Big, bright colorful, neon advertising signs used to be a distinguishing characteristic of Hong Kong. Anchored to the outside walls of commercial building, they extend across the sidewalk, and even across the street, hanging precariously over pedestrians and passing traffic alike.
They used to advertise famous brands of electronics and appliances, cameras, Chinese restaurants, congee shops, bars, tailors, luxury clothing stores, department stores, jewellery stores, night clubs, massage palours, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacies, prawn shops, …, anything and everything.
They fill every street, big and small.
Often they stay in place even after the business had already gone out of business. Perhaps nobody bother to take them down. Or maintain them even when the business is still in business.
They can become a nuisance or even safety hazard. Hence there are legitimate reason for removing them.
But there must also be ways to keep them, and keep them safe. It will take some effort. But if there is a will, there is a way. Multiple ways, perhaps.
Many people in Hong Kong, and many tourists, would probably feel these signs are worth keeping around.
Sadly, the people with the authority do not seem to think so.
Today, you are lucky to find more than a few of them on anyone street. Even then, practically all of them are small, and do not extend beyond the pedestrian sidewalk. One of such streets is Portland Street in Mongkok.
Such is the fate of many distinctive characteristics of Hong Kong. Many of them have developed organically. There was always a reason why they have developed. Perhaps there wasn’t a conscious plan. But there is always a reason, or multiple reasons. And gradually, they become a phenomenon.
Sadly, someone in authority found a reason to not like them. Hence they have to go. Perhaps they can use the space for another purpose. Perhaps the phenomenon has deteriorated. Instead of fixing the problem, which may require thinking and effort, people with the authority find it easier to just remove the phenomenon. Soon, they realise that Hong Kong has fewer and fewer attractions to attract the tourists. Then they frantically create new ones, or make (often) inferior, gaudy copies of what they have destroyed.
Then repeat, and repeat, …
