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Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Hong Kong Island, is a famous bar street in Hong Kong. There are nearly a hundred bars and restaurants in this alley that is only 20 meters wide and less than 300 meters long.
Every day, there will be bright lights and wine, and wine and wine, which is one of the important places for nightlife in Hong Kong. Before Hong Kong returned, it was almost the world of foreigners with high noses and blue eyes. Ten years later, black hair and yellow skin became the mainstream of Lan Kwai Fong, with Chinese tourists accounting for more than 70%. The 59-year-old "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen has a deep feeling about this.
"Before the return, Lan Kwai Fong was simply a small UK. British troops stationed in Hong Kong often gathered here. Some British people do not have a work visa and work here." Sheng Zhiwen said, "After returning, Lan Kwai Fong experienced the Asian financial crisis, experienced SARS, and had a low tide, but they all survived it, relying on mainland tourists. In the past two years, they have been free travel, and it has also been a place where mainland tourists gather. Now, even if Lan Kwai Fong bar recruits employees, they must mark those who speak Mandarin first."
Zeng Yen Ran
Sheng Zhiwen clearly remembers that June 30, 1997 On the evening of the day, thousands of regular customers gathered in Lan Kwai Fong to welcome the arrival of the new era: "It was a big party with a conflicting mood. Many people were worried about tomorrow and thought it was Lan Kwai Fong's last moment, so everyone was drunk and dancing with great affection."
▲The "1997" light sign on Lan Kwai Fong's bar street. Source: Sina Blog
Indeed, in the past 10 years, Lan Kwai Fong has been brilliant and sad. Shortly after returning, I experienced an Asian financial crisis. "At that time, the economy was declining across the board, and many companies were closed, and no one knew what the future was. Lan Kwai Fong was deserted, and only regular customers came to Lan Kwai Fong to drown their sorrows by drinking wine, but the cost was not as good as before. We also had to lower the price of wine and meals and survive against the current," said Sheng Zhiwen.
Then there was the 2001 "9.11" terrorist attack in the United States that shocked the world, and the more tragic SARS plague in 2003: "That was the lowest point in my life. Lan Kwai Fong has never tried such a dead silence. People are afraid of being infected, distrust each other, and they cut off contact with each other. Even husband and wife and brothers are the same. Customers dare not go out to the bar." Sheng Zhiwen admitted that if the SARS plague lasted a little longer, Lan Kwai Fong would definitely collapse and Hong Kong would also collapse.
▲Hong Kong report on SARS. Source: B station column Hong Kong drifter GPJ
"I was really lucky in my life. After the plague, Lan Kwai Fong was the first place to recover in Hong Kong." Sheng Zhiwen believes that the impact of SARS on Lan Kwai Fong is even worse than the tragedy of people trampling on people on the evening of January 1, 1993. "SARS is even more terrifying, because people cannot avoid it, and they do not know where the deadly virus comes from and when will it come to themselves."
The incident of people straying in the early morning of New Year's Day in 1993 was a big shadow of the life and career of Sheng Zhiwen, the "father of Lan Kwai Fong". At that time, about 20,000 people gathered in Lan Kwai Fong for a carnival countdown, and they were extremely happy and sad. Some people slipped to the ground, forming a domino effect. The chaos and panic caused 21 deaths and 48 injuries, shocking the country and abroad. Since that tragedy, Lan Kwai Fong has become the key defense of the police during important holidays.
▲ Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong New Year's Eve stampede accident.
Talking about the 10 years of return, this foreigner of Germanic descent who speaks fluent Cantonese admitted that Hong Kong is better than the past. "For me, Hong Kong is indeed much better than before its return." He said, "I remember that when I was about to return, many foreign journalists came to ask me if I was worried about the future of Hong Kong. The public opinion was full of pessimistic remarks. I am one of the few people who have a positive attitude. Because I have been in mainland China and worked in Changsha, Hunan, I understand the current situation of China and the attitude of the Chinese authorities. I am very confident in the Chinese government."
than before, happy
Now, Lan Kwai Fong has long restored its former prosperity.Every night, this alley that is hundreds of meters long is still bright and bright. Groups of people flock to the bars on both sides of the alley. Laughing and deafening music are heard from the bars from time to time, but those voices have changed from mainly English and other Western dialects 10 years ago to local Cantonese and mainland Mandarin.
Sheng Zhiwen owns 17 restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong, and more than 70% of the properties in this alley belong to him. At the same time, Lan Kwai Fong has also entered the mainland market and opened three restaurants in Shanghai. Sheng Zhiwen said that he would continue to develop the Shanghai market, and the next entry point is the capital Beijing.
Sheng Zhiwen continues to enjoy his life, get up at six o'clock every morning to do fitness at home, and then go to the office. At night, the Metropolitan area is in Lan Kwai Fong, or find friends to have dinner and entertainment. He runs countless bars, but he doesn't even drink. Sheng Zhiwen said that he never drank because he didn't like the smell of alcohol. When he went to bars with his friends, he mostly used mineral water instead of wine. "I eat at home less than six days a year, and most of them are in Lan Kwai Fong or attending friends' gatherings. In the last few days of each year, no matter how busy I am, I will visit Lan Kwai Fong. Work is actually not a job for me, it is a pleasure."
Hong Zhiwen's love for Hong Kong is valued by the SAR government, and he has taken him into the government structure and successively appointed as a member of the Policy Development Committee, a director of the Municipal Construction Bureau, and a member of the Tourism Industry Group. What he is most proud of is that when the SARS epidemic hit Hong Kong's tourism industry to its lowest point in 2003, Tung Chee-hwa appointed him as the chairman of Ocean Park , leading the most famous and oldest theme park in Hong Kong.
▲Hong Kong Ocean Park. Source: Internet
"I believe that Hong Kong people should live happier now than they were 10 years ago." This foreigner, born in Germany, grew up in North America and only came to Hong Kong to nuggets alone at the age of 19, had no diplomatic elements when he said this. He himself is indeed living a happier life. As the 59-year-old, he is still like his employees, playing jellyfish in the Ocean Park, playing zombies, and playing Brazilian girls. He said that all this is for Ocean Park, which is another hard work he has done after Lan Kwai Fong.
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"Return to the Bar Street of 10 Years, Lan Kwai Fong: Radiant, sad" (2007)
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