In the article, Abbas focuses on the disappearance of Hong Kong architecture and behind it the disappearance of local culture. Disappearance, which can be particularly defined for Hong Kong architectures as a displacement of attention from the sometimes conflictual colonial history of Hong Kong to the harmonious accommodation of Chinese culture in colonial architecture in this article, can be considered as arising from Hong Kong’s colonial history and the cultural and political mood in 1997. The author deliberately raised the topic of architectural preservation, whose use brings about the disappearance of local history though it has its legitimate use, examples as the preservation of Hongkong cultural center, flagstaff house and repulse bay hotel. All these materials demonstrate that although architectural preservation is always selective, it should relatively pay more attention to “merely-local architecture” and local culture in the interest of protecting and enhancing local cultural identity.
Name: Liu Fanyu
UID: 3035534397
A good attempt at summarizing Abbas’ critical argument, especially for including the examples he used as supporting ideas for your reflection!