Mahjong tile artisan Cheung Shun-king's shop, Biu Kee Mahjong, in the Yau Tsim Mong district of Hong Kong. Photo: AFP
Eyebrows furrowed in careful concentration as he chisels images and Chinese characters onto mahjong tiles, 70-year-old Cheung Shun-king is one of the last craftsmen of his kind in Hong Kong.
Hand carving playing tiles for the popular Chinese game used to be a source of income for many, but the introduction of much cheaper machine-made sets whittled away at their customer base and turned their work into a rarity.
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HK mahjong tile artisan
Mahjong tile artisan Cheung Shun-king's shop, Biu Kee Mahjong, in the Yau Tsim Mong district of Hong Kong. Photo: AFP
Cheung using a knife to remove excessive paint from a mahjong piece at his shop. Photo: AFP
Cheung Shun-king, 70, painting Chinese characters on mahjong piece. Photo: AFP
Cheung using a drill stand to carve dots on a mahjong piece at his shop. Photo: AFP
Blank mahjong pieces ready to be painted. Photo: AFP
A set of tools to make mahjong pieces including a drill stand, carving knives, writing brushes and paint belonging to Cheung. Photo: AFP
Cheung Shun-king is one of the last mahjong craftsmen of his kind in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP
Cheung displaying his tool set, including a drill stand, carving knives, writing brushes and paint, used to make hand-carved mahjong pieces, at his shop. Photo: AFP
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