Nine Bird Frog Antiques

Photo album: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17573

We are not reminiscent of the past, but rather want people to rekindle with things once forgotten, as if we can find the just and honourable Hong Kong in which we all used to believe, and return to those peaceful lives of the British colonial time.

Nine Bird Frog Antiques is kind of like the wonderland into which Alice dreamwalked. Once you enter the gates, you will meet all sorts of dolls, jewellery, clothes, and countless treasures. Many items carry a fairy tale motif, such as the Victorian-styled dolls, jewellery and decorations with unicorn and botanical patterns, classical pocket watches and wrist watches, elegant long dresses, and even some funny cushions. The display makes customers feel like they just cannot stop watching as they have entered a place between the surreal and the real.

The namesake of “Nine Bird Frog” has to do with the hope of letting people wander through different times and spaces to discover that unique item. Be meticulous with items in the shop. Even for a small jewellery or a watch or a piece of clothing or decoration, it is art manifested. From manual design to making, every detail resulted in the process carries an ubiquitous charm. The mass-produced goods nowadays cannot even compare.

Every handmade item, even after enduring ages, does not depreciate in value. And, I believe, that is what makes people fall in love with antiques. Each piece represents the hopes and dreams of the makers, as well as the stories of its owners. The longer the ownership, the deeper the meaning it was endowed. Perhaps it is what you give to your most beloved, and then passed on to your children to continue the legacy generation after generation.

From our conversation with the shop owners, it was not hard for us to feel their determination. Even when they have been harassed by people who hold different views, and even after some substantial damage was done to the shop, they still hold on to the things in which they believe, and fearlessly express for what they stand. Even though they are self-proclaimed PRN (peaceful, rational, non-violent), they let their extraordinary courage be known.

Text：子虛
Photo：漫漫

我們並不是在懷念過去，只是希望大家能夠拾回遺忘了的東西，尋回我們一直相信的公義和廉潔的香港，回到英國殖民地時的安寧生活。

「九鳥蛙」的由來，就是希望讓大家能夠穿越不同的時空，去到不同的時代，尋找到一份獨一無二的物品，細心留意店內的物品，無論是一件小首飾或是一隻手錶，以致是一件衣服或擺設，都是一種藝術的體現，由人手從設計到製造，注重每一絲細節的工序，也帶有一種獨特的魅力，這並不是現今社會大量生產的東西所能相比。

每一件手工製作的物品，即使放上了一定的歲月，也並不會減去當中的價值，相信這就是令人愛上古董的原因，它代表著一份製作人的心血，也代表著擁有者的一個故事，愈是有著悠久歲月的，其中所付托的意義愈是深遠，它或許是由你手上送給最深愛的人，再由你的子女繼續傳承給下一代。

從與店主們的對話中，我們不難領略到他們的一份堅持，就算是被一些持不同意見的人無理騷擾，甚至是對店鋪曾作出過一些實際性的破壞，但他們始終謹守著自己相信的事物，無所畏懼地表達了自己的立場，就算自稱為和理非的他們，也展現出心中不平凡的勇氣。

文：子虛
圖：漫漫

#PoliceState #PressFreedom
Hong Kong Police Force Lodges Complaints to Press

Not only that the Hong Kong Police Force has written to the Director of Broadcasting of RTHK, a radio and TV channel in Hong Kong, to complain about the sarcastic content about the Force in the long-running program "Headliner"; the Force also warned a Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily for "unfounded report, rumours mongering and incitement of hatred act". The newspaper has extensive reported on police brutality and received 30 similar 'warning' letters from the police since October 2019.

Press freedom and the freedom of expression are continuously under threat, as reporters are verbally and physically attacked by the police; however, Operations Department Senior Superintendent of the Police Wong Wai Shun, for instance, responded to the question on displaying the identifiable call signs during operations like this: "You, the media, did not understand our difficulties as you have not been a police!".

Source: Apple Daily