A colleague recently revisited Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, the food hub in the vicinity of the former location of Sing Tao's headquarters, and learned that the eatery Lui Chai Kee might have to close.
The old shop, which specializes in street food such as wan zai chi - shark's fin in a small bowl - and fish balls, has been operating for decades and weathered the SARS epidemic.
My colleague was told the landlord is taking the premises back for redevelopment.
Many properties on the street are owned by old-time developer Hip Shing Hong, which has redeveloped a site in the district.
The company has the amicable operating style of traditional developers and, being unlisted, it is free to operate in a mode that emphasizes sustainability instead of aggressively pursuing growth.
Its helmsmen, Henry Fong Yun-wah, and son David Fong Man-hung, share the philosophy that as a company makes money, it must not forget to contribute to society.
In a recent article, the two talked about Hu Xueyan, a wealthy Qing Dynasty "red-hat merchant" who built a red-wood mansion that it was dubbed the most luxurious residence in Jiangnan.
His ostentatiousness made him the subject of envious resentment that led to his financial and political downfall.
The Fongs also cited a poem written by then-premier Zhu Rongji after a visit to Hu's preserved former residence.
In it, Zhu marveled at the property as an example of the gardened residences in the Jiangnan architectural style.
But Zhu, citing the old saying "a family fortune won't last more than three generations," noted that the opulence of its owner lasted but a decade, and cautioned against overindulgence.
There is also the story of Fan Li, an adviser to Goujian, King of Yue, during the Warring States period. After helping the king defeat his nemesis, Fan left politics to go into business, taking with him Xi Shi, one of the most beautiful women in the history of China.
He quit politics because he knew that while the king needed him in difficult times, he would not share the good times with him.
Fan also thoroughly understood the danger of chasing after extreme profit and is remembered for becoming the wealthiest citizens three times just to give it all away.
I think the most laudable part of his legacy is his wisdom in politics and in life.
Siu Sai-wo is publisher of Sing Tao Daily
