City spotlight / Hong Kong
Monocle moments
Monocle’s bureau and shop in Wan Chai turned 10 in 2020. Here are 10 things about Hong Kong that we’ve celebrated during the last decade.
2010
A growing sense of community
We got to know the residents of Sheung Wan in issue 37. It’s still a colourful neighbourhood and has rubbed off on nearby Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town.
2011
Wall-to-wall art
Art Basel Hong Kong debuted in 2013 and draws collectors and dealers from around the world. In issue 44, we interviewed founder Magnus Renfrew.
2012
Heritage has found a home
The former Tai O police station-turned-hotel was one of the first in a growing list of restoration projects in Hong Kong this century. We checked in for issue 56.
2013
Family is big business
Family firms are getting fresh ideas from a new generation, such as Adrian Cheng, CEO of New World Development, who we interviewed in issue 64.
2014
Built on craft and culture
Every skyscraper starts with one length of bamboo tied to another by a team of scaffolding specialists. We featured a master and apprentice in issue 76.
2015
A city marches on its stomach
Lunch hours are respected and eating out is central to Hong Kong’s way of life. Ho Lee Fook (in issue 82) offers a modern take on Cantonese cuisine.
2016
It works on multiple levels
Tai Hang (in issue 93) is a village next to the corporate towers of Causeway Bay. Its low rise tong lau architecture appeals to creatives, while families find village houses in the New Territories.
2017
‘Tis the season to be merry
As we observed in issue 109, harbourfront high-rises put up Christmas lights at the end of year and keep them until after Chinese New Year.
2018
Safety is sky high
Children going to school alone on the subway are just one sign of the city’s safety record. Another is the chopper teams from the Government Flying Service (see issue 113) that lift injured hikers down from the mountains.
2019
Full of bright ideas
To use space efficiently, architects of a primary school (see issue 121), elevated classrooms to make room for a playground and parking bay.
2020
Attracts plenty of eyeballs
Issue 132 noted that few advertising opportunities are as quintessentially Hong Kong as the century-old tram as it trundles through the business districts.
