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.
There is a Bruce Lee booth in the current Heritage Museum, as well as a permanent “Louis Cha (Jin Yong) Pavilion,” which displays their relevant works and relics that have attracted fans from other places to come to see. “Jin Yong’s” martial arts novel series is extremely popular in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan and has a profound influence on Chinese communities around the world.
The authorities’ proposal has aroused public outcry, and there are concerns about the smooth relocation of giant exhibits in the original Science Museum, such as the four-story high “Energy Machine.”
Those who founded Anita Mui’s fan club are worried that the collection of Anita Mui’s relics donated to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum will become homeless.
Later, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that the relevant suggestions were preliminary ideas and that he was listening to public opinion. He also said that he would not rule out rebuilding the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in the future.
Edward Leung Hei, DAB Legislative Council member, quoted Mr. Yeung as saying that the relocation of the East Tsim Sha Tsui Science Museum to the current site of the Heritage Museum in Shatin will be “seamless.” The authorities’ preliminary plan is for the first phase of the new National Development and Achievements Museum to start building on the vacant site opposite the current Science Museum, which is expected to be completed in 2031.
In the same year, the Heritage Museum will also be moved into the New Science Museum. After that, the existing Science Museum will be demolished, and the second phase of the National Development and Achievement Museum will start from there, which is expected to be fully completed in 2037-38.
2) Hillway Culture: Independent Publisher
Since the enactment of the NSL (July 2020), independent publishers in Hong Kong have disappeared one after another. By 2023, the few remaining independent publishers will also be closed.Hillway Culture, one of those remaining, after having faced numerous counts of harassment, announced on December 8 that since one of its founders will move overseas, and based on practical operational considerations, it has decided to close its business on Dec. 31, 2023. Many of its publications will also stop being printed starting next year.
Hillway Culture started operation in 2020. One of its founders is Yeung Chi-chun. Mr. Yeung injured his right eye during the anti-extradition bill conflict and is known as the “eye-bursting teacher.”
“Hillway Culture” participated in the book fair for the first time in 2021. At that time, a local pro-communist organization reported that one of its publications was suspected of violating the NSL. Then, in May 2022, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council refused to allow “Hillway Culture” to participate in that book fair.”
Hillway Culture stated in May this year, “Under the current social condition, we really are not confident that we can hold a book fair for Hong Kong people in a safe environment. Therefore, in the short term, we have no plans to hold the Hongkongers’ Book Fair again.” But it added, “As we said a year ago, we will continue to work hard until the day when the book industry flourishes again.”
3) Independent Bookstore: Mount Zero Books
Another bookstore that is about to disappear is “Mount Zero Books,” founded in Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, in 2018. It announced on Dec. 5 that it will close on March 31, 2024. It admitted that it has received repeated complaints by “mysterious person(s).” It has also received warning letters almost weekly from various government departments.Mount Zero Books has held many seminars, group reading sessions, film shows, and the like in the past to get the attention of people who care about society.
It has also invited different people to serve as its “one-day store manager.” Invitees include Shiu Ka-chun, a former member of the Legislative Council from the social welfare sector, and Chan Kin-man, one of the three co-founders of the “Occupy Central with Love and Peace,” among others.
4) Kids’ Clothing Store: Chickeeduck
Chickeeduck, a renowned local clothing brand owned by “activist entrepreneur” Herbert Chow since 1999, closed all its physical and online stores in Hong Kong this year.Mr. Chow has been repeatedly suppressed for supporting the anti-extradition movement. In June 2020, he placed a statue of the Goddess of Democracy at the Chickeeduck children’s clothing store in Discovery Park, Tsuen Wan. The building management ordered it to be removed for breaching the lease terms, and the lease was not renewed later.
Mr. Chow once said that several suppliers of Chickeeduck in Guangdong Province were threatened by mainland police and national security officers in August 2021, asking them to stop supplying to him. As a result, several longstanding suppliers were forced to stop working with Chickeeduck.
After that, the branches at Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong, Tin Hau, and Tsuen Wan were closed one after another.
Chickeeduck’s last branch in Causeway Bay opened for the last time on June 30, 2023. Mr. Chow, who has left Hong Kong, announced in May the closure of his online store.
5) Layperson Eatery: The Three Meals
The “Yellow Shop,” a layperson eatery called “Three Meals,” opened by former Civic Party legislator Jeremy Jensen Tam Man-ho, and former party mate Gordan Lam, closed its doors on Sep. 30, 2023.“Three Meals” said that due to the recent rising food prices, a continued shortage of manpower, economic recovery not as expected, and rent increases have also brought additional pressure, and it has no choice but to close.
There are reports that “Three Meals” was initially rented for HK$80,000 (US$10,250) per month. However, after the lease expired this year, the rent increased to HK$100,000 (US$12,800). Mr. Tam has been remanded since 2021 due to the primary election case.
6) Early Education Provider: Kentville Kindergarten
With the ever-decreasing number of students, “Kentville Kindergarten,” a renowned privately run kindergarten in Kowloon Tong that has been operating for nearly 60 years, will stop accepting K1 applications from the next school year. There will be no new classes for three academic years, it will then stop operating by the end of the 2025/26 academic year.7) Tsim Sha Tsui Landmark: SOGO Department Store
The landmark SOGO department store in Tsim Sha Tsui closed on March 12, 2023.Lifestyle International Holdings Ltd., which owns SOGO Department Stores, said in January during its announcement of the shop closure in Tsim Sha Tsui that although limited redemption of normal traveler clearance between China and Hong Kong is ongoing, it believes that the help from mainland tourists to Hong Kong’s retail industry will still be limited in the short term. However, Lifestyle International remains cautiously optimistic about its prospects in Hong Kong’s retail industry.
8) Hong Kong’s Nightlife Symbol: The Neon Lights
In compliance with Buildings Department regulations, many neon signs in Hong Kong have been ordered to be demolished.The neon signboard of Tai Ping Koon Restaurant in Mau Lam Street, Jordan, was taken down in August and is planned to be re-erected for display at its “Main Koon” restaurant in Central in the future.
Two “Hanging Bats Draw Money” neon signs of a pawn shop that had been installed for more than half a century in Nam Cheong, Sham Shui Po, were accused of breaching the Building Ordinance. The Buildings Department issued a clearance order, and they were removed in March. Later, the Nam Cheong pawn shop replaced them with a smaller neon sign of the same style.
9) Time-Honored Brands
Heung Heung Bread, which had a history of more than half a century and was once the second-largest bakery in Hong Kong, closed at the end of August. Its customers included Swiss Cafe, Sing Heung Yuen, Lan Fong Yuen, Cafe Seasons, and other eateries. The person in charge said that starting a year before the end of the pandemic, they had already experienced difficulty in hiring staff. Moreover, as some of the incumbent employees retired, they were worried that they would not be able to deliver to customers due to manpower shortage.Cheung Fat Noodles, a Tai Pai Dong (streetside dining stall) business in Yiu Tung Street, Sham Shui Po, with a history of more than 70 years, closed on Oct. 30. On the eve of its closure, many locals queued up to pay their last respects. The fish balls at Cheung Fat Noodles used to be more costly than those at other outlets, but the boss claimed this was because the fish balls are made with 100 percent pure eel.
The Goteborg Restaurant, which is located in To Kwa Wan and has been in business for more than 40 years, said that due to the expiration of its lease, it would serve its “last Christmas dinner” in December. The boss said the main reason for the impending closure was poor economic and market conditions.
Chi Kee Seafood Restaurant, located in Prince Edward and opened in 1973, had no choice but to close on Aug. 31 because the landlord doubled the rent.
