The life of a fisherman’s family in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong

A fisherman’s in Hong Kong

Pierre Virot, WHO photographer in Geneva

Tuen Mun in the northwestern New Territories was once a major harbour in Southern China. For many foreign politicians and merchants who visited the main- land, it was an important gateway. The busy traffic brought opportunities and business flourished in the area where Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Kam Tin lie today.

Today, Tuen Mun is a well developed new town. It got the WHO Safe Community designation in March 2003. It is also a famous fishing port. Mr Fok Ka-fai lives on his boat with his whole family and, like many other fishermen, he is the sixth generation of fishermen who came originally from the mainland.

Life is hard on the sea, the day normally begins at night with the vessel heading toward the fishing ground of the estuary of the Pearl River. Mr. Fok usually starts fishing around 04:00am. His main catches are shrimps, pair trawling, stern trawling and various local fish. If you ask Mr. Fok which fish he likes best to eat, he will tell you “Ying-chong”, a delicious fish.

“Family life is important, we share the bur- den and the joys, when you live on a vessel, every body has his place and his duty. I teach my sons what I learned from my father and so will they teach their sons one day… and the tradition of our family will live on…”