(Leica X1)
Just as anything old, the sight of sole proprietors carrying on a keysmith business is few and far between in Hong Kong. As if old things had no practical value, the government is rather keen on bulldozing away them in the name of urban renewal. The project to replace which is known as "sports shoes street” to locals with dull sports-themed shopping malls is a case in point. Used to be filling the street in Mongkok were a variety of sports gear shops. The shops' individualities, characteristics, offer of cheap grey-market items, together with the chance to bargain, were what made the street popular among shoppers. The preservation of these elements for the success of the sports shoes street can never be achieved by yet another silly mall.
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