The hawkers of Hong Kong and Los Angeles: two cities, two very different stories

Hawkers have been peddling their wares on the streets of Hong Kong since there was little more than a fishing village on the island. By the 1960s, the street-vending scene had reached its peak and vibrant, bustling, fragrant collections of hawker stalls – offering everything from snacks to cheap house­hold goods and newspapers – could be found serving communities across the territory. Nearly one in six of the population made a living by selling their wares in the open and almost everyone who…