Hong Kong Stories

2 Who create the Dragons (32x7)

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Pokfulam Village on Hong Kong Island has a long history. It has a hundred-year-old tradition of fire dragon dance at Mid-Autumn Festival. The 30-metre long fire dragon is practically built singlehandedly by its resident Ng Kong Kin. Master Ng Kong Kin grew up in Pokfulam Village. He learned to make fire dragons as a child. To carry on the traditional he has opened a workshop in the village to teach the art of making fire dragon. He does not put on airs and is very friendly with his students whom he encourages to be creative. But he is committed to upholding his village’s tradition. As they say, “Fame without compromising the original quality, innovation without forgetting the past.” He is content to live a simple life in the village running a fish stall next to his workshop. He is fine with just getting by. Since 2013 another district on Hong Kong Island started the fire dragon dance tradition at the Mid-Autumn Festival. The one promoting it is Ng Kong Kin’s older brother Ng Kong Nam. He too grew up in Pokfulam Village. Although he has moved out he still loves the fire dragon tradition. He has introduced this tradition to Aberdeen and is teaching fire-dragon making at a youth centre there to the younger generation. He wants more people to know this tradition. Besides being a bone-setter he also teaches the Choi Lee Fat school of Chinese boxing and lion dance. He learned kung fu as a child and is very serious and determined to pass on this traditional culture. He hopes his nephew, Ng Kong Kin’s son, will be the one to continue to uphold their traditions. The Ng brothers remember their childhood playing at the Pokfulam Reservoir gathering material to make a fire dragon: bamboo, Chinese fan palm, and Banyan tree air roots. They may be very different in character but they share the same goal of promoting the fire dragon tradition.