At first glance, the scene on this Hong Kong postcard appears relatively recent. Without cars to identify the era, it’s hard to tell when the photo was taken.
The neon looks familiar, as do the buildings. But at closer look, I recognize certain shops and hotels from the 1960s. The ABC Bakery, the neon umbrella sign, and the Sun Ya Hotel (where my mom stayed in 1962).
This photo is probably about 45 years old.
I’m amazed this area of Mongkok (one of the densest in the world) has remained the same over the decades. Sure, the stores and banks and hotels have changed, but the overall look hasn’t.
i think your dating is about right :). there was a phase when people took these exposed night shots with cameras poised on tripods, mainly of roads, the harbour and even planes taking off from kaitak
Thanks! It’s amazing how the building structures seem to be more or less the same here as they are now. I would love to see a photo of this stretch of land in the 70s and 80s to find out when the ABC Bakery left. I don’t see the May May Department store in this one, but it’s probably too far away.