Through the tutorial discussion we explored Ackbar Abbas’ report on “Building on Disappearance: Hong Kong” and how it introduces to readers the concept of a disappearance of history through Hong Kong’s efforts of preservation of its built environment and how it interplays with the one of the three categories of Hong Kong architecture “Merely Local”. Abbas’ direct perspective on how preservation does not directly correlate to memories was an idea that I found personally interesting. Preservation is selective in Hong Kong because the structure being preserved is usually repurposed or has an imposed new intention behind it which is usually a narrative. A great example brought up was the Flagstaff house, a colonial-style building the headquarters of the British military, was repurposed as a display Chinese tea-ware. Through this re-appropriation it drives an ironic narrative which neglects the negatives of colonisation in Hong Kong.
3035711933 Chun Yan Oscar Wong
Great to see that you are reflecting personally with Abbas’ critical commentary on preservation.