Architectures and Hong Kong’s Identity

Architectures are often considered as the visual representation of a city’s identity. However this would not be the case of Hong Kong. In the text “Building on disappearance Hong Kong architecture and colonial space” written by Ackbar Abbas argues that the accommodation of political and economic factors has resulting the rapid changing city unable to reveal its identity. Despite, the preservation of Hong Kong’s architectures, that is “selective and tends to exclude the dirt and pain” (Abba, Building on Disappearance, p. 66) causes the architectures or urban spaces in Hong Kong could not speak for its city.

Preservation greatly covers the city, however, it could not remind people the past. An example is 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui, the former headquarter of marine police, has become one of the most famous Hong Kong’s shopping landmark. Luxurious commercial activities replace the trace from the old days. So, people could only imagine the things might happened before, but would not understand them. This is because emotional link or the evidence of the past could hardly be reminded or found in this space. Therefore, selectively preserving the architecture in Hong Kong, resulting a memory without pain. It could not return Hong Kong people their past memory.

Nowadays, photos and films are the only tools for people to understand the past of the city visually. However, to a very little extent it is successful. This is because famous architectures are often the subject of the film. As a result people could only see one side of the city. In addition, interpretation of the producer is inevitably incorporated into the film. Therefore what is the identity of Hong Kong is raised. Through the text, Abbas reminds us the urgent and importance of self-definition and the preserving cultural history, in which otherwise the architectures in Hong Kong would lost its language for its city.

Lau Tsz Chiu (3035445027)