"This is Hong Kong" Summer 2023 Issue

Issue Overview: Dark histories are still histories, and even myths can hold a grain of truth. Beyond the smooth, orderly, conventional, and rational lie untold stories that might reveal the true face of the city—a face we don't know or are unwilling to believe. Myths, urban legends, folk beliefs, remote ruins, and cemeteries offer an escape from the pressures of reality, inviting us to imagine a mysterious world unseen and unexplainable. They also provide an unexpected perspective to understand the rise and fall of Hong Kong, as well as the enduring and changing values of its spirit. The Dark Side of the Moon might just be its most beautiful aspect. Featured Content: REtell // Once Upon a Time, there was Cheung Po Tsai The pirate Cheung Po Tsai was active in the early 19th century. Legend has it that he used Lantau Island and Cheung Chau as his bases, with influence reaching the coast of South China and the Greater Bay Area. This was an early embodiment of "based in Hong Kong, facing overseas," leaving his mark on the history of this small territory. But who Cheung Po Tsai was may not be as important as how we collectively explore and reimagine this figure and the reasons and sentiments behind it. REveal // The Legend of the Ethereal From various forms of divination and folk customs to urban legends and feng shui boundaries scattered across cities and communities, these have been circulating in Hong Kong through the ages. Why do they continue to flourish, evolve, and transform with the changing times and society? REdiscover // Exploring the Profound, Ruins Remain Ruin exploration has become a popular activity in recent years. Beneath the gleaming urban facade, Hong Kong harbors numerous ruins and sites from different eras and of various natures. These hidden places hold forgotten histories, stories, and countless unsolved mysteries. With the trend of ruin exploration, ruin photography has emerged as an ineffable aesthetic genre, captivating many enthusiasts who seek lost landscapes in abandoned places. REvitalise // Suo Luo Pun Village is Not Just a Legend Suo Luo Pun Village, abandoned for decades, is commonly perceived by the public as a "haunted village." However, for the past decades, villagers have striven to revive the land and the village, aiming to recreate the rural life they remember. What challenges have they faced on this path to revival, and how close are they to achieving it? REmade // From Keelung Hill to Wah Fu Estate Since the renowned Wah Fu Estate was built, the name Keelung Hill has gradually faded from memory. This marginalized area, originally a cemetery and squatter settlement, was transformed in the 1960s into a large community housing tens of thousands of people, becoming a blueprint for public housing design in Hong Kong. What was the key to such an extreme community redevelopment? REconnect // Home in Hong Kong, Lutins Today Since the 1997 handover, various artistic creations have used the image of the Lutin merman to symbolize Hong Kong, adding a mythical touch to a place lacking in legends. From ancient times to the present, what is the connection between the Lutins and the people living in this territory? How does artist Yiu Ying-lin, who uses half-human, half-fish motifs in her paintings, interpret the relationship between modern people and the Lutins? Other Featured Content: REshoot // Flying Over Cemeteries From an aerial view, one side of the city is a dense sprawl of skyscrapers; the other is equally dense but unfolds like rice terraces on the mountainside – cemeteries. Cemeteries and skyscrapers seem to be the yin and yang of the city, interdependent. REmap // Cemetery in a Past Life, Community in This One Many early Hong Kong cemeteries were located on the outskirts of the city. Besides Hong Kong Island, the bustling urban areas of Kowloon in the early 20th century were dotted with burial grounds of various ethnic groups and sizes. But as the city expanded, cemeteries had to relocate. How did Ho Man Tin transform from a place of numerous graves into a desirable residential community? RElics // Without the Village, Where is the City? As villages are gradually encroached upon by the city, human memories are constantly being erased. The Eight Villages of Shing Mun, submerged long ago by a reservoir, and Ma Wan Village, struggling to survive, serve as reminders that beyond the formulaically planned city, there was another side to this place.