In terms of the designated monuments in Hong Kong under the control of the two administrations, there have been broad comparisons of the distribution of places and years of declarations in the previous sections. Political, historical, and social reasons have been identified to be the possible causes of variations in the monuments' locations, declaration dates, architectural styles, and themes. This section tries to provide an in-depth understanding of the connections between the declared monuments and their interrelated stories and information. The relevance of specific examples in history, politics, society, and architectural styles will thus be discussed and researched. You may explore the detailed descriptions and facts of specific instances by interacting with the embedded graphs and story maps in this section.

As the main colonial area, monuments on Hong Kong Island include a variety of historical sites that reflects significant historical events, British architectural style, as well as Western religious beliefs. For instance, as the mother church and cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong Island, as well as the oldest still-standing Western Christian ecclesiastical structure in Hong Kong, St. John's Cathedral in Central, was declared for its significance in 1996 (AMO, 2021b).  However, the New Territories were still a comparatively primitive and traditional agrarian society when the British gained control of it, despite Hong Kong Island had already developed into a modern, commercial, and open town (Watson, 1983). Thus, there are many valuable monuments being declared in this district as a result of its abundant unexploited natural resources and local cultural sites. For instance, in Sai Kung, there are notable amounts of rock carvings (e.g., Rock Carving on Kau Sai Chau, Rock Carving on Tung Lung Chau, and Rock Inscription at Joss House Bay) being acknowledged for their archaeological value. 

Referring to the graph above, from 2008 to 2012, the government declared up to 53 groups of monuments, which is a remarkable time period. The monuments that were declared during this time period, with reference to AMO (2022a), constitute mainly artificial landmarks with unique historical and cultural significance. For instance, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs on Hong Kong Island is made up of 22 historical structures, including reservoirs, masonry bridges, valve houses, and more (AMO, 2021b). Given the historical significance of the reservoir structures and the importance of the site in addressing public water needs, the Tai Tam Group of Reservoirs was designated as a monument in 2009 (AMO, 2021b).

In the 1990s, Hong Kong also demonstrated a growing interest in cultural tourism and historical preservation. Prior to that, in order to guarantee that these valuable monuments are adequately protected, "the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance" was implemented in 1976. Additionally, the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Antiquities and Monuments Office were established in the same year (AMO, 2022a). They gained control over the preservation and maintenance of Hong Kong's cultural heritage, including the colonial monuments. It is undeniable that the designation of the colonial monuments not only encourages the preservation of Hong Kong's history but also may enhance the opportunities for sustainable development in the tourism sector in Hong Kong (McKercher, Ho & Du, 2005).

Colonial buildings

In order to establish the authority of the colonists and other administrative and economic forces, plenty of colonial structures were built in Hong Kong throughout the prolonged British colonial period. These colonial remnants still have a significant impact on Hong Kong's street scene and overall architectural style even after the colonial era has ended. In 1990s, the government declared a variety of monuments that were built or utilized during the colonial period, including government offices, banks, commercial establishments, schools and so forth. According to AMO (2022b), there are 13 colonial buildings being declared during 1990s, they are:

• Former Victoria Prison Compound

• Main Building of St. Stephen's Girls' College

• Government House

• Former Central Magistracy

• Former Kowloon British School

• Gate Lodge of the Former Mountain Lodge

• Tang Chi Ngong Building, The University of Hong Kong (Exterior declared as a monument)

• St. John's Cathedral

• Former Central Police Station Compound

• Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound

• Main Building, The Helena May (Exterior declared as a monument)

• Hung Hing Ying Building, The University of Hong Kong (Exterior declared as a monument)

• University Hall, The University of Hong Kong (Exterior declared as a monument)

Please interact with the Storymap embedded below for more information on each colonial monument listed above. To begin your exploration of the monuments, click 'Start Exploring'.

Discussion

As shown in the Storymap above, 10 out of 13 colonial monuments that were declared during the 1990s were located in the Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, indicating the importance of these two areas of Hong Kong as vital administrative and commercial centres during the colonial era. Furthermore, Central and Tsim Sha Tsui are easily accessible by transportation because they are located on Hong Kong Island's southern coast. During the colonial era, they served as Hong Kong's main ports of entry for ships. As a result, Central and Tsim Sha Tsui developed into important trading and commercial centres, as well as crucial sights for approaching sailors and merchants. This is due to the fact that vessels entering the mainland of Hong Kong had to pass through these regions. 

According to Xue (2016), alterations in Hong Kong's colonial status and historical circumstances inevitably had an impact on a variety of the city's architectural features. These structures, constructed during the colonial era, display a range of European architectural styles, including Victorian, Edwardian Classical Revival, Neoclassical, Colonial Renaissance, Greek-revival, Gothic, and so forth. In addition to the British colony's effect, there is evidence that Japan's 1941–1945 occupation of Hong Kong had an impact on the city's architectural style. For instance, the Government House, which now has a hybrid Japanese-neoclassical design, was originally constructed in 1855 as a Colonial Renaissance-style structure but underwent substantial remodelling during the Japanese occupation.

Local cultural monuments

Culturally significant monuments serve as tangible cultural heritages by showing people the customs, faith, and culture of this region. Prior to the 1970s, the majority of people living in Hong Kong were migrants or refugees from mainland China, particularly from Guangdong Province (Lu, 2003). As a result, they carried their traditional norms and rituals to this island during the period in which they were assimilating as a cultural group in the new place. This may be exhibit in various aspects, including housing styles, religious activities, as well as other common routines. Monuments having archaeological significance also represent the local cultures along the historical path of Hong Kong. Regarding AMO (2022b), 11 monuments were designated in the 2010s in acknowledgment of their local cultural values. They are as follows:

• Rock Carving at Cape Collinson

• Fat Tat Tong

• Tat Tak Communal Hall

• Yeung Hau Temple, Tai O

• Tang Kwong U Ancestral Hall

• Hau Mei Fung Ancestral Hall

• Yuk Hui Temple (Wan Chai)

• Man Mo Temple Compound

• Lin Fa Temple

• Hung Shing Temple (Ap Lei Chau)

• Hau Wong Temple (Kowloon City)

To learn more about each of the cultural monuments listed above, please interact with the Storymap embedded below. Click 'Start Exploring' to start your tour of the monuments.

Discussion

In terms of their background in culture, the cultural monuments depicted in the Storymap above can be divided into two main categories: monuments that reflect the local community's culture and monuments with archaeological relevance. Five temples dominate the list of the 11 instances on the map, which highlights the significance of religious practices in Hong Kong society. These temples were built in ancient times to worship great ancestors and traditional Chinese supernatural beings, such as Man Cheong (the God of Literature), Mo Tai (the God of Martial Arts), Kwun Yam (the Goddess of Mercy), and others. The architectural design of monuments constructed in various eras reflects the cultural characteristics of particular communities or historical events. For instance, Fat Tat Tong can be investigated to illustrate the Hakka community and culture as well as the return of the overseas Chinese to Hong Kong during the 20th century.