Street Photography | Hong Kong | September

Walking around hong kong, i am a stranger – its not even my mother land – although technically it is because i guess i am after all a chinese descendent and hk is now a part of china. Anyways, this city is such a melting pot. Obviously there has been a large british influence due to Britain having HK on loan for 99 years – this is visible in the architecture, the types and styles of stores and also the abundance of English signage in the ‘ex-pat’ areas and the difference in service in more westernised stores to people who speak English vs not.

But theres a more traditional side of HK, pockets of this traditional culture even in the alley ways of the most ex pat areas. I find it quite interesting to view it, as an outsider it seems like quite the juxtaposition. Within Soho (South of Hollywood Rd), there are cobbled paved streets with European restaurants littered throughout the area but also traditional market places with fresh fish in shallow tanks, plump and vibrant fruit and vegetables on display and an array of knick knacks/knock off clothes and ‘chinese’ paraphernalia.

I love the last image, an old woman tending to her stall – the stall itself made out of bamboo and other mismatched construction materials. Everything that shes deemed worthy or didn’t dare throw out is on her stall – a lot of the stalls are run by the older generation. It makes me sad to think what will happen when they’re all gone – will HK lose that part of its heritage and character?