2023-11-14 00:36:16
Neon signs are one of the most representative features of Hong Kong. (Picture/Photo taken from Weibo/Sky Fungus)
One of Hong Kong’s most distinctive features, neon signs, have always been everyone’s impression of Hong Kong. Nowadays, due to safety issues, the signboards are gradually disappearing. Recently, some netizens took pictures of trucks carrying away signboards, including the “Meidu Restaurant” and the “Nanchang Pawn Shop” which was officially demolished in May. ”.
Some netizens posted several pictures on Weibo, one of which was of two trucks loaded with neon signs. Although some netizens believed that these were fake pictures generated by AI, many Hong Kong people still felt quite regretful regarding the removal of the signs. , “Hong Kong has been completely ruined”, “It is also a scenery, it is a pity”, “Isn’t this the characteristic of Hong Kong? It would be boring to demolish it” and so on.
In Hong Kong, due to the revision of the Building Ordinance by the Hong Kong government in recent years, neon signs with safety concerns have been demolished or renovated in large numbers. In just five years, 16,000 neon signs have been demolished. However, this is not only one of the most representative features of Hong Kong, but also a common memory among locals and tourists. It is also an important way for the world to understand Hong Kong.
Neon signs can be traced back to the year 2000, when they evolved from durable and cheap quality to later being all handmade by masters. Neon signs are composed of 99.5% neon and 0.5% argon. They are usually used for or signboards. Common signboards in Hong Kong have three installation methods: extending from the building, building exterior walls, and storefronts. The large number of neon lights in Hong Kong has become one of Hong Kong’s characteristics. Many foreign movies have even shot scenes in Hong Kong specifically for this reason.
In May this year (2023), the neon sign of the landmark “Nanchang Pawn Shop” in Sham Shui Po has been officially removed, attracting many people to take photos on the last night. After the legalization of pawnshops in Hong Kong in 1926, the industry expanded rapidly. Mr. Gao, the owner of the pawnshop, believes that neon lights have always been connected with Hong Kong. His appearance in Hong Kong dramas in the 1960s and 1970s is absolutely an indispensable part.
In addition, the “Meitu Restaurant” sign in Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei was officially demolished on November 9. The last light on the 8th also symbolized the completion of his 58-year mission. Meidu Restaurant has been in business for 73 years. Due to its old-style restaurant design, it has always been a popular spot and many TV series and movies have been filmed here.
In the face of the gradual demolition of neon signs, local sign protection groups are lobbying hard to preserve the visual history of Hong Kong’s neon city as much as possible. They also save various old signs in open-air warehouses in the suburbs and carefully maintain them, hoping that one day they can be restored. Display them in a museum. However, due to lack of funds at present, they prefer to keep the signboard in its original location and retain Hong Kong’s unique characteristics.
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