Day 20: A Different View

One of the most beautiful things about Hong Kong is its mix of old-and-new. I’ve always commented on the fact that this is one of the few places in the world where a broken down “dai-pai-dong” (roadside restaurant shack) can stand next to a pristine five-star hotel and still look like it actually belongs there. I could even go as far as to say that it is the mix of old vs. new that really givers the city its charm, yet it’s a shame that the government does not see it as such. It is an even bigger shame that they are quite adamant in destroying what little heritage landmarks we have left here in order to make room for more steel and glass towers that lack personality and serve as nothing more than dull office spaces that squeeze the life out of people and convert them into living zombies.

I have had major issues with the Urban Renewal Authority here. When I found out that they had a hand in projects that involved the replacement of iconic Victorian architecture (e.g. City Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre), it didn’t really bother me that much, perhaps because this had been years before I had come to the city…though it did hurt a little to see Hong Kong lose part of its heritage. But having lived here for 12 years and becoming so familiar with the environment, I have now started to feel a sharp twinge of pain every time I hear the name of the authority that claims to want to bring Hong Kong into the future. However, I honestly believe that sometimes it seems that they’re simply out to destroy our colonial history. Wouldn’t be surprised.

Just over the last two years or so for example, they have managed to destroy the Central Star Ferry Pier, Queen’s Pier, Wedding Card Street and many more. They have also threatened to get rid of the Victoria Prison and Central Police Station, the Blue House, and some others that I can’t think of from the top of my head. What I don’t understand is that if this is supposed to be a leading city, shouldn’t they be able to hire “leading” city planners and designers and decorators to maintain our city heritage? Does everything need to look like a stone or glass block? Take the Cultural Centre for instance…what’s the point in that building? The Victorian railway station that stood there was about the same size and would have served as a fantastic cultural centre with a little bit of remodelling inside, instead of building that dungeonesque boomerang building of roughly the same size. The Queen’s Pier also did not need to be torn apart for a bypass to be built – the bypass could be constructed around it. Easy. Pricey, but easy. But then the government doesn’t care about anything more than how to make more dough anyway…

I’m sure many people would say that I’m being naïve and that progress is inevitable, change is good, land is expensive in Hong Kong, blah blah blah. Is it really worth it in the end to lose your history though? Is it so wrong to preserve the few monuments that watched, if not took part in making the city what it has become today?

Macau has gotten it right...and notice how the Macanese are so much more patriotic towards their city? Because they understand it and appreciate it; because their history isn’t torn away from them.

Anyway, these two photos below are from Wan Chai. The photo to the left is the Urban Renewal Authority’s way of justifying the destruction of Wedding Card Street. The words “stylish, hip, trendy, chic, grand, modern” are plastered all over the street now. Modern my foot… the towers will look like most every other behind-the-skyline towers in Hong Kong – bland. But then bland is chic apparently… the other photo is part of a kids’ mural near Wedding Card Street. This part is focusing on the demon (Urban Renewal folk) destroying the homes on the street. Kids are smart. We should listen to them more.

Today's Flickr Uploads: Blue and Green Cheung Chau