Keith Macgregor tells of this glorious period and how he, like many others, tended to take them for granted as part of the urban landscape.  Then in 1998, he decided to record almost every Neon sign, which took over 40 nights walking and driving.  This took him all over the territory from Aberdeen to Shau Kei Wan on the island and from Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon to Sai Kung and Tsuen Wan in the New Territories.

The photographs taken illustrated the amazing creativity, skill, artistry and imagination needed to create these dynamic, colourful and very creative works of art.  This led to the publication of Keith’s now classic book “Neon City, Hong Kong at night”.

Keith explains that the decision to record the signs was a fortuitous one because soon after this neon started to disappear, as giant illuminated billboards emerged as more energy-efficient options.  Added to this, many establishments closed through urban development and gentrification.  Then in 2013, Hong Kong ordered the removal of all unauthorised signboards and the number of signboards fell from 120,000 to less than 50,000, forever changing city streetscapes.

Keith Macgregor has been photographing Hong Kong for nearly 50 years.  Born in India to British parents, he spent the first year of his life in Hong Kong and is a graduate of Oxford University.  In 1970 he returned to Hong Kong to set up as a portrait and later a commercial photographer which led to the formation of his photography publishing business, Cameraman Limited. The books, calendars and postcards published were very successful including: An Eye on Hong Kong; Neon City; Hong Kong at Night; and 50th Anniversary of photographing Hong Kong. He also ran the furniture and home goods business, Banyan Tree, with his wife.  He now lives in London and visits Hong Kong frequently to take photographs of the territory’s ever-changing landscape.