How new technology is being used to preserve Hong Kong history
By Hugo Novales, FCC In-House Journalist
Preserving local history is a key objective of both historians and government officials in Hong Kong. The city hosts a number of museums and heritage sites, including the FCC’s very own Grade 1 historic building in the heart of Central. All of these landmarks are meticulously maintained to preserve their cultural legacy and to educate residents on their significance.
New technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped how Hong Kong historians track, update, and share their work with the public.
To talk about how these new technologies have impacted their work, the FCC invited three experts for an exclusive dinnertime talk. Speaking on the panel were Dr. Chi Man Kwong from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), FCC member and writer Billy Potts, and Ani Mohan, a Japan-born Indian tech entrepreneur. Moderating the discussion was FCC Journalist Board Governor Joe Pan.
First to speak was Dr. Kwong. His research focuses on mapping out the aerial and naval battles of World War II, particularly the events that took place in Hong Kong. He explained that roughly six years ago, he began using more geographic information systems (GIS) and historic geospatial data in his daily work. By using these programs to process three sources of data — aerial photographs, maps and urban plans, and volumes of recorded data — Dr. Kwong is getting closer towards his goal of mapping out pre-WWII Hong Kong.
“That’s exactly the advantage of combining detailed study of a certain place through the traces of the past. It really humbles me as a historian,” he said.
Dr. Kwong’s WWII project also led him to collaborate with Billy Potts on his Hong Kong Ghost Signs project.
Throughout his presentation, Potts explained the meaning and significance of ghost signs he found around the city, and also pointed out how making your mark in history is uncommon for the majority of society.
As described by Potts, ghost signs are “defunct” and “shouldn’t exist” but still remain as faded relics of previous iterations of local society. He, along with FCC member Ben Marans, embarked on a unique project to record all the ghost signs across Hong Kong. Their photography was on display for January’s wall exhibition.
“It’s a very privileged thing to leave a record of yourself in history. Most people do not. Most people just disappear. But ordinary lives are not insignificant — they’re important, too,” he said.
In the final part of the Club Dinner, Ani Mohan shared how his family’s involvement with the Indian Foreign Service sparked his interest in learning more about Indian impact on Hong Kong’s history. He recalled a series of memoirs his grandfather left behind which detailed his experiences in the Foreign Service, which included sections on Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. For Mohan, this was eye opening and unlike anything he had ever learned in a history class.
“Everyone has an attic. Everyone has grandparents who have very valuable stories to share,” he said.
To watch the full discussion, please visit the FCC’s YouTube channel:
