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Peak lighting outcry spotlights the trouble with fast-track governance
The backlash over the Hong Kong tourism project should raise a red flag where it concerns consulting stakeholders in policymaking
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Alice Wu is a political consultant and a former associate director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA.
It’s common knowledge that Hong Kong has a spectacular skyline, especially at night. And given our current obsession with boosting tourism and other value-adding objectives, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that our tourism authorities are actively adding more light to our night skyline.
The Tourism Board tried holding monthly firework and drone shows in 2024, but had to scale back after a budget cut – and amid questions of whether more frequent displays, costing the public HK$1 million (US$127,537) a pop, were really making a bigger impression on visitors. They weren’t. Regular firework shows diminished the novelty factor of the experience and heightened the likelihood of disappointment; effectively, public money was being thrown at unimpressed visitors. And this is not to mention the environmental costs associated with all that smoke and fire.
Yet, the tourism authorities seem not to have learned, or remembered, the lesson that less is more. This year, they tried to roll out a lighting project along a walking trail on The Peak, and have succeeded in causing quite the outrage. Going by the images shared online, it is not difficult to see why the lighting installations along the narrow Lugard Road and Harlech Road trail encircling The Peak have drawn such a negative response from residents.
The Peak is one of Hong Kong’s treasures – providing us with access to nature, fantastic views of our city, and a window on our history. It’s an easy hike for residents of all ages. It is beloved by tourists and part of an experience that includes rides up and down on the Peak Tram. Planting metal structures along a nature trail and cutting down trees and flowers to make room for electric lighting installations do not add value to The Peak. Sure, some of us enjoy taking in the city lights at night from The Peak, but we don’t necessarily need to see more lights along the walk.
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