Shoppers select Lunar New Year decorations and red packets amid a sea of festive ornaments at Tai Kiu market in Yuen Long on January 28. Photo: Dickson Lee
Opinion
John Hanzhang Ye
John Hanzhang Ye
For Hong Kong to go global, it could start by valuing the local
The budget speech underlined the government’s commitment to promoting the city globally, but the focus on mega events might be misguided
Local culture – from neon signs to tong lau – could serve as the city’s calling card, but it needs to be proactively preserved with a cross-departmental approach
Over the past few months, the Hong Kong government has been busy promoting the city to the world. Although the last mega event – a match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong XI that brought football superstar Lionel Messi to Hong Kong – disappointed many, the city will continue to host large-scale events from Art Basel to LIV Golf.
In addition, in his budget speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced that the government will hold pyrotechnic and drone shows against backdrop Victoria Harbour at night every month, reportedly at a cost of HK$1 million a show. However, the industry is sceptical about the idea’s effectiveness. Sara Leung, chair of the Hong Kong Tourism Industry Employees General Union, said the plan would not attract visitors from overseas, and would make fireworks less novel in the long run.
Hosting large-scale events and fireworks displays will not sustain the city’s brand worldwide. They show Hong Kong has the infrastructure to host tourists, but not the city’s overall attractiveness.
The government surely realises that tourists, in particular mainland tourists, are interested in more than skyscrapers and shopping malls. According to the budget speech, the Tourism Board will promote in-depth experiences with themes like city walks. However, the city needs to have interesting places to walk through for this idea to work.
The budget speech highlighted the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival and Design District Hong Kong, great opportunities to connect international events with the local cultural and natural landscape. Hong Kong has much to be explored, preserved and promoted.
Unfortunately, the city has lost many of the unique cultural and material resources that could have interested tourists. If the government does not take action, more will be lost.
An example is the disappearance of our neon-drenched streets. For years, Hong Kong was known for its vibrant nightlife, symbolised by the neon signs that have inspired filmmakers and artists. However, around a decade ago, for safety reasons, the authorities issued new regulations on the installation and maintenance of neon signs.
A number of signs were taken down. With the lack of financial support for maintaining them, increasing use of LED signs and the decline of the neon sign-making industry, neon has faded away from the streets. Although NGOs are now working to preserve the signs, the unique landscape is increasingly becoming a thing of the past.
The art of making these sign is also under threat; there are only seven to eight neon-sign masters left in the city. Neon-light making could have been a precious cultural resource for Hong Kong’s tourism sector if the government had been proactive earlier.
09:56
How Hong Kong lost its neon glow
How Hong Kong lost its neon glow
The government rarely seems to think about cultural legacy, focusing instead on high-end activities such as art fairs and large-scale fireworks. However, it is local cultural heritage that is the city’s calling card and which can sustain its reputation.
The same is happening with Hong Kong’s material cultural legacy. The government announced plans to host city walks, yet our distinctive landscape is disappearing. Late last year, the government confirmed that Choi Hung Estate, well known for its rainbow-hued facade, would be redeveloped. While this is good news from the point of view of improving the living environment for the estate’s residents, from a conservation standpoint, it is worrying as in the past the redevelopment of such estates has meant destroying and rebuilding.
There seems to be a lack of a comprehensive development plan. On the one hand, the Tourism Board is promoting the city using these disappearing cultural and material resources. On the other hand, other departments are issuing regulations and making plans to remove them. The government needs to first be clear about what image of Hong Kong it wants to project.
The city does need development, and government departments are working to improve housing conditions and public safety. But this does not have to come at the cost of what makes the city unique.
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Singapore did not get rid of all shophouses for urban development, recognising that they showcase the city state’s rich history and cultural diversity. In Hong Kong, though, it is harder and harder to spot a tong lau on streets dominated by modern skyscrapers and chain stores.
For Hong Kong to regain its place on the international stage, the government should pay more attention to local resources that set the city apart.
John Hanzhang Ye is a PhD student in science and technology history at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and also holds an MPhil degree in sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong
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