/寶華扎作
開業歷史: 1963年
業務: 祭祀用品
商品: 香燭紙料
地址: 九龍深水埗福榮街2D地下
老闆歐陽先生於1963年創立寶華扎作。「寶華」裡的「寶」是指歐陽先生早前在紅磡寶其利街開紙紮店，而「華」是歐陽先生父親的名字。
1949年大陸解放，歐陽先生大約20歲，他剛巧有朋友介紹他到「金玉樓」工作，起初歐陽先生還以為是一間酒樓，到了才知道是一間紙紮店舖。但為了生活，歐陽先生於是決定成為紮作學徒。他憶述當時學師是在師傅旁邊一邊學習一邊偷師，當年的師傅都不會教授徒弟，所有新入行的都是站學習。之後數年，歐陽先生學有所成後便自己獨自出來開紙紮舖，便從1963年至今，到今天，歐陽先生於已是一位有50多年做紙紮的經驗老師傅。
歐陽先生說6、70年代是紙紮業最興旺的時期，當時所有的紙紮品都是師傅在香港自己親手紮的。時移世逆，現在大多數的紙紮品已由內地訂回來。雖然現在訂單比以往少，但在節慶時生意仍是不俗。例如重陽節、新年和清明節等，生意就更忙碌，歐陽先生也要請數名散工師傅到店舖幫忙。現今的紙紮品日新月異，寶華就有訂造紙紮品服務迎合市場需求。例如製造高跟鞋、食物和動物等。曾經就有一位客人為先人訂造一對指定品牌的波鞋。這些特別訂造的紙紮品價錢俾現成的貴數十倍，但訂造服務仍是近期較受歡迎的。
/ Po Wah Paper Craft
Timeline: Since 1963
Business Type: offering products
Products: incenses, candles and offering paper objects
Address: G/F, 2D Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po
Mr. Au Yeung established Po Wah Paper Craft in 1963. ‘Po’ refers to the previous shop he opened at Bulkeley street in Hung Hom, and ‘Wah’ is the name of Mr. Au Yeung’s father.
Mr. Au Yeung was 20 years old when the communist took over China in 1949. His friend introduced him to work at “Kam Yu Lau” in Hong kong. He initially thought it was a restaurant but realized later that it was actually an paper crafts shop for making offering products. To earn a living, Mr. Au Yeung decided to become an apprentice in the offering paper crafts industry. He recalled how he learned his skills through observing. The masters at that time didn’t really teach anything, all the new apprentices needed to learn alongside work. After a few years, Mr. Au Yeung mastered the skills and set up his own business since 1963. Now, he is an expert with 50 years of experience in paper craft.
According to Mr. Yeung, the paper craft industry was most prosperous in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, all paper offering objects or ritual products were hand-crafted in Hong Kong. Now, most of the paper craft products are made in China. Business now is not as flouring as in the past but can still get very busy during annual festivals such as Chung Yeung Festival, Ching Ming Festival and the Lunar New Year. Mr. Au Yeung has to hire several workers to help out at the shop during festive periods. Paper offering objects today are in wide variety, many are even tailored made to meet market demand. For instance, paper high heel shoes, trendy food, or even pets. Once, a customer wanted to order a pair of custom-made brand name sports shoes for his ancestor! Paper offering objects with special requests are 10 times more expensive than the ordinary ones. Though, they are very popular among customers.
店內仍用傳統的掛鉤展示貨品。
The shop is still using the old-fashioned hook for displaying the products.
