Making Histories: Emergent Heritage Activism in Hong Kong

Abstract

In the past decade, many Asian cities that were once centers of relentless urban development are beginning to pay attention to commemorating and conserving their built heritage. While many conservation projects were initiated as part and parcel of tourism development, local residents have also actively participated in the protection of particular buildings and sites that they see to have played an important role in the shaping of their identities. This paper engages with this discussion by examining two successful heritage campaigns in Hong Kong and the roles of different local actors participated in the process. The first case is a campaign to save the Government Hill precinct, which was the location of central government offices in the colonial period. After the handover, the SAR government relocated the offices to a new site and proposed to sell off Government Hill for development. The decision drew strong criticisms from local heritage activists, who subsequently formed the Government Hill Concern Group as a leading advocate for conserving the precinct. After a year of campaigning that involved group members soliciting support from several international heritage agencies, the group succeeded in pressuring the government to retain the buildings for government uses. The second case is a campaign to conserve the State Theatre, a once-popular 1950s cinema complex that was slated for redevelopment in 2015. In the same year, a number of individuals began to advocate for its conservation by publishing writings about the building’s historical significance and lobbying local other activists to support their efforts. Although many of the tactics they used were similar to those of the Government Hill Concern Group, they also differed in the ways they engaged with local communities through different supportive networks and types of organized events. This paper argues that a careful study of the positions, strategies and narratives of activists involved in the two campaigns can offer a fuller understanding of the dynamics of heritage activism and changing nature of community participation. It will further illustrate how growing grassroots efforts in heritage conservation have inspired collective aspirations among Hong Kong citizens in the construction of a more sustainable urban future.