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Abstract
We are living in an ocular-centric, image-ridden world, in which light is essential for the manifestation and representations of spectacles and images. In reality, we need light and we enjoy the company of light. However, what if light and images have become eye-hurting? What if light has become a nuisance, a problem commonly known as light pollution? Would this alter or pose challenges to our obsession with light, vision, and images? This paper aims to discuss the light pollution problem in Hong Kong from the visual culture perspective. Light pollution remains severe in Hong Kong and is said to be one of the worst on the planet. Through analyzing the light pollution discourses in Hong Kong, this paper will shed new light on the reason why light pollution discourses, which could have been anti-ocular, fail to contest the continuous domination of vision and images in a metropolis.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 As a result, Hong Kong citizens have little memory of the starry sky (Ho Citation2013).
2 Cambridge dictionary online (light). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/light.
3 Website: http://www.light2015.org/Home.html.
4 Hong Kong Tourism Board, http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/highlight-attractions/harbour-view/a-symphony-of-lights.jsp.
5 See KonstantiaM2 from Greece (Dec 2018); (Satinder_Panesar, from India, Nov 2018). From https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/Attraction_Review-g294217-d548052-Reviews-Symphony_of_Lights-Hong_Kong.html.
6 (shahirtahir_56, from Malaysia, Nov 2018) https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/Attraction_Review-g294217-d548052-Reviews-Symphony_of_Lights-Hong_Kong.html.
7 Translated by the author. For original quotation, see https://www.hongkongnavi.com/miru/41/.
9 “A complement to the breathtaking view of the Victoria Harbour, the Light Rose Garden demonstrates two versions of view during the day and night time that are equally mesmerizing. During the day, the pale roses radiates a sense of white romance, while at night, they transform into scattered points of warming light sources that resemble twinkling stars in the sky. They twinkle for lovers and the beloved.”. See http://www.fairtradehk.org/en/light-rose-garden-hong-kong/.
10 Ublog. “Light Rose Garden HK @ Admiralty”, April 28 2016. https://blog.ulifestyle.com.hk/blogger/kimfamilytravel/2016/04/%E3%80%90%E8%A6%AA%E5%AD%90%E5%A5%BD%E5%8E%BB%E8%99%95%E3%80%91%E9%87%91%E9%90%98-light-rose-garden-hk-%E7%8E%AB%E7%91%B0%E7%87%88%E6%B5%B7%E5%9C%92-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E7%AB%99-%E4%B8%AD/.
11 Comments from Oriental Daily Facebook (February 13, 2016): https://www.facebook.com/onccnews/videos/10153587773877655/?comment_id=10153587988382655&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D.
12 All comments are from Apple Daily Facebook Page (February 15, 2016): https://www.facebook.com/hk.nextmedia/photos/a.170516952447.149676.105259197447/10154119929322448/?type=3&comment_id=10154119953377448&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D.
13 It is not the intention of the paper to suggest that the disenchantment and re-enchantment discussed is an epochal shift; the rather linear discussion thus far is only for illustration’s sake. The author agrees that it is a process of instant disenchantment and re-enchantment. To say the least, the Europeans did find light an intoxicating spectacle. (See Bowers Citation1998). For the discussion of instant disenchantment and re-enchantment, see Ritzer (Citation2010).
14 From “Ridiculous Lighting” discussion, Friends of the Earth 2008 and 2009.
15 It is reported that the painfully bright lights are driving customers away. Joyce Ng, “Causeway Bay mall voted city's worst light-pollution landmark”, South China Morning Post, October 6 2008 https://www.scmp.com/article/655227/causeway-bay-mall-voted-citys-worst-light-pollution-landmark.
16 Original title: 油尖旺廣告招牌燈光強 駕駛者易被干擾 (Oriental Daily, December 8, 2015). Title translated by the author.
17 Original title, “Tourist complained about signboards in Nathan Road— the five signboards were raping their eyes” (遊客投訴彌敦道招牌強光 一店五燈箱「雙眼如被強姦」), SingTao Daily, September 20, 2010. Quotation and title are translated by the author.
18 Original title, “Strong light disturbing residents in two estates in Tsing Yi” (青衣光害滋擾兩屋邨), Oriental Daily, May 15, 2011. Title and quotation are translated by the author.
19 Original title, “Billboard blinding light, turning night into day” (廣告強光 令黑夜如白晝) Apple Daily May 4, 2014. Title and quotations are translated by the author.
20 Ibid.
21 News from 1997 to 2017 published in Hong Kong local newspapers are studied (114 in total). Newspapers in HK; the article may also report light pollution discussion in other countries. Most of the local news articles are selected from Chinese newspapers; the article headlines are translated by the author of this paper.
