This is the only street shoe-shiner in the Central Theatre, although the government issued a card to the shoe-shiner who knows the last generation of this craft, but only six people left!
The craft of shinning shoes originated in the last century. People began to wear suits, and they needed to match bright leather shoes, especially office workers. So in the office buildings, such as Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, where there were concentrated people, there was a shoe-shiner. After the Second World War, many sailors also liked this service technology when they landed in Hong Kong. They were very prosperous and the shoe-shiner service revenue was considerable, which became a hot industry!
Today, this street craft disappears. The main reason is that the succession problem and industries are not picking up. As I pass this place, only one or two customers in each stall are waiting for the service. I believe the government must think of ways to preserve this cultural heritage !
這是在中環戲院里僅有的街頭擦鞋匠，雖然政府發了牌給懂得這種工藝最後一代的鞋匠，可是只餘下六人了！
摖鞋這工藝起源於上世紀，人們興起穿著西裝，而必要配襯亮麗的皮鞋，尤其是上班族，於是在寫字樓區，如中環、尖沙咀這些人流集中的地方，便出現了擦鞋匠。直至二次世界大戰後，很多水手登陸在香港時也很喜歡這種服務工藝，他們出手闊綽，擦鞋服務收入可觀，便成為了一個熱門的行業！
今時今日，這個街頭工藝即消失，主要原因是青黃不接及行業萎縮，正如今天我經過此地時，每檔只有一兩個顧客在輪候光顧，我相信政府要想想辦法，才能保存這項文化遺產！
Many thanks to @aaronli for hosting this competition and giving me a chance to look back the city in our busy life.
非常多謝 @aaronli 舉行這個比賽，給予一個機會，在忙碌的生活中細看我們所居住的城巿。
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!steemitworldmap 22.2825202 lat 114.1558268 long d3scr