Category Archives: Hong Kong

Green, Hong Kong, Packaging, Product

Numbered Days

Sheung Wan

printers
Back in the 70s, being a printing technician was a well earning profession. In pockets of Sheung Wan still remain a few printers, but many have closed down, or will in this coming year. Digital technology has changed the nature and speed of printing, and  rising rents are forcing printers to sell their machines and retire. This printer tells us how their machine is only for printing numbers (such as on memberships cards or receipts), their next door neighbour does the foiling, and another printer does the letters… It is truly a complex collaboration for even the most seemingly simple things. Paper products have become so disposable as a result of the speed and convenience of digital production. If our forests are to stand a chance of survival, perhaps we need to slow the process down again.

printer2

Green, Hong Kong, Product

Ivory Nut

Yau Ma Tei


Tagua nut: feels, looks and carves like ivory.

The ivory trade threatens a whole host of endangered species. Despite the bans, despite the publicity of the long term negative and irreversible effects of poaching, there is still a thriving ivory market. While I fail to see the appeal of ivory, it is time for those who do, to reflect on where their ivory comes from, the selfishness of contributing to such an economy, and seek alternative materials.

Green, Hong Kong, Product

I believe I can Fly

Yuen Po Street, Bird Market


Birdkeepers own birds to admire, compare and show off. They walk them every day, inside the cages, socialising with fellow bird-walkers. Apparently only a healthy bird will sing, and those paraded in the parks, they sing. But what are they singing? Singing to join the birds flying around outside the cage in the trees?


The cages may be ornate, but it is still a cage.

Architecture, Graphics, Green, Hong Kong

What a Difference a Rainbow Makes

Wing Lee Street


Historical building preservation, something to celebrate right?
Not for everyone. The owner of this house had been waiting for compensation and relocation. Wing Lee Street had originally been part of a redevelopment plan, until the film “Echos of the Rainbow” made it famous and indestructible. Under this new preservation scheme, residents will only be able to sell their buildings at market value, which despite their location is relatively low, as the buildings are in very bad repair and over 60 years old.

While I am glad that this little snippet of old Hong Kong charm will be saved the destiny of becoming another high-rise block, I am only too aware of the irony. For the residents, the sudden increase in historical value of their homes has decreased the monetary value, and for the time being taken away from them an immediate improved standard of living. As the surrounding area is proliferating rapidly, whether they will benefit in the long term, only time will tell.