Master Shek

Biography

Master Shek, a native of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province, was born in Shanghai in 1926, receiving primary education to Primary 3 in his hometown. After the Japanese invasion of China, he fled to Hong Kong and found refuge with an uncle who worked in the Chung Hwa Book Company’s printing workshop. Master Shek then became an apprentice at the Luen Wah Printing Factory in Central. After the fall of Hong Kong to Japan in 1941, he started work in the typesetting room of Chung Hwa’s printing workshop. Master Shek subsequently went onto work at Hua Nan Printing Factory in Chongqing. After the Japanese were driven out and peace was declared in 1945, he returned to work at Chung Hwa’s typesetting room. In the late 1940s, Master Shek was seconded to Beijing for training for two years during which time he learnt all about advanced printing technology. He then took a job as a photoengraver after returning to Hong Kong. This job lasted him all the way through until his retirement in 1971. During that time, Master Shek also served as a director of Chung Hwa Book Company Trade Union. Back then, the Chung Hwa printing workshop was located at Ma Hang Chung Road in To Kwa Wan. Master Shek was allocated a dormitory unit at To Kwa Wan Road while working there. Master Shek went back to his hometown in 1951 to marry his wife. He and his wife and two kids then lived in the dormitory for the next 14 years, subsequently moving to Ma Tau Wai Estate in 1965. Master Shek and his loved ones eventually moved out of To Kwa Wan in the 1980s, only returning recently to the district to live in Wyler Gardens.