Hong Kong for everyone

Ira Chaplain's images from Kowloon: Unknown Territory capture the diversity of Kowloon and the dynamic lives of ordinary people. Provided to China Daily

There are reasons to cross Victoria Harbor to Kowloon, and venture beyond Tsim Sha Tsui and Temple Street, says Rebecca Lo. Kowloon: Unknown Territory tells why.

One of my friends lives her life entirely within Hong Kong Island and becomes both disoriented and insecure when she has to venture even into nearby Kowloon or the New Territories.

She is not alone. There are many long-time Hong Kong residents who live, work and play within a 1-km radius of Central and don't see any reason to step outside their comfort zone.

Nicole Chabot also readily admits that before she started working as a research associate for Hong Kong Polytechnic University's China Business Center, she had little reason to cross Victoria Harbor.

"Kowloon was certainly unknown territory to me at the outset of our explorations," the author of Kowloon: Unknown Territory says.

Born to a French father and a Chinese mother from Hong Kong, Chabot settled in Hong Kong after living in Edinburgh, London and Amsterdam. Through her research on Kwun Tong for PolyU, she became fascinated by the diversity of Kowloon.

"The book consists of 15 socio-cultural features that focus on aspects of the five districts of Kowloon," she explains. "Some of the districts such as Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong are largely residential and generally very Chinese. But other districts, such as Yau Tsim Mong are extremely mixed. Chungking Mansions is a great example of a globalized space."

"Some tourist areas such as Temple Street are fully integrated into the city and have long been important local meeting places. Kowloon City is a gathering place for the Thai community in Hong Kong and historically had a Chaozhou focus. But with the relocation of the airport and major projects for west and east Kowloon on the drawing table, Kowloon is changing fast."

Chabot collaborated with Hong Kong-based American photographer Ira Champlain to capture the buzz of activity she experienced all around her.

She feels that the photos make the book: "Ira is able to blend into most environments and people feel relaxed in his presence. He isn't local, another strength, as it means that Kowloon was a subject that he explored with few presumptions and plenty of enthusiasm."

"Many of the images of Hong Kong in other books are so-called iconic images of common sights that support a particular view of the city. The photos in this book are full of color and life. They celebrate Hong Kong street culture and ordinary people's lives. The images of people flesh out Kowloon as a really dynamic place," she says.

Publisher Pete Spurrier of Blacksmith Books feels that Kowloon: Unknown Territory offers a different spin from the usual coffee table offering.

"This book is an exploration of Kowloon by two people who show it differently: one in words and the other in pictures," he says. "Even though they explored the five

districts together, they saw different things and spoke to different people. It's as if you walked up Nathan Road with a friend, each of you looking in opposite directions."

Both Spurrier and Chabot believe the book appeals to both local residents and tourists. Spurrier is also keen for a Chinese publisher to produce a Chinese-language edition.

"We hope that this book will encourage island-centric expats to cross the harbor more often and give tourists some reasons to venture beyond Tsim Sha Tsui and Temple Street," Spurrier says.

"This book shows that there is more to Hong Kong than just the obvious: shopping and spending money," Chabot says.

"Hong Kong has a distinctive cultural identity that needs to be valued and should be explored beyond the usual places. It is something in which everyone plays a part and it is for everyone."

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.