Reclaimed Land: Hong Kong in Transition

The Emporium - Spaces of Commerce and Consumption

The Emporium Spaces of Commerce and Consumption The Emporium Spaces of Commerce and Consumptio n Above all else, Hong Kong's image in the world is that of a place of trade, a quintessentially open capitalist marketplace perched a t the door of China. In visual terms, this image translates into a view of a forest o f tower blocks, a sort of Manhattan o f the East, and indee d th e tall buildings o f Central - th e business distric t o f Hong Kon g Island - d o house th e headquarters o f numerous financia l an d tradin g companies . To many, Central stand s fo r Hon g Kon g itself: its architectural structures featur e i n tourist publicity for the city, and visitors often mak e it the first sto p o n their itinerary. Even the tram ride up to the Peak or the short Star Ferry journey over to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfron t have a s their primary goa l the attainment o f interesting viewpoints o n the Island skylin e of which Centra l i s the main focal point. Photographic image s in guidebooks and o n postcards have already single d ou t these particula r perspectives on the city as paradigmatic i n nature. In this opening section of the book, the tower blocks of Central and of other commercial districts of Hong Kong will be the focus, as will the shopping malls which are often to be found a t the feet of these office towers, but which also inhabit residential housing developments, transport interchanges and other strategic locations outside the downtown areas themselves. These malls and other prestige shopping areas further enhanc e Hong Kong's image as a place of trade, but at a retail rather than wholesale level: this is Hong Kong as the shopper's paradise, the ultimate consume r emporium. Often take n as straightforward evidenc e of Hong Kong's economic vibrance, the commercial and consumer space s !I !«•' ... MS - - * R ^B5 f»« i in Mw* ~ * - - . L •฀ iir฀ • Hi "~ - mi m; m i n m .... . i • IffFFFfflffflfiii i M n l i n n n " I ! . n n»n niilTii i _ f฀E ฀N฀I฀N฀s ฀U_;L~ *฀ H iinnE"iiiii '*\V'\฀ -^77ze Peninsula, Tsim Sha Tsui: a tower block complete with roof helipad has been added to this old hotel, following a relaxation of the height restrictions associated with Kai Tak airport. 16 December 1996. < Grand Millennium Plaza, view from Wing Lok Street. 10 February 1998. k K. Wah Centre, North Point: Architect Simon Kwan, a noted art collector, has taken inspiration fromearly Chinese jade artifacts for this building's form. 14 April 1997. < Sculpture of a water buffalo by Elizabeth Frink on the podium of Exchange Square, Central. 28 March 1998. < Szeto Wah (extreme right) and other protestors, on their way to the Japanese Consulate in Exchange Square. 8 February 1996. A Perimeter defenses, Police Headquarters, Admiralty. 23 September 1995. • Entrance to the Pacific Place shopping centre, with reflections of the traffic on Queensway. 12 April 1996. A Escalators, The Landmark shopping centre, Central. 12 September 1997. I Escalators, Festival Walk shopping centre, Kozvloon. 20 December 1998. - New Tozun Plaza, Sha Tin. 12 May IS L3* • s'rf฀ I New Town Plaza, Sha Tin. 30 November 1998. I Roller coaster and ice rink (and place to relax zvith a nezuspaper) inside the Dragon Centre, Sham Shui Po. 28 February 1997. A Whampoa Gardens shopping centre. 14 November 1999. < Crozvds at the recession era sales, Sogo department store, Causeway Bay. 27 January 1998. A Matsuzakaya department store, Causezuay Bay: its closure the following summer had already been announced. 13 April 1998. < Stall in a side alley in Central, zvith recession special offer. 29 May 1999. I Prada store window, Central. 15 December 1999. l Mannequins in a store zuindozu, The Landmark, evening. 1 July 1996. A Mannequins in a store window, Ice House Street, Central. 26 November 1998. < Windozu display featuringa 'Millennium' collection, Bossini, Nathan Road, Kowloon. 14 November 1999. -4 Handover-themed zuindozu display featuring Sun Yat-sen, Giordano, Hennessy Road. 4 May 1997. A Handover-themed windozu display, Bossini, Nathan Road, Kowloon. 7 May 1997. ^ Noodle-making display, Peking Garden restaurant, Alexandra House, Central. 17 January 1997. A Chef cooking prawns in a reppanyaki restaurant on Stanley Street, Central. 26 January 1999. ^ Waiter taking the order in a Wanchai restaurant. 3 December 1996. A End of the meal in a Wanchai restaurant. 27 May 1996. ' Rolling azuay a tabletop as a restaurant gets near to closing time, Wanchai. 28 March 1997. A Roast meat hanging in a restaurant zuindozu, Causeway Bay. 30 June 1999. A Restaurant as seen from the street, Causeway Bay. 12 December 1996. <+ Snacks on sale, Causezuay Bay. 13 November 1999. V LS A Filipino domestic helpers on a day off work, gathering under a bus shelter zuith adverts shozuing Tung Chee-hwa. Chater Road, Central. 29 June 1997. < Beggar, zuith facehidden, near the Sogo department store, Causezuay Bay. 18 January 1998. ...