As the wheel of time turns, many industries and businesses struggle to hold on and are forced to close the market. Those who remain, perhaps clinging to a legacy of affection, may be left holding on. Once upon a time, Hong Kong's industrial development flourished, and many sectors enjoyed a glorious history. For example, the leather industry boasted numerous tanneries at its peak, and Hong Kong's leather exports remained at the top for many years. However, times have changed, and these factories have gradually vanished in the tide of time. Before we knew it, only the last leather factory remained in Hong Kong: Shui Hing Leather Factory. This sole remaining leather factory is now run by Kean, a young man born in the 1990s.
On the day of our visit, Kean led us to a cowhide factory in Kwai Chung. Pushing through the iron gate emblazoned with the words "Sui Hing Leather Factory," we entered the factory, etched with the marks of time. Yet, the vast building seemed rather quiet. The further we walked, the stronger the aroma became, and before us lay the neatly stacked cow hides. Looking at the piles of cured hides, Kean jokingly remarked that if he had come two or three years ago, he would have had the opportunity to observe the processing process.
It turns out that the cowhide factory had stopped processing hides over the past two years, switching to curing and selling them directly. "You might think it's a waste for such a large leather factory to have only a portion of it still operating. But at least I'm keeping it running and producing, rather than having to shut down in disgrace." Perhaps the reason Kean persists in keeping the factory open is the memories of it that have long been buried deep in his mind. Kean remembers the days when he would play in the factory as a child. Back then, there were dozens of people working there, and the machines would run non-stop, filling the air with the strong smell of cowhide. His father would busy himself with production and processing, while his mother would take care of packaging and shipping, while he would play with the cats and dogs in the factory.
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