How Hong Kong lost its neon glow
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2023
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Neon signs used to be synonymous with Hong Kong’s nightscape, but recent enforcement of government building rules has left the city’s streets mostly devoid of their famous glow. In this episode of Hong Kong Authentic, we look at what is replacing the traditional look of the Pearl of the Orient, and what Hongkongers are doing to preserve the city’s visual culture.
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No switching off Hong Kong’s bright city lights as shops replace old neon signs sc.mp/cdlc
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To make neon signs, you just need to put in strips of LED into the glass and thats it!
I hope the neon signs don’t die. I love the look and is something that just makes the city feel so alive.
Exactly. That is what my Blacksmith said
Do you pay the electricity? You know how expensive is the utilities costs around the world due to Russian invasion on Ukraine 😂
Smell the coffee. 😴👃☕🤭
@@davenobody407 Neon signs are very energy efficient.
Besides, energy cost in HK has gone up only about 5% and is still cheap.
@@aaabbb8777 I am aware Neo lights use 4x more electricity than modern LED, which is also weight much less. Neo lights tube is made of glass; they are very heavy and energy intensive to make.
Hong Kong's neon signs have appeared and inspired many films, anime etc. They are so iconic to Hong Kong that I think when the government asks store owners to take down old neon signs the government should maybe subsidise the cost of new replacement neon signs. That's where new replacements can be safely and securely still be put up. As for the lady collecting and preserving the already removed old neon signs. I think it would be pretty cool if these could be displayed in a neon park or something for tourists and locals to visit.
Erasing anything uniquely Hong Kong, especially cultural symbols like these, is an active goal of the current Hong Kong government.
I will not be surprised if people who are trying to preserve the neon signs are harassed or prosecuted by the authority someday because it is politically incorrect.
Well said!!
Even though the current sets are not actually safe. Then they need to modify it, so that it complies. So if it sticks out like that, then they need to put it in front of their own stores or something. Or on the side. Most roads in all other countries have a clear numbering system, and a clear sign as well. Some are very small. So maybe small signs, which are ergonomic and then are cost effective, is the way to go ? This should be a booster to the commercial sector, get ALL shops or stores to be replaced, and one single company to do this from endto-end. How hard is this ? Not very hard. Japan has done their ages ago... and incorporated it into their own designs.
Those signs might not be correct for an actual outdoor sign, but they could indeed be installed as an art installation, or for the inside of an actual mall or bar, or whatever. Like how Japan has done it. And make it low energy as well etc. Maybe "lower wattages" and make it energy efficient. How hard is it to convert them? Not that hard at all.
czcams.com/video/Vdb1CqZhFuY/video.html
The neon lights are a UNESCO world heritage at this point. It's all anyone outside Hong Kong knows about Hong Kong, just seeing the neon lights brings back the neo noir movies of 80-90's HK.
Thanks for the video interview, especially thanks to the videographer Dan for his few months of hard-work. I do hope more people will raise awareness of the fading Hong Kong neon culture, as well as more people will be dedicated in documenting and preserving the neon sign culture 💪🏼
Miles, your photos are wonderful! Thank you for contributing to capturing "old" Hong Kong which is sadly fast disappearing. I wish you the very best!
Thx for loving my “old” Hong Kong documentary :) The city is changing fast, so I hope to capture as much as I can for this and next generations before the old change to modern >
@@milesyuen7278 how can I watch your docu?
Congratulations for your work, Miles. Greetings from Brazil
@@gemgo22 thanks for loving my work, hello from Hong Kong :)
Every country needs to preserve its culture so that future generations can get an idea about the past
In the Philippines, it has the same situation: Modernizing of Jeepney will sadly, make iconic traditional ones being removed from its road, just like neon signs of Hong Kong, Jeepneys for the Philippines must be modernized, while retaining its original, and ioonic design. Better to take photos of Jeepney on the road, before they evolve into new ones in the coming years.
💛
Exactly and preserve the Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR Culture Since then British Colonial era Times.
Hong Kong is not a country.
No place stays the same forever. They're constantly changing and evolving.
I fell in love for HK partly because of its neon signs. I remember coming to HK as a kid, and the things that got stuck the most in my memory was the iconic neon signs. When i came back in 2016, i went to Mongkok to take some shoots, but i was confused that as it wasn’t the same as in my souvenir. After digging internet a bit, i found out that government were removing little by little. I was very saddened by the news and wish I could turn back in time
i hate the screens, it makes me want to move quick and out of the area, whereas neon lights signs are calm.
