So it is rather a surprise to find it still being 'hoisted' all over Hong Kong by the locals. In fact the union jack currently seems to be a fashionable symbol here. Once you are alert to this, you see it everywhere. So I sometimes try to count how many I can spot in a given location or time period.
16-Sep. Ladies market Mong Kok. 7 union jack t-shirts in 1 hour. I managed to photograph 3.
And one striking window display.
29-Sep:
Outside the Post Office
Kowloon station.
Along the Peak circuit
At the Peak Lookout
30-Oct Avenue of Stars
Pacific Coffee Nathan Road
Wan Chai
1-Oct China National Day
Discovery Bay Beach. 2 (out of a few hundred people)
Dinner Cruise. 2 (out of about 200 people)
3-Oct From bus into work
7-Oct Parkview Charity Bazar
and Harbour City Muji
I don't know what, if anything, this signifies (apart from how nerdy I can be). Probably just a post-Olympics 'cool britania' fashion trend. But I suspect it also speaks of some affection for the UK and its institutions. And perhaps even some reaction or wariness against domination by the Communist mainland - I never see the chinese red star being worn in the same way for example! Having said that, Im sure most locals are very proud to be Chinese and express this in many ways that are less obvious to me.
Postscript: Jan 2013
Im still seeing lots of union jacks around Hong Kong on a wide range of goods.
Union Jack purses and bags
Union Jack I-phone cover
Union Jack Smeg fridge
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