In Hong Kong, 76-year-old Leung Kwok-hung is determined to keep the ancient art of movable type printing alive amid the rise of digital methods. His Sing Hung Printer has operated for over 50 years, and he has now shifted to public workshops to sustain this intangible cultural heritage.
In a printing factory, an elderly man points out numerous errors he has circled in a book on the history of movable type, his voice edged with indignation. “Many historical accounts about the industry are wrong,” the 76-year-old says. “I want to tell the true story.”
Leung Kwok-hung owns Sing Hung Printer, a movable type factory that has operated for more than 50 years. The business once employed 15 people but has relocated twice to smaller premises with fewer printing machines as the trade declined; now, only Leung and his 50-year-old son remain.
But instead of closing his shop as many of his peers had, he signed a new three-year lease last November, a move seen by some as bold. He decided to focus his efforts on conducting public workshops to help sustain the intangible cultural heritage.
“I really don’t know if the factory will still be here in three years, but I hope I can let as many people as possible learn about the culture of movable type printing,” Leung said.
Movable type printing originated in China, invented by Bi Sheng in the 11th century, and now faces challenges from digital printing and offset methods in Hong Kong. Leung's mission aims to educate the public, correct historical inaccuracies, and pass on this traditional craft.