Efforts to save Hong Kong’s disappearing neon signs

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. heritage / ˈhɛr ɪ tɪdʒ / (n.) – the important traditions, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history and culture of a country, society, or group
    Example:

    The students went to the national museum to learn more about their country’s heritage.


  2. nostalgia / nɒˈstæl dʒə / (n.) – the feeling of longing and affection when remembering something good from the past and wishing it hadn't changed
    Example:

    She experienced nostalgia while looking at old family pictures.


  3. streetscape / ˈstritˌskeɪp / (n.) – the visual appearance of the streets in a city or town
    Example:

    The city’s streetscape features a mix of historic buildings and modern architecture.


  4. recede / rɪˈsid / (v.) – to become lower, lesser, or smaller in value
    Example:

    As the economy is down right now, job opportunities have also started receding across the country.


  5. bureaucracy / byʊˈrɒk rə si / (n.) – a complex official system that makes it difficult to get something done because it has many confusing and annoying rules, processes, etc., to follow
    Example:

    The bureaucracy in government offices is the main reason for many delays.


Article

Read the text below.

The lights are turning off in Hong Kong. The once spectacular neon hustle and bustle is now much reduced.


Safety and regulations mean many shops and businesses have taken down the brilliant signboards that used to hang right over the heads of the crowds on the streets.


Some local enthusiasts are trying to find ways to preserve this unique part of Hong Kong’s urban heritage.


Cardin Chan, General Manager of Tetra Neon Exchange, a one-person NGO founded in 2020 with private funding, has been collecting some of the city’s abandoned neon signs given up by businesses over the years.


Now it is keeping over 70 signs at its open-air storage space in a rural spot close to the border with mainland China.


According to Tetra Neon Exchange’s survey, there are fewer than 500 outdoor protruding neon signs left across the city. “Neon is not only signboards. It could be art and craft. And then, at the same time, it gives Hong Kong identity and visual identity as well,” says Chan.


Chan has been organizing exhibitions using some of the collected neon signs to help people understand and discover the city’s neon signs’ history and culture.


“Eventually, we hope that we will be able to have, like an area or street space we will be able to […] put back some of these signs so people would know, not to just to have this kind of like nostalgia, but also really having a second chance for them to see the neon streetscapes that we used to have.”


The main reason the neon environment is receding is safety. New safety rules were introduced in the 2010s to prevent old decaying signs from posing a danger to pedestrians. Since then, owners of signboards and neon signs have been obliged to remove old installations, follow the new rules, and renew safety registrations regularly.


Many businesses have chosen to give up the signs, in order to avoid costs and bureaucracy.


The neon environment is now much less than before, but it still retains a few outstanding examples of street art that used to symbolize the heart of Hong Kong’s commercial success.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • How important do you think it is for a city to preserve elements of its past, such as neon signs, for nostalgic reasons? Discuss.
  • According to the article, there are efforts to create areas or street spaces where historical neon signs can be reinstalled to help people appreciate Hong Kong’s urban heritage. Do you think creating areas or street spaces specifically to showcase historical neon signs is a good idea? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • What are some other examples of urban heritage that you think are worth preserving in cities around the world? Discuss.
  • What’s your favorite example of street art in your community? How does it reflect the culture and history of your area? Discuss.