{"product_id":"hk313g-m","title":"HK313(G\/M) - The Letter Writer Set (Gloss \/ Matt) | King \u0026 Country","description":"\u003ch3 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHK313(G\/M) – The Letter Writer Set (Gloss \/ Matt) | King \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHK313(G\/M) “The Letter Writer Set”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a charming addition to King \u0026amp; Country’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStreets of Old Hong Kong\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e collection, depicting a service once commonly found along the busy streets of the colony.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe set portrays a mother and her young son seated beside a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eprofessional letter writer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring the late 19th and early 20th centuries, literacy was not universal among Hong Kong’s working families. At the same time, many households maintained close family connections with older relatives living in mainland China.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor people unable to read or write confidently themselves, professional letter writers provided an important service. They helped ordinary families put their thoughts and news onto paper so that contact could be maintained with relatives living far away.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese men became a familiar part of Hong Kong street life, combining practical assistance with an important social role within the local community.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs Hong Kong became more prosperous and access to free education expanded, levels of literacy improved dramatically and demand for professional letter writers gradually declined.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEven so, King \u0026amp; Country notes that some letter writers could still be found working on the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStreets of Old Hong Kong into the late 1930s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAvailable in both \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGloss and Matt finishes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, HK313 is a wonderfully atmospheric civilian set that brings another aspect of everyday Hong Kong life to a collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWill be available from The Military Workshop.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"King \u0026 Country","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52989078208794,"sku":"HK313(G\/M)","price":252.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/0154\/0890\/files\/HK313_1.jpg?v=1790932213","url":"https:\/\/themilitaryworkshop.com\/products\/hk313g-m","provider":"The Military Workshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}