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Video Essay: Crisis City: Mong Kok
Theme, subject, the setting/places, and components
The central idea conveyed in the video is the depiction of Mong Kok’s crisis amidst the challenges of a post-pandemic era. The focus of this video is the vanishing retail shops in this renowned district. For a long time, Mong Kok has served as a beloved shopping hub for tourists, characterized by its bustling markets, shopping malls, quaint stores, and multi-level buildings encompassing shops, basements, underground areas, and residences above (World Press, 2013).
However, Mong Kok was hit hard by the pandemic due to its reliance on retail. Over 25% of the retail stores were closed in HK and some of them were gone permanently (Reuters, 2020). The retail market in HK has not recovered even until today. HK’s U Select, the third-largest supermarket chain, has nearly halved its network in under a year due to economic headwinds and residents opting for cheaper shopping across the border (Zhao, 2024). In the first quarter of 2024, the number of deregistered companies surpassed 20,000, marking a significant increase of over 70% compared to the corresponding period in the previous year (Wong, 2024). The Tourism Board observed a significant decline of nearly 39% in mainland visitors in 2023, in comparison to the pre-pandemic year. These visitors are increasingly opting to travel to Shenzhen for superior food and entertainment experiences, with better prices and services (Arcibal, 2024). According to government data, the future prospects for Mong Kok in 2024 appear bleak. It is projected that by the end of the year, over 2,000 retail shops may face closure (Chan, 2023).
This video wants to explore if retail will come back in Mong Kok. The objective of this video is to investigate the potential revival of retail in Mong Kok. Canton Road in Mong Kok was chosen as the filming location due to its localized and representative nature. This lengthy street is lined with a diverse range of retail shops, including hardware stores and clothing stores. I initially focused on hardware stores and then proceeded to explore clothing stores within the wet market. The reason for selecting these two types of stores was the unique layout and design they offered. Hardware stores, constrained by limited real estate, showcased tightly packed items, requiring careful observation to find specific items, often with a uniform color scheme. In the case of clothing stores within the wet market, I was intrigued by the vibrant green stalls used for their operations. To comprehensively analyze their businesses, I captured both the interiors and exteriors of these stores on film.
The method of conducting the research and producing the video
The research methodology employed for this video primarily involved online research and conducting in-person interviews. As mentioned earlier, Hong Kong is currently undergoing an economic downturn, necessitating online research to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Mong Kok. Interviews served as another avenue for gathering information. However, both store owners I interviewed expressed discomfort with being featured in the video. Consequently, I can only provide an interpretation of the information they shared.
The owner of the hardware store conveyed the difficulties of conducting business in Mong Kok, citing rising rents despite stagnant business volumes post-pandemic. The second store owner I interviewed mentioned that their business has been struggling due to competition from mainland retailers and online shopping platforms like Tao Bao. The rise of comparative advantages from mainland China suggests that retail shopping may no longer remain a key pillar of Hong Kong’s economy in the future.
In terms of video production, the camera angle was set at approximately eye level to provide a perspective that combines both the viewpoint of a journalist and that of a shopper while examining retail in Mong Kok. To begin the video, I incorporated unique sounds from Hong Kong, including the MTR broadcasting sound, the station exit signal, and the traffic light sounds, aiming to accentuate the distinct characteristics of the city. Following that, I introduced the focal point of my exploration: the future of retail in Mong Kok. The video is divided into three distinct layers. The first layer provides an overview of Canton Road, showcasing its atmosphere. The second layer focuses on the interiors of the two stores that I interviewed. Lastly, the video captures the scene of the interviewed stores closing at night. The two stores that I interviewed operate in the clothing and hardware industry. I believe the two owners I interviewed are representatives of many store owners in Mong Kok. They face similar struggles under this economic background and it is hard to see any hope for them under the current trajectory.Additionally, I dedicated a portion of the video to filming the scenes of store closures, as it allowed me to emphasize the profound impact of the pandemic. The decision to showcase these closures was driven by the intention to shed light on a significant shift in Hong Kong’s retail landscape. Nowadays, stores in the city tend to close earlier than they did in the past, which has had a tangible effect on the vibrancy of its nightlife. This change not only signals a shift in the city’s atmosphere but also amplifies the pressures faced by its inhabitants. The reduced operating hours not only dampen the energy and liveliness of the city but also add to the mounting challenges experienced by its residents, creating a palpable sense of strain and heightened pressure. At the end of the video, I came to the conclusion that I am not optimistic about the future of retail in Mong Kok due to the shift of economic structure.
Citation
Arcibal, C. (2024, April 22). More pain for retailers as shoppers spend in Shenzhen, slowing Hong Kong recovery. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3259930/more-pain-ahead-hong-kong-retailers-residents-flock-shenzhen-cheaper-goods-slowing-recovery
Chan, A. J. (2023, December 6). 2024 retail outlook by HKRMA. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-retail-outlook-hkrma-ana-j-chan-dbjhc/
Khairi. (2013, February 12). Mong Kok/mongkok. A beginner’s guide to Hong Kong. https://hktravel360.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/mongkok/
Reuters Reuters | Breaking International News & Views. (n.d.). https://www.reuters.com/
Yahoo! (n.d.). Hong Kong shops shut amid post pandemic downturn. Yahoo! News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-shops-shut-amid-123350658.html
Zhao, S. (n.d.). Bloomberg.com.
Name: Gao Yinghong
UID: 3036275297
Hello, Yinghong. I think your video essay is very attractive and wonderful.
First of all, the theme you choose is unique, showing your different thoughts about this city. Your opinion and your creativity touched me well, driving me to ponder the crisis of the city.
Your text and narration shows clearly of what you want to express, the contents were organized in an orderly way, showing the external appearance of Mong Kok, and its major features and also the motivation that stimulates you to talk from this aspect.
What’s more, the whole video is very watchable. You have successfully represented the view and architecture in Mong Kok by using some photographic skills such as panning, rotating, perspective switching to record many angles of your object.
I really like your video essay and I’m eager to learn from you as soon as I have done my viewing.
Zhang Yifan 3036127385