Hong Kong Island Local Customs

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It seems like there was a period in HK's history when the government decided that it would counterbalance the territory's lush and colourful flora and fauna with a drab, grey, Stalinist approach to architecture. Luckily, this period did not last too long, and HK is endowed with a wealth of architectural styles and expressions, making it a world-class city on so many fronts. The days of Colonial British architecture have long since passed, although there is care in preserving the remains of the past. Today, it appears, HK's architectural scene aims to capture both the vivacity and the anonymity of the city. Many buildings are shocking with their colours and designs, amplified by the fact that they are skyscrapers, yet they do not bear any sort of distinctive traditional marks. It is as if the skyscrapers have decided to distinguish themselves from one another for a dance, while still maintaining the general decorum that is expected of their kind. There aren't the crazy buildings here as there are in the Gulf, possibly because, unlike in Qatar or Kuwait or Dubai, these are not just buildings for buildings' sake, they are places in which people will live and work on a daily basis.