Age 75, bamboo scaffolding master

He’s taught people all around the world in one of Hong Kong’s most unique and popular methods of construction. Choi Keung holds the keys to one of Hong Kong’s age old traditions, that of bamboo scaffolding.

Keung learned the art as a teenager, and began working on construction sites in the early 1950s, nearly 60 years ago. A master of binding and climbing bamboo scaffolds, Keung has not only aided the construction of many buildings in his career  but has also personally built some of the highest scaffolds (upwards of 20 floors) by hand.

Having taught at the Construction Industry and Training Authority for 20 years, he was such a popular teacher that the institute asked him to remain after he reached retirement age. All in all, Keung taught bamboo scaffolding for 27 years. Currently, there are about 1,000 bamboo scaffolders in Hong Kong. Due to his extensive teaching experience, Keung reckons he’s taught at least a third of the scaffolders out there. “I’m not a hero, but I contributed a lot in building this city,” says Keung. “In our profession, we contribute a lot to Hong Kong construction.”

Of his numerous projects, Choi counts the giant lantern he helped built for the Tourism Board in Victoria Park during Mid-Autumn festival in 2003 one of his happiest recent achievements. The bright structure was over 15 metres tall, and won the President's Prize in the 2003 Annual Awards of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.

Still vibrant at 75 and continuing to run his small business, Choi still runs his shop, Keung Kee Bamboo Working, in Tai Kok Tsui. Choi continues to impart the knowledge of this Hong Kong art form that helped shape the city we live in. Bourree Lam