Whattt! 😢 I love the neon signs! My gosh, this makes me want to go back to HK even more so I can catch the last few glimpses of them.
don't ... for your sake, don't come to HK
Hong kong's signature street style, while the motive is understandable they will surely be missed. Hope they have documentaries and even pictures placed on buildings where they were removed.
Hong Kong was at one time very popular and nickname Pearl Of Orient.
The old Hong Kong slightly faded, the previous bright neon sign , old junkyard boat faded, and many Hong Kong people left the country migrated in another country.
Now the *new* Hong Kong look different.
*I will miss these sign boards next year when I go back on holiday in HK next year* 😭
I last visited Hong Kong when Kai Tak was still operational, quite an experience I must say. Sadly it was replaced by a new airport off the coast of Lantau island. Now Hong Kong's iconic neon lights will be gone soon? Do something about it Hongkongers, without the past, you'll loose your soul
The city can't stay static, the previous airport was infeasible, especially to the amount of visitors HK receives each year. LEDs are 5-10x more efficient and safer, of course the change has to be made.
@@Lambyyy Yes. So sad, however, this is the sign that Hong Kong is changing. Neon signs will be a thing of past here.
@@Lambyyy Wrong! Neon are similiarly efficient as LED.
@@aaabbb8777 That's just not true though. It takes 2 seconds for you to Google and get the correct result.
Um ... if you don't already know, that's being taken from us. And " ... doing something ... " could result in legal proceedings.
I'm for team LED signs. Its cheaper and easier to maintain. But hoping that all those old neon signs be put in a museum like place and be lighted up. Pretty sure it would attract both locals and tourists.
Don't be ridiculous. You like putting birds in cages?
@@hypnopompicstate9910 yet human just want to be able to own a home and have enough food on the table before talking about dreams. lol.
LEDs hurt to look at. They are too bright and look cheap. Neon has a romantic glow that you can get lost in, and the craftsmanship is far superior. LEDs are like cars from the 90s: cheap mass production and easily forgotten. Neon is like a 50s Cadillac - timeless
@@hypnopompicstate9910and what exactly are you implying with your comment here?
Sure like there's even a choice for the owners to begin with....
When I think of HK and why I would want to go - it’s definitely not because of some sort of high class art museums or other attempts at tourism. It’s this image of neon lights, shouting, beeping and a pretty chaos.
Whatever they are trying to do to bring in more tourists won’t work because the city as it was is dying. It’s economic success is amazing but as Schumpeter said “The stock exchange is a poor substitute for the Holy Grail.” (Everything in the city is being seen through cost/benefit now even so much as social interactions and it’s ruined the vibe and community)
I first visited Hong Kong in 2007 and this is sad to see the neon lights disappearing there is something special and magical seeing the neon light at twighlight and night time
Neon was the signature Status 😢
It makes it special without those it will just be a normal place like others.
Hongkong wont be Honkong Anymore
It definitely still will be the culture is still the same so are the people and the food.It’ll just have a different iconic image
Sadly no.
@Tony L HK is not like a Chinese city at all. HK is very (too) Westernized. I hear English everywhere. Kids speak English better than Cantonese. Most stores are Western-brand. Buildings are all Western-looking. HK food is more like Western food. Most people eat with forks here!
There is more traditional Chinese-culture in America's China Town than in Hong Kong.
@Tony L china cities are poor? You tripping
Thank you for video 😊
I love visual culture city Hongkong❤
It is sad that these neon signs are going away. neon lights are synonymous to hong hongs night life. Was there any accidents from these lights ? I can understand that led and other modern light and display is cheaper. They should have something to subsidize the cost of keeping a safer version of the neon than having to change it entirely. What next ? The start ferry going to a more modern boat?
I miss Hong Kong. Not the current one, the one I was there during my youth....
I visited HK as a child in the early 2000s. Is was unlike anything I've seen, the neon was breathtaking and overwhelming. Although I was a kid and was easily fascinated by new things. I hope to see it again in person some day... somehow...
Such a shame these beautiful neon lights are taken down, i think they play such an iconic role towards the night view of Hong Kong. We really should be preserving these cultural respects which makes Hong Kong so unique. Of course, we shouldn't be neglecting the safety of the people, but i believe the government has the ability to come out with a scheme, to encourage and subsidise business owners to replace existing neon lights, with new ones which abides to the new safety regulations. I'm certain HKers will have no issues with taxes gone towards efforts of preserving our culture, surely its better than the money just sliding into the pockets of government officials.
