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Bank of China Building
In Hong Kong, whenever the Bank of China is mentioned, the first image that usually comes to mind is Ieoh Ming Pei’s iconic masterpiece, the Bank of China Tower. Yet, forty years before the Tower was completed, the Bank of China’s headquarters in Hong Kong opened 180 meters (600 feet) from its current location. To this day, that building—the Bank of China Building—still stands tall in the heart of Hong Kong, albeit dwarfed by its neighboring skyscrapers; and it still serves a
Apr 710 min read
Signal Tower
Hidden behind the modern skyscrapers of Tsim Sha Tsui, a silent witness to Hong Kong’s long-gone past still stands as tall as its ancient bricks and stones allow. Snugly fit between the Mariner’s Club, Salisbury Road, and Chatham Road South, it still guards a small park, whose sole innocuous entrance on a dead-end street is all too easily overlooked.
Feb 197 min read
Short Stories about events that left a mark on hong kong
Kai Tak International Airport Was the Most Dangerous Airports in the World.
If you ever fly over Hong Kong, you may notice an unnatural rectangular strip of land jutting into Kowloon Bay. This strip of land was once one of the most dangerous landing strips in the world, known as Kai Tak International Airport. Although Kai Tak has been known as an airfield since 1924, it was only in 1958 that its most striking feature—a 2,550-meter runway extending into Kowloon Bay—was built through land reclamation. Since then, the airport has undergone numerous modi
14 hours ago1 min read
The First Hong Kongers Used to Be Farmers and Fishermen
Hong Kong is primarily known as one of the most important financial and banking centers in the world; but that wasn’t always the case. When the British took possession of Hong Kong Island in 1841, Hong Kong was little more than a barren rock lost in the South China Sea. However, Hong Kong was not an uninhabited territory either. In the eleventh century, the Punti, which literally translates as the "original residents," settled in what became the New Territories. They found fe
4 days ago1 min read
The Oriental Bank Corporation Was the First Bank in Hong Kong
Contrary to what one might expect, HSBC was not the first banking institution in Hong Kong. In fact, being founded in 1864, HSBC, or the Hongkong Bank as it was originally known, was a relatively latecomer. In the early days of the colony, businesses in Hong Kong were controlled by trading houses such as, for instance, Jardine Matheson, Gibb Livingston, and Dent & Co. This oligopoly led to growing dissatisfaction and the development of a proper banking industry in Hong Kong.
5 days ago1 min read
95% of the Food Consumed in Hong Kong Is Imported
With a population of 7.5 million inhabitants living on a land area of 1,114.35 square kilometers (430.25 square miles), needless to say that Hong Kong is a very densely populated city. This figure becomes even more striking when considering that there are no fewer than 579 mountains in Hong Kong, resulting in only 25% of the territory being suitable for construction. In such circumstances, agriculture in Hong Kong is very limited—though not nonexistent—primarily revolving aro
6 days ago1 min read
Nearly Half the Population of Hong Kong Lives in Public Housing
Hong Kong is often ranked among the wealthiest cities in the world. While it is true that it has one of the highest concentrations of billionaires and millionaires globally, the city also records one of the highest inequality rates in the world. In fact, despite being one of the world’s premier financial and banking centers, Hong Kong reports a rather disappointingly low GDP per capita of USD 55,000. In comparison, New York City, London, and Singapore (Hong Kong’s main compet
7 days ago1 min read
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The White-Bellied Sea Eagle
Hong Kong is one of the most densely urbanized regions in the world. Yet, the white-bellied sea eagle, a large raptor species notorious for being negatively affected by human disturbance, thrives in Hong Kong more than in any other region of the world.
Mar 410 min read
The South China Tiger
Hiking on one of the 579 mountains, you will soon realize that the forests of Hong Kong are teeming with life; ranging from the smallest of ants to wild boars and deer. Yet, somehow, regardless of this abundance of life, apex predatory mammals are nowhere to be seen on the territory of Hong Kong. As a matter of fact, beside the Burmese python and the snake-eating king cobra, there simply are no terrestrial apex predators in Hong Kong.
Feb 248 min read
Garden Hill
If you enjoyed the opening scene of the original Blade Runner, you might very well enjoy the night view from Garden Hill. The similarity is striking, yet in the case of Garden Hill, no CGI is required.
Feb 255 min read
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