22 Original quotation, “無理由試燈要通宵達"(From “New hotel testing light overnight, depriving nearby residents of sleep” (未開業酒店通宵試燈 居民無覺瞓), Oriental Daily, December 25, 2014).
23 Original quotation, from Ridiculous Lighting 2008 and 2009, http://www.foe.org.hk/e/content/cat_page.asp?cat_id=528#.VbiPDvmqpBd.
24 Original sentence, “好多燈都係俾鬼睇的,唔知開尼做乜”, translated by the author, http://www.miniforum.net/showpost.fcgi?tempid=2&MGID=2625346&page=.
25 Original quotation, from Ridiculous Lighting 2008 and 2009, http://www.foe.org.hk/e/content/cat_page.asp?cat_id=528#.VbiPDvmqpBd.
26 “Shopping mall light pollution, a waste of energy” (商場午夜光污染 浪費電力), from Oriental Daily, May 29, 2014.
27 “Siu Sai Wan: Municipal Building light on all night” (小西灣 : 綜合大樓 半夜唔熄燈) Oriental daily, June 4, 2014.
28 Original quotation, from Ridiculous Lighting 2008 and 2009.
29 Ibid.
30 Translated by the author, original sentence, “它用了很多白光管烅, 過於明亮, 而且是沒有必要的, 還要開至凌晨3點, 十分浪費電力”, from Ridiculous Lighting 2008 and 2009.
31 Translated by the author; original sentence, “自從有環保團體提出濫開射燈的問題後, 的確發覺都市中到處都有這樣的情況。而其中一些是特別離譜的, 例如上圖是一家待租的街邊舖位, 位於銅鑼灣糖街, 完全沒有任何商業活動, 只有地產代理的幾塊廣告板, 但依然要照個燈火通明, 可以說是浪費得十分赤裸裸!” http://leochill.blogspot.hk/2009/06/3.html.
32 Light pollution is not the major concerns of the environmental NGOs in Hong Kong. Among the many environmental NGOS, Friends of the Earth (HK) was the major NGOs which concerned light pollution.
33 Chu Han Keung 朱漢強, “The meaningless game of myriad twinkling lights” (「萬家爭火」的無聊遊戲) Sing Tao Daily, October 20, 2008; Friends of the Earth, Press Release, “Ghost in Central? Let’s ask the luxurious brands, are we having Halloween every day?” (中環有鬼? 名店鬼咁光, 日日萬聖節?) October 30, 2008.
34 That light pollution is defined as a problem of inefficient energy usage can be further evinced by the website in which the important report “Report of the Task Force on External Lighting” (Environment Bureau Citation2015) is published: “Reports of energy”.
35 “Laser light causing a public nuisance”, The Sun, August 20, 2014.
36 “Signboards light too strong in Mongkok, affecting drivers’ vision” Oriental Daily, December 8, 2015.
37 Ibid.
38 Low carbon living calculator. https://www.carboncalculator.gov.hk/en.
39 “20% shops light-on overnight, violating the charter” (兩成商舖凌晨不關燈 環保約章豈可簽了算), HK01, October 31, 2019.
40 “Implemented for 2 years, light pollution voluntary charter not effective” (實施兩年 光污染投訴反升 戶外燈光約章 環團批如無牙老虎), U Lifestyle, October 30, 2019.
41 “Implemented for 2 years, light pollution voluntary charter not effective” (實施兩年 光污染投訴反升 戶外燈光約章 環團批如無牙老虎), U Lifestyle, October 30, 2019.
42 See: “Seeing stars, why is it so important?” (人生能見到繁星, 重要嗎?) Am730, September 25, 2013; Touched by the starry sky” (星空下的觸動) Singtao, September 11, 2013; 梁文道, “Mourning our Pearl of the Orient– another type of light pollution” (“哀悼東方之珠 — 另類光害”) Man-Tao Leung’s essay collection: About Hong Kong (梁文道文集 香港雜評), March 3, 2008. From: http://www.commentshk.com/2008/03/blog-post.html.
43 “Christmas lighting keeps Hong Kong company for 50 years” (聖誕燈飾 伴港人走過50年), AM730, December 9, 2016.
44 Nr1379, 2019. “Must see”. Tripadvisor. November 20, 2019. https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/ShowUserReviews-g294217-d593054-r727824358-Victoria_Harbour-Hong_Kong.html.
45 Caitlin, L. 2018. “Hong Kong: Pollution by Light!” Youngzine, February 5, 2018. https://youngzine.org/news/our-earth/hong-kong-pollution-light.
46 Dialogue experience: Dark and Silence experiential exhibition https://www.dialogue-experience.hk/en.
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Yee-Man Lam
Dr. Lam Yee Man obtained her doctor’s degree in Cultural Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2013. Her research is centred on environmental ethics and culture. She is currently working as an assistant professor in the Department of English Language and Literature, Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Email: [email protected]