Traditional Cultural and Business Changes in Hong Kong in 2023

Two giant neon signs hanging aloft in front of a pawn shop in Nam Cheong, Sham Shui Po, displaying the ancient Chinese metaphor "Hanging Bats Draw Money," which had been present for more than half a century, were accused of breaching the Building Ordinance and were removed by contractors on March 14, 2023. Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times

During 2023, with the influence of the “National Security Law (NSL),” and the ultra-leftist politics prevailing in Hong Kong, we see several Hong Kong cultural icons disappearing, one after another, before our eyes.

1) Cultural Landmark: Hong Kong Heritage Museum

In December 2023, the Hong Kong Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau proposed that it hopes to establish a special museum to “showcase the country’s development and achievements.” It proposed to use the current site of the Hong Kong Science Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui and the expansion project next to the Hong Kong Museum of History as the future venue. The Hong Kong Science Museum will be relocated to the current site of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Tai Wai.

As for the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, which was established in 2000, the authorities only stated that the museum’s existing collections would be integrated and relocated into other museums. In other words, the Heritage Museum may “disappear” permanently as a separate site.