A New Interactive Map Celebrates Hong Kong’s Fading Heritage
The Hong Kong Ghost Signs project has introduced an innovative way for the public to engage with the city's evolving urban landscape. Through a newly launched interactive online map, individuals can contribute to a growing collection of "ghost signs" — remnants of past businesses and communities that are slowly disappearing due to rapid development.
This digital platform was developed by data scientist Mart van de Ven in collaboration with the project's founders, writer Billy Potts and photographer Ben Marans. The map, which became available last month, serves as a visual archive of these fading signs, capturing a unique glimpse into Hong Kong's history.
According to the project's social media presence, "ghost signs" refer to the remnants of old advertisements and shopfronts that have faded over time. These signs offer a rare and tangible connection to the communities and businesses that once thrived in the city but have since been replaced by modern structures.
Potts, who first became interested in ghost signs at the age of 13, recalls spotting a large, barely visible sign on a cold storage building in Aberdeen. He described how the faint characters on the sign eventually revealed themselves as an advertisement for a cigarette brand. This moment sparked his lifelong fascination with these hidden markers of the city's past.
Since its launch in May 2022, the Hong Kong Ghost Signs project has documented more than 300 such signs across the city. The project's official social media page has amassed over 2,500 followers, highlighting the growing interest in preserving this aspect of Hong Kong's heritage.
Potts emphasizes that ghost signs are not recognized as historical artifacts and are often difficult to preserve. As a result, photography remains the most effective way to document their existence. He hopes that the new map will encourage more people to take an active role in recording and protecting these signs before they vanish forever.
"Hong Kong is redeveloping at a rapid pace, so we’re bound to miss something," he said. "It could be demolished and gone forever."
How to Contribute to the Project
Users can easily add their own discoveries to the Hong Kong Ghost Signs collection by visiting the website hkghostsigns.com on their mobile devices. By clicking the plus sign icon located in the bottom left corner of the screen, contributors can submit their findings directly to the map.
Van de Ven explained that the decision to design the map for mobile use was based on the idea that smartphones are always within reach. "If someone wants to contribute to the map, they can do it there and then," he said.
He views ghost signs as "an imprint on the city that was." Van de Ven hopes that through the map, residents of Hong Kong will begin to see their city in a new light, recognizing the value and beauty in its hidden layers.
"I think Hong Kong has so many wonderful things to offer," he added, "but it’s not always as visible or accessible or as known."
Potts shares a similar sentiment, describing the city as "like a museum or a gallery." He believes that by engaging with the map and exploring the ghost signs, people can develop a deeper understanding of their surroundings.
Expanding the Vision
As the first initiative on the map, the Hong Kong Ghost Signs project represents just one of many possibilities for users. Van de Ven hopes that others will create their own collections or projects on the platform, contributing to a broader digital archive of Hong Kong's cultural and historical landscape.
"The ability to document these signs before they disappear is really a group effort," he said. "I’m really excited to have a wide range of collections on the platform, but for the ghost signs, it’s particularly interesting because these things are often very ephemeral."
Potts also encourages people to try out the map and provide feedback on how it can be improved. He sees this as an opportunity for the community to shape the future of the project and ensure that Hong Kong's fading heritage is preserved for generations to come.