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next to Lush on Cochrane Street. “The name [Parenthéses] means
“Street painting allows me, a for- a bracket, or a bubble, that separates
eigner who does not speak Cantonese, you from the busy and noisy streets.
to connect with the local Chinese,” she You are not in Hong Kong, but in
says. a small world that is a bit of France.
I Cannot for 13 years and she plans to stay on. we usually have a French radio play-
Jeandedieu has been in Hong Kong Everybody here speaks French, and

“I am not ready to leave Hong Kong. ing in the background,” she says.
If I have to move elsewhere, I do not ing sessions with French and Chi-
Progin’s bookstore also hosts shar-
know where I could go,” she says.
Leave This City An Unwavering Commitment nese writers ever so often, providing
a space for Hong Kong’s French resi-
Just like Jeandedieu, Madeline dents to learn and socialise.
Progin, who owns a French book-
shop in Central, thinks Hong Kong’s
While more French people leave Hong Kong during the unique mix of nature and urban sky-
pandemic, some are determined to stay in scrapers makes it a great place to live.
But now at 68, she has been de-
their adopted home.
bating her future in Hong Kong after
having already lived here for over 40
years.
“I am nearing the age of retirement
By Gabriella Lynn and I think I should go back [to Swit-
zerland], but I cannot leave this place.
The bookshop is a commitment and
Hong Kong is a city you get attached
to,” she says. For now, Progin decides
to stay, continuing to watch over the
shop.

“ Madeline Progin puts up

Street painting photos of famous French writ-
allows me, a ers and actors who attended
sharing sessions on a book-

foreigner who does shelf. The bookstore now sel-
dom holds events due to the
not speak Canton- pandemic.

“Being here for more than 30 years,
have been here for more than a dec- ese, to connect with the bookshop creates a link between
ade. Everybody finds something they the local Chinese. France and Hong Kong,” she adds.
like about the city,” she adds. More people start to explore with-
Now 38, Jeandedieu is a well- ” in Hong Kong and visit the bookshop
known mural artist in Hong Kong. due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Many of her brightly coloured wall Many French parents brought their
paintings, featuring big smiling fac- A French Social Hub children to the shop to read and relax
es, can be seen around the streets of The bookstore, called Parenthéses, in the past two summers, although
Hong Kong Island, such as outside is a social hub for the French and oth- customer traffic was usually low dur-
Bedu Restaurant on Gough Street and er French-speaking people. ing summer vacations.