Hong Kong after dark in the national security law era and Covid times (Photo-essay)

As the famous saying goes: "A picture says a thousand words".  So while I've already blogged about Hong Kong's reduced nightlife, here's offering the following photo-essay of photos taken on different evenings this past week that will help give an idea of what different parts of urban Hong Kong look like after dark these days.  And yes, ironically, I was out at night more than usual this week as it so happens -- include earlier this evening, in fact! ;b

From a distance, the lights look far from out in Hong Kong

And the views of Victoria Harbour from the Star Ferry

still can look downright magical

But when one turns one's attention to the interior of the 

Star Ferry though, I'd wager that Hong Kong's status 

as Asia's World City doesn't look super solid :S

I really wish it were otherwise but many of Hong Kong's

neon signs have seen better days  -- and we're talking here 

of those that remain (as opposed to have been taken down) :(

Ditto re the singalong parlours that the likes of Lonely Planet

have highlighted but few locals under the age of 60 (or is it 70?)

would seriously think of spending an evening in!

 

As for Four Seasons Pot Rice: the queues are long gone -- seemingly due 

to a combination of jacked up prices, the food no longer tasting all that special, 

and people not dining out that much anymore at night in these Covid times

 

Still, what really hammered home how quiet Hong Kong now is

after dark was seeing how empty Times Square was this evening

 

I realise that this was a Sunday (as opposed to Saturday or Friday) 

night -- but even so, right??!!  (Put another way: I'd never have

imagined a sight like this in the pre-national security law era)