Analog fans turn back digital clock

And the city's bookstores are often crammed with readers, young and old, despite the multitude of downloadable e-books.

Vinyl fan Alvin says he prefers physical books to e-readers.

"A lot of people, even my friends, still love the feeling of holding a physical book and reading it. It just feels more real."

Decades-old store signs, antique radios and old cinema chairs are just some of the items crammed into 34-year-old Lai Chunfai's small store in Prince Edward, a vintage aesthetic which is not yet mainstream in HongKong.

"I just feel that the design of older items is more interesting than modern objects," Lai says .

While it may look like a vintage treasure trove, the only things for sale are the analogue cameras, Lai's speciality - hence the name: Classic Camera Shop.

"I wanted to display older cameras that not many others have seen in Hong Kong," said Lai, who first started selling old Leica models.

Shooting on film is a happier, more memorable experience, he says, and one that is luring some youngsters.

"They have told me they remember the moment when they take the photo on film. As a result, they don't really look at the photos they took with their smartphones any more," says Lai.