當[dong3]鋪[pou2] Pawnshop：Tradition of centuries

An independent and obtrusive old-style low-rise Cantonese-style building on the corner of the street. A large bat-shaped signboard with the word "押[ad3]" on a red background and white letters inlaid with gold rim hangs outside the door below. Inside the door is a wooden plate with "大[dai6]押[ad3]" written on it. The screen blocks the curious sight of passers-by from outside the pawn trading scene. Passing through the screen, behind it is a row of tall and austere counters with window frames. Standing at the counter were a few old guards, dressed in Tang costumes, with indifferent faces. Looking around, the old, rigid, and cold atmosphere shrouded the house. This is the Hong Kong pawnshop that "absolutely protects privacy", "do not enter if you are not pawning," A pawnshop in Hong Kong that has remained unchanged for a century.
Pawnbroking is an industry that provides capital turnover to people who mortgage personal belongings (except real estate). Generally, borrow money at a discount based on the actual value of the collateral and redeem it at a scheduled date. 
People who engage in pawns are called pawn merchants, and the locations where they engage in pawns are generally called "當[dong3]鋪[pou2]", "押[ad3]店[dim3]" or "典[din2]當[dong3]行[hong4]". They were also called "er uncles" in Guangdong and Hong Kong. The industry is generally divided into pawn, pawn, Press and bet four types, the term "pawn" is derived from these four types of pawn and pawn.
How many pawnshops are there in Hong Kong, and how are the new and old pawnshops different? 
The pawnbroking business in Hong Kong has almost been established since the opening of the port. The first legal pawnshop was established in 1926. In the vicinity of West Water Street, the British Hong Kong government only began to promulgate pawn laws in 1926.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, the Japanese army occupied Hong Kong and the pawnbroking industry in Hong Kong was affected. Many pawnshops were closed. To revive the economy after war in 1945, the British colonial rulers helped the pawnbroking industry to flourish. In 1947, the Hong Kong & Kowloon Pawnbrokers Association Limited was set up.
Help people overcome difficulties
"This is a good thing that you have never entered a pawnshop, it means that your life is going well, no turnover is needed, everything is fine.”. Pawnbroking is an ancient industry. In the old days, life in Hong Kong was difficult. Many people couldn't afford their meals, and then they started pawnshops to help people to meet their urgent needs. Today, people’s quality of life has improved. Most people who come to pawnshops to pay off gambling debts and borrow money to relieve difficulties.
There are 24 hour express approvals from banks everywhere, so the value of pawnshops is naturally getting diminished. However, it is hard to compare with the bank, or it is more humane. Sometimes they try to give as high a rate as possible when they see regular customers or someone in need.

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Photo Reference:
1) Vanessa Leung (http://uskhongkong.blogspot.com/2015/08/tung-tak-pawn-shop.html)
2) https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/80%E5%B9%B4%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2%E7%9A%84%E7%81%A3%E4%BB%94%E5%9C%B0%E6%A8%99-%E5%90%8C%E5%BE%B7%E5%A4%A7%E6%8A%BC/
3) Ceeseven (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demolished_Tung_Tak_Pawn_Shop.JPG#filehistory)