Heritage Conservation in Post?colonial Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a small territory located at a strategic position in South China, with very limited land and other natural resources. When it became a British Colony, the city was intended as a military fort and an economic centre. However, since the change of sovereignty in 1997, heritage conservation has become one of the most popular issues. The current concern for local heritage has been primarily raised by the local community, including residents and non‐government organisations. This paper discusses the economic, social, political and environmental impetus of this unprecedented popularity of heritage conservation in contemporary Hong Kong, and argues that heritage conservation has become an implement for various parties in post‐colonial Hong Kong to present themselves in the discourse of urban renewal and development, and to defend and negotiate their interests. This dynamic process also has significant impacts on the conservation of heritage properties in Hong Kong.