Hong Kong’s distinctive signboards are being demolished one by one. The neon signboard “Nanchang Pawn” of the famous landmark “Bat Mouse Hanging Money” in Sham Shui Po was ordered to be demolished before mid-February for violating the Buildings Ordinance.
It is rumored on the Internet that the signboard will be demolished by the end of this month, but as seen this afternoon (31st), the scaffolding has not been erected on site, and the shop assistant is not sure about the exact date.
But it was not dark yet, and many people on the street had already tried their own methods to keep the neon sign.
Some people sketch on the spot, some bring a digital camera to shoot, and some wedding photographers bring an antique camera to take pictures, and record the passing scene with a large film.
The government notified Nanchang on January 12 that it must remove the signboard within 30 days
Nanchang Yat takes root in Nanchang Street 117th Street. It was opened by Gao Kening, a Hong Kong and Macau industrialist known as the "Pawnbroker King".
The Tourism Board also stated on its website that Nanchang Pawnshop carries the glorious historical memory of the pawnbroking industry.
However, the government issued a notice to "Nanchang Ya" on January 12, pointing out that the signboard had violated the "Buildings Ordinance", ordering the signboard to be removed within 30 days and all works completed within 60 days.
It was rumored on the Internet that the signboard will be demolished at the end of the month. The reporter went to the scene this afternoon and found no scaffolding, and found that the notice posted outside the door had been torn up. The clerk said that there was no demolition work today, and he did not know the exact demolition date.
The notice posted outside the door has been torn.
(Photo by Ouyang Dehao)
"Post-00s" young people lamented that the characteristic purchases of the last century were rare
About 10 citizens on the street were already waiting at the scene, and even a wedding photographer took pictures with an antique camera with a history of half a century.
Mr. Yang felt sorry for the signboards, so he took advantage of today’s holiday to take photos at the “Shangzai”, the hawker market on Qinzhou Street, which was closed at the same sunset, and then went to Nanchang Street to take photos of Nanchang’s neon signboards.
He laughed and said that due to the huge size of the film used, he only brought eight films, so each photo must be taken carefully.
As for another photographer, Mr. Liang, after learning the news on IG, he also made a special trip from Tuen Mun to Sham Shui Po just to take a picture of the last figure of the signboard, and planned to stay until the moment when the lights were lit at night.
He said that as a "post-00s", his impression of Hong Kong is the night view of Victoria Harbour, the "Pearl of the Orient" and neon lights, so it is a pity that the characteristics of the past have disappeared one by one.
"It's a pity that it's for sure. Neon lights are bought and rare, but no one will come to see them if they don't take them apart."
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Residents are puzzled by the government's emphasis on tourism but the demolition of cultural relics
Ms. Kwok, a quick-drawing enthusiast, had left a painting for the signboard of Leong Tim Knife Factory. Today, before dark, she made a special trip from Hong Kong Island to Sham Shui Po to record the history of Hong Kong.
She described Hong Kong as a strange city, and she wondered why the government attached great importance to the development of tourism, but neglected historical and cultural monuments, criticizing the policy as very contradictory.
She lamented that Hong Kong only focused on economic development, and after losing valuable things, it built imitation new tourist attractions, such as Xitie Street.
She thinks there is no need to dismantle the "Nanchang Ya" neon sign, "It is not old, does not block traffic, and has historical value. How can someone dismantle it?"
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