I love them but I understand why they’re going to change them to LED. Many of them are really old and unsafe especially when the buildings are decades old, even without the signs bit and pieces of the outer wall may fall at anytime. Plus there’re are barely anyone making neon signs anymore. Young people don’t want to take over because it’s hard work and low salary.
All that neon was a familiar and nice sight all the times I visited . It will be missed!
I just came back from Hong Kong. It's a lovely country that for sure I'll visit again. :)
The first thing that I got to see when I arrived was the glory of the Neon signs. Such an iconic image it was. They will be missed.
I miss the June Candlelight display in Victoria Park.
move on
@@misterbig9025
The June candlelight show is our heritage. Why did people want to keep the neon lights?
Wow, these signs were everything to me during my 2016 study abroad in HK. Solidarity w community preservation from Philadelphia.
I lived in Hong Kong for 18 months in the early 1980s. The neon was definitely part of the magic. I also loved the international atmosphere, with folks from all over the world there. And the incredible vibrancy and city views. Great memories ...
Yes and Slowly being Replaced by Chinese Designs with Digital ones instead.
thankyou
That’s what makes Hong Kong special. I remember in the 1950s and early 1960s, the golden period in Hong Kong lit by neon lights, when men were handsome in slick suits and narrow neckties, and women in feminine silk Chinese cheongsam dresses. Very romantic time.
This is honestly a tragedy, cities each day become more and more sterile and boring. The exact opposite mindset that the visionaries who built cities like these had.
I loved the neon signs😢
Love the 80s HK look. Will really miss this if they do disappear.
Change is eternal, we must adapt.
Indeed. Still sad nonetheless.
Totalitarian change, if you don't like what they are taking away, you have the right to defend it. Don't you understand it's totalitarian and unfortunately the afraid fake society accepts it.
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Great story. History in the making.
Hong Kong without its neon signs is like France without the Eiffel tower
Eiffel tower was built by French, not the contrary. What enabled them to it persists.
@@wenyichen5515 Don’t take it seriously they were just trying to make a connection
@@wenyichen5515 what contrary? you think the indoeuropeans would climb on bamboo towers just to make a neon board?
Where can I buy one?
Hardly. You can get mini ones online but they are really expensive.
Neon is now illegal in many places but looking at how vibrant rgb lighting can be in pc cases I’m sure you can get something just as bright and program it to do a multitude of colours and effects in LED.
Where is your soul?
@@hypnopompicstate9910 It’s enjoying LED lighting.
You're comparing it to RGB lighting in a PC case? By saying this I don't think you have seen the unique glow of neon lights in real life and in scale. Comparing LEDs and neons, is like comparing CDs (or digital files) and vinyls. CDs are suppose to be better but there are still many people who appreciate vinyls for the reverb/depth and warmth. A similar logic goes for neon lights. Another thing people are missing is that producing neon lights is also a craft and an art. So it would be a shame to lose that too.
@@jaker3151 The on the fly customizability of pc rgb lighting is superb, you’ve obviously never seen anything of late. Led can produce far more colours have different effects and change all of that in an instant with the right software.
Reminds me an addon on Unity engine.
We know who is to blame 😔
Someone should make a theme park that memorialises these signage!
Sad to see the neon go. Hope they can preserve more of it. Like in Las Vegas we have a Neon Museum that restore and display old signs.
So sad to see that neon sign board will be no more, it is the icon of Hong Kong, without neon lights Hong Kong is not Hong Kong, when I was a little boy (1960's) I knew Hong Kong because of the uniqueness beauty of the neon lights, hopefully the government will encourage the business community to keep up with putting up the new neon lights to preserve the traditional beauty of the city. To encourage them the government should gives them subsidies.
From Malaysia uncle Liew age 70.
Actually can but these retired neon signboards in specialty theme park museum for tourist attraction.
Keep some of them permanently is the answer. They lose all meaning once removed.
That Determental to Tourism of Foreigners From Europe, No longer interested to come to Hong Kong
Hope neon light street will lights up again in Hong Kong
Shanghai 1990s like this too
I always was fascinated with Hong Kong and wanted to visit it. Now I'm sad because the Hong Kong I was so obsessed with no longer exists. What a shame.
