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Photo of the Day May 2021
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 Cherie Explores Deserted Century-old Mansion Cherie, an avid hiker and urban explorer, ventures into a deserted century-old mansion which was later converted into a school. The 3-storey mansion was built between 1902 and 1903 was converted into a school in 1928. It was damaged during World War II and was rehabilitated in 1954 into the current form as a school for the Portuguese community. A distinctive staircase on the outside gives access to all floors. It has been deserted since 2012 and the interior is almost cleared of all furniture. It was rated as a Grade II historic building in 2019. Urban exploration is based on the principles of only taking pictures, leaving no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 31 May 2021  Sunset at Victoria Harbour Sunset at Victoria Harbour with reflection on windows. North Point . Hong Kong | 2021 30 May 2021  Exploring Abandoned House on Outlying Island An avid urban explorer ventures into an abandoned house on an outlying island. The 3-storey house sits on top of a slope with flights of stairs to reach it. The gates have pretty iron grille and tiles with a low wall surrounding the compound. The interior is dilapidated, some of the wooden stairs are crumpling. Furniture including sofas, beds and personal items like family photos are scattered around the house. There are bats flying. Trees, vines and fallen leaves are found outside the house. Urban exploration is based on the principles of only taking pictures, leaving no trace, and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 29 May 2021  Hong Kong Bans Tiananmen Massacre Vigil for Second Time after 3 Decades For the second consecutive year, Hong Kong police on Thursday banned the annual June 4 vigil commemorating China's 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre citing coronavirus restrictions. Up to 180,000 each year had joined the vigil held at Victoria Park for 30 years. Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil ban comes 2 days after neighbouring Macau Police refused any June 4 event for "inciting subversion", the first time authorities have made clear a political reason for banning remembrance. Despite the ban, organiser Hong Kong Alliance for Democracy in China expect a large turnout of people to mark the June 4 anniversary, though in small rather than big groups, like last year. The Alliance and online forums have called on people to light a candle at 8 pm on June 4 - which cannot be against the law - to remember those who lost their lives in an episode that remains taboo in China. Tens of thousands defied that ban and rallied peacefully at Victoria Park vigil last year. Hong Kong currently bans more than 4 people gathering in public under anti-coronavirus measures, making it all but impossible to get permission for protests. In the last month the city has only registered a few local infections with unknown sources. The draconian national security law imposed by Beijing last June 30, along with coronavirus restrictions, has virtually halted protests in Hong Kong after months of demonstrations and civic unrest in 2019. Last week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that the return of large-scale arts events showed “Hong Kong's gradual return to normality” as nearly 30,000 attended Art Basel Hong Kong last week. Meanwhile, a large-scale music festival is set to take place in mid-June at the government's West Kowloon Cultural District. Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2021 28 May 2021  Exploring Deserted Century-old Mansion An avid urban explorer ventures into a deserted century-old mansion. Built in 1920, the 2-storey high mansion is made of reinforced concrete and granite. The front porch is decorated with classical columns. The roof has a triangular eaves wall where the name of the mansion is engraved. During the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945), it was occupied by the Japanese army and was still rented out after the war. It became deserted in the 1970s and was rated as a Grade III historic building in 2010. Urban exploration is based on the principles of only taking pictures, leaving no traces, and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 27 May 2021  Yuen's Mansion - Castle-style Building in Mui Wo Yuen's Mansion, also known as "Yu Tak Li Wai", is an old house with character located in the Bridgehead Village of Mui Wo Chung Hau, Lantau Island. The old mansion was built in the 1930 and looks like a castle. In 2009, it was assessed as a Grade II historic building. The complex includes 6 buildings in total - a main house, a front house, a barn, east watch tower, west watch tower and a hut adjacent to east watch tower. However, the government has neglected the state of disrepair of the building, and the top floor of the main building has collapsed. The Mansion was built by Yuan Hua-zhao, a former member of Kuomingtang, Chinese Nationalist Party. During World War II, he played a role in scouting of and defence against the Japanese invasion. A part of the estate is now deserted. The other part is a dormitory for workers in nearby holiday homes. There is a cannon in the compound. The 4 major watch towers in Mui Wo include the 2 located here. Current owner, Yuen Chit-chi, recently criticised the government for a decade of drainage work near the historic site that has left it sinking. Mui Wo . Hong Kong | 2021 26 May 2021  Exploring Deserted Housing Estate An avid urban explorer ventures into an deserted housing estate. Built in 1974, there are 2 blocks of 8-storey buildings with a total of 665 units that have been deserted. A spiral staircase is found on the top floor. Furniture including sofas, beds, personal items and family photos are left inside the units. