“The Portrait of Hong Kong” is the latest photo book by Fan Ho (1931 – 2016). Ho was a Chinese born Hong Kong film actor and director. But one may know him as a renowned street and documentary photographer who won many awards from international exhibitions and photography competitions. In fact, he was so talented in documentary photography that he was hailed as “the Henri Cartier-Bresson of the East”.

In 2015, Ho selected 500 original negatives that had never been published before and planned to include them into his latest book. These images were taken in Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, Ho died a year later leaving the unfinished book behind. Then, Ho’s family and a gallery founder took charge and continued to work on the project. Together they selected 153 images out of the 500 negatives, which were compiled into this book “The Portrait of Hong Kong”.

Reading through the book was like setting out on a time travel adventure back to Hong Kong in the 1950s. Ho started showing the city from the west side of Hong Kong Island, then Causeway Bay. After that we were led by Ho to cross the harbour and cruise around Kowloon. He showed us Yau Ma Tei and Nathan Road, displaying the livelihoods around the Lion Rock, the Kowloon City and even Shatin. Not only did Ho capture the daily lives of the Hong Kong people back in the days, but he also documented the cityscapes of Hong Kong, the serenity of street corners and the liveliness of crowds.

Being millennial, we find it hard to imagine how life was like in those old days. Thanks to Ho’s book, a very vivid image on locals’ livelihoods back then came into view. With limited resources, life was simple yet difficult while people were persevering and industrious. The fading scenery and various facets of Hong Kong in the book serve as Ho’s last gift to Hong Kong people. May you cherish this book as much as I do.