The preservation and conservation of historical sites in Hong Kong indeed contribute to the disappearance of the traditional and colonial history in Hong Kong. Most architectures in Hong Kong protect and also revitalize in a way that the building is given a chance to be more lucrative. Hardly do they perform the exact same function before any preserving and conserving work. There are no physical demolition of the architecture but the history and memory. For instance, the 1881 Heritage, the former headquarter of the Hong Kong Marine Police in the 1980s and 1990s. It had turned into a glamorous, luxurious and high-end shopping mall and hotel. The historical hall within numbers of stores becomes the only connection of the architecture itself to its unique history. However, rarely do the pulling down of historical sites can be excluded for urban development, for economic or social purposes. The torn down of old buildings in order to provide more housing flat for people is not surprising at all. Therefore, it is extremely important of how to actually conserve and preserve the building tangibly and the history intangibly. Film industry takes an important role to play. The meaningful and traditional architecture can be the spatial character which is important and related to the plot of the story. The history, memory and actual site cannot be vanished easily while stored and reminisced in any time and place.
Name: Li Oi Man
UID: 3035863954
Appreciate your reflection on the two sides of disappearance – preservation and demolition. Indeed, the role of film can be especially crucial to how we continue to experience our ever changing cities when presenting and re-creating places that no longer exist.