“Hong Kong is my first home.”

“Everything happened by chance—a series of coincidences,” says Ahmad, the owner of Buraq Enterprises Co, with a calm smile.

His life was never about careful planning. He originally came to Hong Kong simply as a tourist. He jokes that his first impression was that “every street looked exactly the same,” but he slowly fell in love with the city. After getting married, he chose to stay and build his life here. Now a father of a son and a daughter, he says with total contentment: “Hong Kong gave me beautiful children.”

Ahmad was in his twenties when he first visited Hong Kong, and he immediately felt comfortable and relaxed here. His second holiday took him to Xi’an—a choice he never expected would change his life forever.

“I was visiting the Terracotta Army and happened to end up on the same bus as her. We just said hello,” Ahmad recalls. “Her” is his wife now, who comes from Hong Kong. He is Pakistani, and despite their different backgrounds, they began chatting in English on that bus. That chance meeting started their future together. “Now, we are a family of four,” Ahmad says, describing this major life change with modest simplicity.

After marrying, the couple chose to make Hong Kong their permanent home. To build a life from nothing, Ahmad worked hard in offices, factories, and on construction sites. “It’s tough,” he admits, noting that the high cost of living makes life in Hong Kong difficult. “You have to learn through experience; I did not learn how to survive here in a short period of time.” He believes there are two types of people who can never learn or improve themselves: those who are too shy, and those who never ask questions. “I always ask questions in the beginning, which helps me make fewer mistakes.” Ahmad’s philosophy is to learn from life’s ups and downs.

Eventually, a friend suggested he start a business. Ahmad rented a small shop on the first floor of Chungking Mansions to sell electronics. However, as the mobile phone market changed and competition grew too high, he decided to close the upstairs shop. He moved to a ground-floor unit and started Buraq Enterprises Co. The shop sells Muslim lifestyle products, including headwear, clothing, beauty products, snacks, and traditional sweets. “At that time, there were no grocery stores in Hong Kong specifically for Muslim’s religious needs, so I changed my business to do this.” This smart business mind has kept him in Chungking Mansions for over 20 years. Even though business is slower now, he is glad the shop still makes enough to pay the bills.

“I would like to travel the world for a month if I have this chance,” Ahmad says. As the only worker in his shop, he works every day of the year without holidays. He jokes that he has spent most of his life guarding his shop in Chungking Mansions. When he has free time, he invites friends over to chat. “If the shop is closed, customers might think it has shut down permanentlyand will not come back.” He explains that taking a holiday means losing income while still paying rent. To save money and keep his customers, his dream of travel must wait.

Even so, Ahmad says that whenever he goes away and returns to Hong Kong, the moment he arrives, he always feels: “Now I’m home.” His body and mind relax, and he can rest well. He has visited Europe and Australia, but he still believes Hong Kong is the best place to live in the world. It is safe, has many opportunities, and has no culture shock. “The culture didn’t give us any shock,” he describes. Even when he does his daily prayers, no one disturbs or questions him. “We should all respect each other’s culture.” He mentions that his wife makes traditional turnip cake every Chinese New Year, and he always loves eating it and enjoying the local culture.

“Hong Kong is my first home,” Ahmad says, while Pakistan is now his second home. Everything he owns and loves is here. He is surprised that thirty years have passed so quickly. He realizes he has spent most of his life here, living happily. “Seeing my wife and children happy, sitting down to have a meal together—that is what makes me happiest.”

For Ahmad, happiness is purely coming home after a long day of work to sit down and eat with his family. It sounds simple, but it is a peaceful life that is hard to achieve. “If my family is happy, I am happy,” Ahmad emphasizes.

Interviewed by Carly Chan

Cover Image: BURAQ by Calvin Cheung