‘No mood for work’: veteran ship mechanic’s future clouded by Aberdeen marina project

David Chan, a veteran ship mechanic in his seventies, faces an uncertain future as plans to redevelop the Po Chong Wan temporary industrial area in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, threaten his decades-long trade. Chan, one of the few remaining specialists in ship machinery maintenance, has worked in the industry since the 1960s, initially repairing wooden fishing boats and cargo ships in Ap Lei Chau. After relocating to Po Chong Wan in the late 1980s due to government demolition of squatter huts, he adapted his business to service steel fishing fleets and passenger vessels, witnessing a steady decline in the local maritime industry. The proposed redevelopment includes constructing 250 residential flats and a 200-berth marina at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, which has cast doubt on the future viability of Chan’s workshop and others in the area. Once a bustling hub for fishing and ship repair, the industrial zone now hosts fewer than 30 active workshops, many of which have been shuttered or repurposed as storage spaces. Chan had planned to continue working for several more years and recently invested in upgrading his equipment, but the redevelopment announcement has left him demoralized and uncertain about his livelihood. This situation reflects broader challenges facing Hong Kong’s traditional maritime industries amid urban development and changing economic priorities. The decline of wooden fishing vessels and the shift toward yacht maintenance illustrate the evolving nature of the local maritime economy. The redevelopment plan aims to modernize the area and boost residential and recreational facilities, but it also risks displacing long-standing trades and eroding the cultural heritage of Aberdeen’s fishing community. The outcome will have significant implications for the remaining ship mechanics and the preservation of Hong Kong’s maritime industrial legacy.