Old things die naturally. Think about the once prosperous EU or US cultural life. But anyways new things will be born from the demise of the old.
@@wenyichen5515 Doesn't hurt to maintain some key neons in the name of heritage. Probably pay HK back many times over.
@@wenyichen5515 But "new" doesn't always mean better. There is an old adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it". That applies very much to Hong Kong. It was once a truly thriving, harmonious city with its own unique identity ... but no more.
@@AuditClerk and when an accident happens because of them that causes death and/or destruction, who’ll pay for the lives or damages? People like you who campaign for safety to be overlooked in favor of some vague sentimental feeling? Would you donate to the shops for the upkeep of these signs?
@@Alasterius41 What a wet blanket! It is completely illogical to forego safety for sentiment - that is ludicrous. Your " ... People like you ... " assumptions say far more about you than they do about me. You'll be extremely hard pressed to point out exactly where I explicitly stated that I endorse sentiment over safety - because I didn't. My comment was far more nuanced than you were able to understand; it obviously went way over your head because you are not a Hongkonger. Now if we're talking about JUST the signs alone, then there are many, many things that could be done to bring the signs up to code. Oh, and I've certainly played a part in the preservation of our cultural heritage ... should you wish to enter THAT water, you best know how to swim.
Building department has been crazy. Instead of giving the way to make the signs safe, BD simply send out notices to removal.
How? You have a solution for that?
@@user-bi8ko7kc6h Yes? Did you even read his comment? 'Instead of giving the way to make the signs safe'...
I can only say, nothing is forever in Hong Kong. House is only leasehold, some of them even have eviction for redevelopment. Now even this iconic Neon light is not spare. If we watch old Hong Kong movie, there will be few seconds of scene showing the full of Neon signs which is iconic and telling this is Hong Kong. In Malaysia, some Hong Kong theme shops still puting up new Neon signs to give visitors a feel like dining in Hong Kong.
it's worth to preserve a block or a street of the neon signs as special cultural heritage.
The best suggested comments..
It’s time to upgrade! LED lights are the IN thing.
Objectively bad taste, @ me
Change is nature's delight, explains that the change is stitched into the fabric of existence, we cannot experience without change, our world would not exist without it. It is the nature of the universe, whoever we are, wherever we live, our life will walk hand in hand with change. Orion Philosophy
香港早年少街燈招牌燈幫助照明找方向？而招牌燈往往成為地方標誌？Hong Kong early stage lacks of street light neon lights help people find the way? And neon lights always become place icons?
The things that a miss is freedom.
Vegas won't be vegas without its neon lights. I guess HK can just go the way of times square in NY to preserve the vibrancy, loudness and fun atmosphere that the old neons brought out.
Singapore 🇸🇬 Tourism Board has started China 🇨🇳 style Dogital Colour on few Shophoused in Chinatown and Noon lar own Mini Hong Kong 🇭🇰 at jurong Point Mall.
Please, please, please! Hang in there a bit longer, and if possible, preserve them. It's the only reason I've been wanting to visit HK but yet to do it. Without those neons, HK nightscene would be so dull.
or don't visit hong kong
@@kakyoindonut3213 doesn't take an MRI to know how small that brain is
@@null-0 There's nothing to scan there, it's empty.
@@Indrakusuma_a or just don't and go somewhere else that is not hong kong
@@kakyoindonut3213 For something with no brain, you sure are persistent.
How about tying it to solar panels? Thus electricity could be saved as well as keeping the unique style
Perhaps the amount generated wouldn't be enough. Also the report said it is about being called "safety hazard", not energy waste.
Neon Signs always attractive from the Tourist people in Hong Kong. Preserve it. It's a sign of business industry and symbols of Hong Kong.
I don't go to HKG anymore because online shopping makes buying fakes cheaper.
Sad to see many of them disappear; but knowing that they have been rerated as potential safety hazards, it's also time to think of other newer types of signs that are safer to install and operate.
the socalled "potential safety hazards" is made up by the government so they can get extra cash demolishing these boards - shops have to pay for it!
Couldn't they have retrofitted it more secure instead of removing them? These iconic HK features are slowly dying and sad to see.
What a sad times, neon signs will always be synonymous with hong kong..
Without the neon signs HK will start to look like many other Chinese cities, makes the city less special, what is unique is now gone, why would tourists want to visit an ordinary looking city now? Instead of taking them down, the government should construct structural reinforcements to keep the signs up and safe.
