Hong Kong was once world famous for its neon-light shop signs but many old masters took their secrets to the grave -- now a generation of tech-savvy, globally connected young artists are trying to keep the trade alive: @AFP

https://t.co/FOcniqH52m

The trade has long been dominated by masters -- "si fu" in Cantonese -- who guarded their knowledge even as neon gave way to cheaper, more efficient LED lights and city officials began clamping down on unsafe hoardings. https://t.co/IoGebez3eG

"The si fu will not pass on all the knowledge, especially if there are no guidelines or manuals, they will only pass on their skills to their own descendants," Karen Chan, better known by her professional artistic name Chankalun, told @AFP. https://t.co/01gcriwbZl

Undeterred, Chan turned to the internet and travelled to places such as Amsterdam and New York to learn from artists there. There she discovered a global community of neon fans and professionals willing to trade tips.

And she eventually persuaded a si fu to take her on. https://t.co/2vNCGAXDuh

Lovely reporting by @CeliaCzl and @pparkspix