Final chapter: Review of 10 years
最後: 十年印記
25th December 1963
We got off because of Christmas and went to the Garden Restaurant for Christmas dinner. We earn a lot in the dawn market; therefore, we can have a great dinner. Only people who dress up can enter the restaurant and must dress beautifully and tidily for meals inside. I dressed up in a dress and high heels. Also, I dressed up my family in a pretty and handsome way. Walking through the street, we were the most adorable family in Sham Shui Po!
Ten years ago, today was the day that we lost our home. During this decade, we have had ups and downs. Starting with the fire, we lost our home. Then, we experience the riots when living in Mei Ho House. Those gave a terrific slap on our life. Fortunately, our life started on track after I received a sewing machine. We started working in the garment industry and got a stable income and life. Now we still were not wealthy, but it was enough that we were blessed.
1963年12月25日
聖誕節我們家早早就收爐，去之前預訂好的嘉頓西餐廳食聖誕大餐。早上天光墟賺了不少錢，今晚可以吃豪氣一點。西餐廳不是個個都可以入，要着比平時「骨子」先可以。我精心打扮，穿上裙子和高跟鞋，同時我幫老豆、媽和弟弟打扮得漂漂亮亮、帥帥氣氣，走出街，我們就是深水埗中最漂亮的一家!
今天剛好是十年前我們家一夜消失的一天，這十年裡我們經歷起起伏伏。由大火失去了家、去到美荷樓經歷了雙十暴動，接連的經歷狠狠打擊我們。幸好從到收到衣車後，我們家開始生產成衣，生活慢慢上軌道，有穩定的收入及生活。現在我們不算是富貴，但是是幸福的小康之家。
Christmas Dinner
A restaurant which serves western dishes appeared in Hong Kong in the 1960s. The Garden company operated a restaurant in Sham Shui Po. Western restaurants are more advanced and expensive than local restaurants. The price of a cup of coffee is ten times more than that of local restaurants. Therefore, many people would go to western restaurants during particular days or festivals for celebration.
People started celebrating Christmas in the 1960s. They tended to have a Christmas dinner, enjoyed Christmas illumination and listened to Christmas carolling. Having a Christmas dinner at the Garden Restaurant was one of the most popular activities during that period. Most people would have a themed Christmas dinner with their family at the Garden restaurant. The themed Christmas dinner includes different western and Chinese meals and desserts. Also, Santa would stay at the restaurant entrance to give the public a Christmas blessing and gift. Furthermore, the Garden also rolled out different types of Christmas cake and sweets for people to celebrate this existing festival.
The appearance of the Garden restaurant reflected the living environment, and standards started to improve in the 1960s. People were living hard in the 1950s after the war, and life started on track in the 1960s. People started to consider and pursue the quality or taste of food rather than worry about basic needs. The appearance and action of going to the Garden restaurant represent the change in the living environment and the rise of the middle class. Also, the western restaurant promoted western diets and created a dream for most people. Having meals in western restaurants was a yearning at that time.
聖誕大餐
六十年代香港出現西餐廳，於深水埗亦存在一間由嘉頓營運的西餐廳。西餐廳比平日市民到的餐廳高級，價格不菲，一杯咖啡的價錢比起冰室大概高出十倍。因此不少普通市民會在特別日子或節日到嘉頓西餐廳慶祝。
當時市民已經流行慶祝聖誕，他們會去吃聖誕大餐，看燈飾及聽平安夜報佳音。去嘉頓餐廳吃聖誕大餐是當時其中一個最普遍的選擇。很多市民都會選擇一家，在聖誕節當天到西餐廳吃嘉頓主題聖誕套餐，套餐包括西式及中式菜式，亦有甜品附上。而且嘉頓亦會在西餐廳門口設置聖誕老人向市民傳達祝福及禮物。同時除了聖誕大餐嘉頓亦會推出不少和聖誕有關的甜品糖果及西餅，讓市民在聖誕節能夠歡度佳節。
嘉頓西餐廳在深水埗的出現反映了當時市民的生活開始慢慢改善。由五十年代的戰後民不聊生，到六十年代市民開始生活上軌道，由溫飽煩惱，轉向追求有質素及品味的食物，生活上出現了大的轉變。證明了當時市民的生活環境轉變及中產階級興起。同時高級餐廳更向市民推廣了西方的飲食文化，成為了當時不少人的憧憬，希望能走進西餐廳吃一頓飯。
Having Christmas dinner
with family members
一家人在吃聖誕大餐
1
2
Santa gifting outside the Garden restaurant
聖誕節，聖誕老人在嘉頓餐廳門口送禮
Copyright 圖片版權
1: 取自香港中央圖書館 參考及資訊查詢中心；華僑日報, 1961-12-24 (NPWK19611224)
2: 由組員自行拍攝，並取得香港青年旅舍協會美荷樓生活館同意展出
Reference 參考文獻
Li, Chu Wai. “More Than a Potential Threat: The PRC’s Intervention During the Double Tenth Incident.”
Ng, Michael. Political Censorship in British Hong Kong : Freedom of Expression and the Law (1842-1997).
美荷樓生活館：《四十一報》
香港房屋委員會︰《人、物、情 — 香港公共房屋發展五十年》
香港靑年旅舍協會：《美荷樓記 : 屋邨歲月，鄰里之情》
深水埗區公民敎育委員會：《從深水埗到深水埗》
黃兆輝：《積極不干預：港英政府的中國通》
劉智鵬、劉蜀永：《香港史：從遠古到九七》
鄭敏華︰《深水埗故事 : 從社區公共歷史建築看地方發展史及其人文價值》