Blacksmith Stories

From sampan ladies and bamboo scaffolders to street cleaners, fishermen, security guards and market vendors - these workers form the backbone of the fast-paced metropolis of Hong Kong, yet they are often overlooked or taken for granted. Looking beyond the glamorous harborfront, neon-lit downtown and dramatic skyline, Hong Kong Shifts explores the back alleys to meet and learn from the individuals who work tirelessly to keep the city ticking. These are stories and portraits of resilience, wisdom, positivity and strength from the streets of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Shifts is a social impact storytelling platform with a mission to promote kindness, empathy and connection in our living and working environments. At the core of our project is the belief that storytelling is a powerful tool to engage, move and inspire - and, ultimately, to build bridges between diverse communities in the city that we call home.

Cynthia Cheng was born in Canada and grew up in Hong Kong, and went on to study law at University College London. She stayed in the UK to study and work for close to a decade. Prior to pursuing a career in social impact, writing and mental health, she was a practising lawyer in London, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong. Cynthia is currently an executive at an international non-profit organisation and co-founder of Hong Kong Shifts. She has always loved words, color and the beauty and authenticity of human stories. Originally from Belgium, Maxime Vanhollebeke lived in London and Chicago before settling in Hong Kong in 2009 to pursue a career as an international lawyer. He developed a passion for photography and was immediately drawn to the raw energy and beauty of Hong Kong and its people. As lead photographer and co-founder of Hong Kong Shifts, Maxime specialises in environmental portraits and street photography and is passionate about using photography to support and amplify positive social progress initiatives.