Hong Kong Restoration

A big criticism of Hong Kong is the lack of appreciation for history. The city gets lots of flack from the media for not preserving historical/old buildings, streets, stores, etc. Many say "old Hong Kong" is what makes it a cool city, and I agree; however, the current trend is to bulldoze everything old in lieu of making sparkling new buildings, streets, shops. There are virtually no thrift or vintage shops in Hong Kong. It is an aspect of the US I miss, rummaging through junk shops to find something unique and funky.

One recent departure from this trend is the renovation of the old Marine Police Headquarters (circa 1881). This building has been wrapped in scaffolding since we moved and is finally complete. It looks very cool with a mix of modern touches. I guess beggars can't be choosers, but I wish the building was being used for something other than luxury boutiques. Hong Kong is turning into one giant store with ridiculously priced merchandise. The Marine Police Headquarters is located near the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, very near the other luxury shops I blogged about here. When I was in this area over the weekend, I heard mostly Mandarin being spoken which indicates the shoppers are from mainland China. The well-documented rise of the Chinese middle/upper class is so apparent in this area and everyone is paying cash. The world economy is certainly changing.