inequality. A majority of the population lives in poverty.

    • @tjones7638
      @tjones7638 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      I bet you yourself are poor and based on your comment, you definitely have a nasty personality 🤢

    • @jimmytan2208
      @jimmytan2208 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ying needs to go out more.

    • @cb250nighthawk3
      @cb250nighthawk3 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      It looks quaint and cute and nostalgic to me. It's rich with culture and homeliness. Happiness is its essence. Peace is its beauty.

    • @st3v3nzzz1
      @st3v3nzzz1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      nah i have nostalgic feeling in that place where he show the picture