Neon Signs in Hong Kong

Do you know that neon signs contributed a lot to Hong Kong’s nickname of “city that never sleep”?  Because…come on, who can sleep with all these lights on?

Neon signs are not just colorful lightings to draw customers’ attention.

To the locals, the signs accompanied them since their birth and the flourish of neon signs witnesses the growth of Hong Kong from a backward fishing village to a lively international city. When it comes to representing the night life of Hong Kong, probably nothing can beat the overlapping neon signs that occupy the darkness.

To the artists, the signs are visual culture and a vivid representation of urban beauty. The typography, design and illustration all show that they are more than electrical appliances that provide light.

Not to mentioned that most neon signs were handcrafted by well-trained craftsmen. The burning and welding of the glass moulds; the injection of gas which gives the light colors when electrified…It’s a technique that has to be passed down from generation to generation. Even without the light, the signs themselves are a form of art.

But in recent years, they are being replaced by the more cost-effective LED lights. The government also discourages the use of neon signs because of stricter building regulations and the attempt to reduce light pollution…

I can understand the parts about “cost” and “building regulation”, but “to fight pollution”? Wouldn’t LED’s strong light make the situation worse? And if the government really wants to tackle the light pollution problem, why does it even waste resource on that meaningless “Symphony of Lights” EVERY NIGHT for OVER 10 YEARS? Man, that logic…

While the government tries to “preserve” the neon lights culture by funding an online exhibition, “Neonsigns HK”, criticisms were voiced. People argued that while the use of neon signs in Hong Kong is declining, it’s not completely dead. So why should the government file it as if it was long gone and belonged only to the museum?

Even the writer of the webpage said “it is too soon to say Hong Kong’s neon light have lost their lustre”.

The night is young, and the lights are still on. Isn’t it a bit early for them to be forgotten?