Wong Hung Kyun | Have a thankful heart to trees

Wong Hung Kuen (Brother Kuen) is the helmsman of Chi Kee Sawmill & Timber. He runs the “Last Sawmill in Hong Kong” alongside several brothers and sisters in Sheung Shui, Ma Tso Lung. Chi Kee’s exterior looks like a replica of Howl’s Moving Castle, with a strong handicraft feel within and outside of the shop. It has a raw and tasteful vibe.

There are other sawmills along the way from Sheung Shui to Ma Tso Lung. However, they usually maintain their businesses by reselling imported timber. Nowadays, only Chi Kee Sawmill & Timber recycles and processes local timber in Hong Kong. Brother Kuen admits that business is tough, as the cost of timber and salary payments are quite high.

Despite being located far away in Sheung Shui, yet, Chi Kee has a close relationship with Lung Fu Shan. If you have ever sat down upon the long wooden benches within the Centre’s Garden, or followed the signposts at the Centre towards Lung Fu Shan, or learnt about the history of the Centre from the signs, you should be able to feel the contribution of Chi Kee towards Lung Fu Shan. Earlier when Typhoon Mangkhut blew over the branches of a Chinese Banyan tree at the Centre, Chi Kee was willing to take them in despite the wood from the Chinese Banyan not being suitable as carpentry materials. After careful processing, the wood from the Chinese Banyan was used in a Woodworking workshop at the Centre to make wooden stools and bookshelves, giving the fallen tree a second life.

Brother Kuen has worked with wood for his entire life, but is not a “wooden” (boring) person. Instead, he communicates with trees, and learns about the principles of life. Despite Chi Kee facing the danger of being demolished, he continues to recycle discarded wood, hosting woodworking workshops and promoting the concept of “abandoned wood is not trash”.

Brother Kuen : Actually I have become numb towards the saying that taking wood to the landfills is the easiest solution, but people rely on trees for a living (housing), and rely upon them even upon death (coffins), so people should have a grateful attitude towards trees. In the past, my father worked as a porter in a timbermill. He moved from North Point to Chai Wan, then from Chai Wan to Sheung Shui…… He thought he moved until he had nothing left, yet he remained here as a carpenter for some 30 plus years. What is worthless now may become valuable in the future, as with the timber industry.

A lot of wood here comes from the China Light and Power utility poles, and they have to be sawed open to check the quality of the wood, whether they’re able to be made into furniture or construction material. Not all can be used. I believe that life replaces life. During Typhoon Mangkhut, trees sacrificed themselves to shield Hong Kongers from the storm, that is why we have to be grateful. This time, the wood from Lung Fu Shan was not suitable for making construction material, but no problem, they can be made into stools and bookshelves, and spread the awareness of avoiding wastage.

➤ Chi Kee Sawmill & Timber

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➤ HK01 The story of the sawmill - prior to the demolition of Chi Kee, 4 siblings illustrate how their family traditions accompany them throughout their lives : http://bit.ly/2rCrccr