"My name is Hui Ka-hung. I'm a master of paper crafting and I have been doing this for over 30 years. All my life, I have devoted myself to this one craft." That is how Hui, the owner of Hung C Lau, summarizes his life.
Three decades in paper crafting
Reflecting on his journey of paper crafting, Hui said, "I was like those ordinary children… I didn't enjoy studying much at a young age. But what made me different was that martial arts runs in my family as a legacy. From a young age, I grew up watching my father practice Kung Fu, play the drums, and perform lion dances. The martial arts school's platform was my playground, which is why I fell in love with making lion heads from a very early age."
At the age of 6, Hui began mending worn-out lion heads in the martial arts school; by 11, he had crafted his first lion head. Later, carrying his handicraft from one workshop to another, he eventually caught the eye of a veteran master, who took him on as an apprentice. A dozen years later, Hui founded Hung C Lau and continued his paper crafting career.
Walking into his workshop, one finds oneself surrounded by lion heads, fa pau, bamboo stripes, and gauze paper. Hui explained, "Creating a paper crafting piece requires only bamboo strips, gauze paper, and paste made from flour. There are four main steps — binding, paper-mounting, painting, and decorating. Among them, binding is the most challenging. If you make a mistake at this initial stage, it's nearly impossible to redeem it later."
International acclaim for 120-meter golden dragon for Australia
Of all his decades of paper-crafting, Hui considers the 120-meter golden dragon made for Australia his most memorable piece.
Invited by the Golden Dragon Museum in Australia, Hui traveled there in person to create a dragon for their collection. He was profoundly moved by viewing the masterpieces from the previous era."I always thought I was proficient in my craft. But after seeing the museum's collections, I realized I fell far short. The techniques used in making that golden dragon 150 years ago were remarkable… the stories I'd heard were true."
Determined to bring his creation to life, He embarked on making a 120-meter dragon composed of nearly 7,000 scales. As each person could produce only a single scale a day, friends, apprentices, and neighbors all pitched in to help. Eventually, the dragon came alive in a vibrant display on the streets of a distant land. The locals called him "master", a moment that filled him with immense pride.
'Paper crafting is not a sunset industry'
Hui rejects the view that paper-crafting is a sunset industry. "A dying industry is one without demand. But the truth is, paper crafting is in high demand all year round." He explained, "During Lunar New Year, we make dragon heads; from February to April, we produce fapaos; during Dragon Boat Festival and Yu Lan festival in June and July, we craft dragon boats. Then comes the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival. Furthermore, paper crafting plays a key role in funeral ceremonies, and the demand for it continues all year round."
In 2017, the government established the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office, adding paper crafting to the first Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. The move raised awareness about it and earned greater respect for paper crafting masters. Hui mentions that, in the past, people often called them "paper-craft guys". But today, many practitioners are recognized as 'artists of paper crafting.'
Hui enjoys teaching paper crafting and believes education is key to preserving the tradition in the future. His ambition is clear: "When people in Hong Kong talk about Wing Chun, everyone thinks of Ip Man. I hope that one day, when people talk about paper-crafting, someone will say, 'I learned it from Master Hui Ka-Hung.'" As he embarks on the next 50 years of making giant dragons, Hui passionately encourages the younger generation: "Whatever you do, always remember to pursue what you love."
(Camerapeople: Estella, Janey, Fai, Edwin Yip; Editor: Estella; Reporter: Iris; Translator: Zheng Xiaoyi; English Editor: Darius)
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