Peter Sung

Author/ Being Neighbourly
23 September 2025

Street Beat is a weekly section highlighting both Hong Kong photographic talent and the city itself. If you would like the chance to be featured in our Street Beat section, then say [email protected] attaching your portrait and landscape photographs with a brief bio of you.

Location

Nam Cheong Street at the junction with Yu Chau Street.

Equipment

Fujifilm X-Pro 2 & FUJINON XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR lens.

Behind the Scenes

I aimed to capture this sign to highlight how Hong Kong’s pawnbroking industry surged after its legalization in 1926, but is now part of Hong Kong’s declining industries. My interest in traditional and declining industries drew me to the Nam Cheong Pawn Shop specifically, which has endured for nearly a century. It serves as a testament to a once-thriving business that contributed significantly to the city’s economy. Designated a Grade III historic building in 2010, this pawn shop retains traditional features, like the saloon doors at its entrance.

Photographer in Focus

Peter Sung, a veteran photographer with over 40 years of experience in the trade, has participated in numerous international photography competitions. Some of his most recent work can be found in the Hong Kong Central Library, while two of his photographs are displayed in the headquarters of the Government Flying Service; yet others are featured across the border, in Shenzhen. Two of Sung’s photos were awarded positions in National Geographic’s Top 5 and Top 50 lists of photographs in 2024 and Sung picked up Being Neighbourly’s Creativity Award 2024 for his photos highlighting the wealth gap in Hong Kong. Peter travels widely across China and beyond for his work with the Hong Kong China Tourism Press, for whom he is a contracted photographer.