“This is Hong Kong” Spring 2023 Issue

Issue Introduction: Nestled between The Peak and the bustling city below, Amidst diverse communities and social strata, The Mid-Levels, in Hong Kong, are not referred to as "mountain towns" but as "halfway up the mountain." This spring, we embark on a journey from various altitudes and viewpoints. We invite a host of photographers, collectors, and past and present residents of the Mid-Levels to reconstruct this "Mid-Levels Dreamscape" across 328 pages. We delve into the emergence and evolution of the Mid-Levels over the past 180 years, exploring the persistent Hong Kong sentiment behind the aspiration to "live in the Mid-Levels." Highlights Include: REvisit REveal REimagine // Deciphering Mid-Levels Since 1888 A tapestry of East and West, urban and natural landscapes, every step in the Mid-Levels district reveals stories of Hong Kong's history, its notable figures, and iconic places. Building roads and homes on these slopes has given rise to a unique network of pathways and living spaces, showcasing a profound wisdom in spatial utilization honed by geology, engineering, architecture, and economics. Guided by old maps and historical photographs, we revisit how the Mid-Levels emerged, took shape, and transformed over these 180-plus years. REvisit // The Peak, Hong Kong's Sole Summit In a city surrounded by mountains, "The Peak" refers to only one: Tai Ping Shan. If we look beyond its status as a mere tourist destination, how did "The Peak" transform from a barren hilltop into its esteemed position today? And how has it influenced the development of Hong Kong's Mid-Levels and its cityscape? REveal // The Mid-Levels You Never Knew: Kowloon Tong and Jardine's Lookout Developed in the early 1930s, Kowloon Tong, and Jardine's Lookout, planned after the 1950s post-war era, are today's most prestigious "Mid-Levels luxury residential" areas. How did they come into being? How did they evolve into their present forms? What are their connections to Eurasian families who have resided in Hong Kong for five generations? REmould // The Escalator That Reshaped the Mid-Levels The Mid-Levels Escalator, completed in 1993, irrevocably altered the community's landscape and ecology. The emergence of SoHo transformed an aging Chinese neighborhood into a vibrant hub for dining and entertainment. Along the route, Prince's Terrace retains its pre-war elevated living spaces, and the city's oldest mosque still stands. What stories lie within its walls? REdraw // Architectural Sketches of the Mid-Levels Dr. Wong Tak-chai, a lecturer at the Department of Science and Environmental Studies at The Education University of Hong Kong, has spent years traversing Hong Kong's districts, documenting old buildings from various eras. Combining historical data and images, he redraws architectural plans, many of which depict distinctive Mid-Levels structures that have since vanished. More Content: REshoot // East, Central, West, North: An Aerial Survey of Four Mid-Levels Districts East, Central, West, North – the four Mid-Levels districts on Hong Kong Island. Can you distinguish their locations and characteristics? From an aerial perspective, observe the roads laid out along different contour lines; the buildings of varying shapes, heights, and scales, constructed according to the terrain; and the countless pocket parks, reservoirs, sports fields, and swimming pools nestled within narrow spaces. All captured from above. REmind // Wong Chak Sang: A Mid-Levels Life Today, the public perceives "Wong & Ouyang" as a pillar of Hong Kong's architecture. Its co-founder, Wong Chak Sang, was among the first generation of locally trained architects after the war. His projects not only responded to local environments and needs but also played a crucial role in Hong Kong's transformation into a modern city. REmember // Home at Ho Kom Tong Villa James Stephen, the great-grandson of Ho Kom Tong, has in recent years publicly shared family films and photographs taken by his grandfather, Stephen Kai Po, a century ago. This offers the public a glimpse into the lives of Chinese families residing in the Mid-Levels a hundred years ago. As a descendant of a mixed-race family from Hong Kong's early colonial period, it has also prompted him to contemplate the meaning of "I am a Hongkonger" since childhood. REdiscover // Through the Small, We See the Large: Relics of the Mid-Levels The once distinctively East-meets-West yet undeniably grand Mid-Levels have faded. However, contemporary individuals are continuously tracing its contours. For architect Dragon Man-ching, who is involved in conservation, the Mid-Levels resembles a secret garden, preserving various historical relics through which the larger picture can be discerned. REmap // The Roads to Mid-Levels Garden Road, MacDonnell Road, Albany Road, Caine Road, Robinson Road, Bonham Road, Conduit Road, Bowen Road, Kennedy Road, Po Shan Road, Kotewall Road, and others—these are the primary roads that constitute the traditional Mid-Levels area. Each was constructed in different eras, with its own background reasons and overcoming distinct challenges. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52781008953_311d032f4d_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52780954735_8e2b03bf00_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52780791134_a6272be174_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52781009273_aaffa342d7_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52781009203_2a462fcc4f_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52780790754_8c3b669c6e_c_d.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52781009058_6b6dc4f4ea_c_d.jpg