A neglected cultural heritage : manhole covers in Hong Kong as urban heritage and an expression of the city’s identity

Abstract

Heritage is a term commonly used to refer to architecture and historical sites. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to appreciate certain types of urban objects that improve our city’s life, including lamp posts, road signage, neon light banners, and manhole covers. They can all be deemed as a type of cultural heritage. Historic manhole covers are not commonly identified and therefore are often unnoticed or replaced. By the nature of their placement and location, flush with paved streets or sidewalks, they are often easily overlooked. However, in other countries, manhole covers have a special status. For example, in Hamilton, Canada, two manhole covers dating from 1859 were added to the heritage list of the city; today these two manhole covers have statutory protection. In Japan, a country famous for delicious cuisine and beautiful scenery, manhole covers also draw a lot of attention from both residents and tourists. These manhole covers are magnificent – there are over a hundred different designs of manhole covers found throughout the country and each tells the story and the significance of the individual city. Today, tourists are known to spot the varies designs when travelling in Japan, while exploring these hidden treasures on the ground. These examples demonstrate that urban utilities such as manhole covers are not only functional, but can also be considered as part of a city’s heritage and identity. This dissertation aims to document manhole covers in Hong Kong so that these features can be understood to be not only functional but also a valuable type of cultural heritage in Hong Kong.