Ignorant comment. HK is more than just neon shop signs
@@robocop581 Of course HK is more than neon signs, who doesn't know that! Just like Venice is more than water canals.
Rather than removing all the neon signs, why not help these store owners update the signs to be up to code? I do understand that removing safety hazards are important, but preserving a city or country’s heritage should be the responsibility of the government.
cuz the commies goals are to completely destroy hongkong.
Time goes, they look very cool.
But at the same time all kind of handing elements makes more visual pollution, many streets look much better without any kind of hanging sticking out ads or the shops. So that's an improvement.
Perhaps government could preserve allow some certain streets too keep some part of the old HK vibe for movie settings and for the people to enjoy those very busy and bustling streets.
I hope instead of an illegal car parking government would narrow the streets or regulate the parking and removing few or so on every street to plant a tree with a bench around for people to rest and make the street look more pleasant.
Open a musuem for all those signs, photos. This is part of HONG KONG
It was LIGHT POLLUTION
I thought the Philippines was the Pearl of the Orient?
Ask any foreigners about Hong Kong, and the immediate image that pops up in their mind will most definitely be the stacked apartments and its alluring neon-filled cityscape! The government should preserve this visual culture because it is the country's identity. They should treat them like those Victorian buildings, while out of style in modern standards, but still worth conserving.
I've never been to Hong Kong yet, but it would be absolutely tragic if I visit one day only to see a city devoid of its once radiant soul.
HK is more than stacked apartments. Also, would you want to live in those tiny flats? So if the HK gave all residents larger units to live in HK would lose its culture. Dumb dumb dumb
Those old neon signs are beautiful, and will probably cost a fortune years from now. I think replacing them with the LED signs that advertise major companies, instead of advertising the owner's business is disgraceful.
Neon signs are being replaced by LED lights and LED sign boards like the casinos in Las Vegas and Macau. They are every bit as bright and more informative.
and they hurt your eyes much stronger than the strongest neons
@CannibaLouiST If you have a problem don't look at them.
@@allsportsexpert im not closing my eyes all days walking the streets.
Pearl of the Orient = Philippines.
Is anything getting better in Hong Kong? ? I feel like all news are bad news these days
No comment. Which is - in itself - a comment.
Actually better imo, too many radicals back in the day
@@jasons4045 Radicals? Surely you must be referring to the climate now, and certainly all evidence supports that.
What has really been dim was HK’ youth’s IQs.
There are reasons beyond IQ for their riot. They are also victims of certain scheme.
Why must the HK government destroy their heritage neon signboard which been a very famous landmark 😢😢😢
Exactly. Must be stupidity.
CCP demands total dominance of cultural life. HK is not allowed to be different or have own characteristics
HK government is well known for its super efficiency. They took them all down quickly, before people realized its unique and cultrally importance.
the same reason as the nazis destroying polands capital during ww2.
Safety reasons. You can go neon again under the current safety standard though. As the video said, some businesses got themselves new neon signboards that fit the latest standard. The problem the cost, which turned many businesses away from neon once and for all.
Sad
Change to LED lol.. why stop the culture? You can see Chongqing city as reference how they use LED and lights.
Hong Kong's crumbling infrastructure adds to its tourist appeal
That ist a very important part of the Hong kong culture the light bring life to the streets ...🙄
北狄拆人招牌，乃有拆北狄招牌事也。
China is beautiful. I’d love to live there. ❤
If only they loved China more those signs would be bright!🎉😂❤
Pearl of the orient is Philippines! Not Hongkong.
That is so sad. It's not Hong Kong without neon signs. I hope they can preserve the taken down ones and put them in a museum.
I honestly dislike LED signs, they are way too bright and the quick changing flickering lights give me a headache.
Well it a gd way to go green as it saves electrictity
Hong Kong under China will be very boring
neo signs represent the prosperity of HK in the past 50 years until now 😥
One piece after another, Hong Kong is losing its soul 😢
These are an attraction for tourism.
What’s left in Hong Kong the shopping?
Hongkong is no longer glamour as previous 😮
the pearl of the orient is the Philippines
Us local HK people couldnt care less if all of the neon signs are gone.
Only foreigner and tourist are interested in them lol
Hong Kong will never be able to shine like it use to be, more to come and there nothing it people can do to prevent it,
The old Hong Kong flavour slowly fading away. :(
Taking away Hong Kong's identity. Tragic