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 25 May 2021  Exploring Deserted School on Outlying Island An avid urban explorer ventures into an deserted school on an outlying island. The 5- to 6-storey school building, completed in 1982 in brutalist architecture, includes a hall, classrooms, laboratories and offices. There is an astronomical observatory on the roof. The school has been closed since 2007 due to low enrolment and became deserted. A large amount of graffiti is found in the building. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 24 May 2021  Salisterra Blends Sumptuous Mediterranean Cuisine with Splendid Views Salisterra is the new Mediterranean concept that takes over the 49th floor of the Upper House, the upscale hotel above Admiralty. Michelin-one-star Chef Jun Tanaka brings an innovative culinary experience with flair that delights the diners with the coastal flavours of France and Italy. Interior designer André Fu adds to the iconic serene, minimalist design of the hotel with earthy bold colours and textures reflective of Mediterranean ambiance. The postcard windows offer gorgeous views. Admiralty . Hong Kong | 2021 23 May 2021  Deserted Century-old Senior Home with Revolutionary Past An avid urban explorer ventures into a deserted century-old senior home. The home was rated as a Grade I historic building in 2001 but was re-evaluated as a Grade II historic building in 2010 and there is a revolutionary past. In the 1980s, there were still about 10 buildings in the compound, but now only a remaining villa built in 1919 plus a gatehouse and a dormitory built in 1920. The design is simple, influenced by neoclassicism and British colonial architectural style. The dormitory has a unique triangular space on the top floor. The villa is a single-storey building with a colonnade composed of square columns, archways and decorative railings. In 1908, Sun Yat-sen's eldest brother Sun Mei supported Tongmenghui running revolutionary activities in Guangzhou. He made party flags, recruited party members, and this location served as a meeting place. The developer has applied to the government to build a 60-storey residential building on this land, and bulldozers are stationed in the senior home. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 22 May 2021  Spectre of National Security Law Looms over Art Basel Hong Kong Art Basel Hong Kong opens at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19-23 May with artwork of over 100 leading galleries from 23 countries and territories, fewer than half the number in the last show in 2019. This the the first major art show being held since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law in Hong Kong, which some critics including Chinese artist Ai Weiwei say has resulted in a loss of freedom of expression in the city. At the Gallery Weekend Berlin booth, the centrepiece is the Untitled 2018 (This Revolution will Not be Televised, South China Morning Post, 2 July 2014) by Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. It has an exposed corner that reveals the newspaper report with photos of the police response to the 510,000 who rallied on the 17th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong back to China. The protesters demanded genuine universal suffrage and political reform. This is one of the very few works that touched on sensitive subjects in the show. When this reporter asked about this artwork, Sophie Furse, Head of Content & Communications of the gallery proceeded immediately to cover-up the exposed content. She insisted that it was the manner it should be presented. Artists, writers and filmmakers know that their work could run afoul of the national security law, which criminalises anything that Beijing deems terrorism, secession, subversion or collusion with foreign powers. Art galleries are wary of taking risks and art touching on politics is especially sensitive. Some Hong Kong curators have been quietly asking artists to tone down their work, consulting with lawyers about how to avoid prosecution under the national security law and even calling the police to discuss potentially sensitive works before exhibiting them, according to the union that represents about 400 Hong Kong artists. Police officers were seen on site inspecting the artwork, an unprecedented move. Hong Kong government respects artistic freedom but national security is a red line, said Chief Executive Carrie Lam. Wanchai . Hong Kong | 2021 21 May 2021  Annie Explores Deserted Waterfront Artist Studio Annie, a nurse and an avid urban explorer, ventures into a deserted 3-storey waterfront artist studio. The owner is an artist and an architect. The design of the mansion is Brutalist. It is built along the hill with an open-air swimming pool in front. There is a white baby grand piano in the living room with many artworks, including paintings and sculptures. The house was seized by the government for having illegal construction and left deserted. Urban exploration is based on the principles of take nothing except picture, leave no trace and not revealing the location. Hong Kong | 2021 20 May 2021  Savour the Elegant Century-old Monument - The Helena May I used to pass by an elegant English-style mansion in Central and was drawn to its beige-white exterior walls and wooden doors, full of European colours. I would stop each time and savour the details. It turned out to be a declared monument with a history of over 100 years. The Helena May Institute (renamed The Helena May in 1974) was established by Lady May, wife of the then Governor Sir Henry May, to provide accommodation for single working women passing through or staying for a short time in Hong Kong and to organise educational and social activities for its members. The Main Building was built in 1916, when it comprised an office, a library, a reading room, a dining room, a lounge, classrooms, matron’s quarters and bedrooms. The building was used during the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) to house Japanese troops and to stable horses in 1941 and as the Hong Kong Public Library in 1944. It was taken ove |