Abbas explores the identity of Hong Kong at a crucial turning point in the city’s history and politics, when its awareness of its place in the modern world grew. The author points out the difficulty in drawing out a true identity of this complex urban environment through broad categorization of building types and other factors that contribute to the identity of being borne on disappearances – disappearance of history and context.
Now again Hong Kong recognizes the immediate threat of erasure, once again desperately grasping at straws in order to salvage itself from the landslide away from independence. While the struggle occurs, this text reminds us once again that the people might consider slowing down and settling upon a solid identity, in spite of the pace of everything. Perhaps through finding a way of filming Hong Kong might one catch a part of its identity.
Lau Cin Man Anais 3035695438
Excellently articulated and thoughtful reflection on Abbas’ critical commentary on disappearance. Well done