Preserving heritage

Paper crafting is a technique that embodies the history and culture of different ethnic groups and carries significant social and cultural values. Ancient Chinese people used simple materials such as bamboo splints, rice paper strips as well as paper to make all kinds of crafted products, including lanterns, dragons, lions and paper offerings.

Back in the early 20th century, the industry was booming in Hong Kong, with large-scale paper crafting workshops making substantial profits. In the 1960s, handmade lanterns were popular even outside China, and craftsmen could make a sound living exporting their products overseas.

However, as traditions give way to the modern city lifestyle, the technique of paper crafting began to fade. Ha remembered his workshop had some 20 paper crafting "masters" during the 1980s, but there are only four now, including himself and his son.

"The young people would rather make quick money in finance than spend a whole day here facing the same bunch of people," Ha says.

In 2017, the paper crafting technique was put on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. With government support, Ha and other craftsmen started to teach citizens and students the technique through various workshops.

At a local primary school, Ha teaches the students how to make a fish-shaped paper lantern for holiday celebrations. He makes the body of the fish, while the kids are responsible for the scales.

"Every day after school they make one fish scale to put on the lantern. It will be done in around a month, just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival," he says.