The original neon sign of the restaurant’s Mau Lam Street branch was removed recently and replaced with a smaller, government-approved version. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Only around 150 neon signs still adorn Hong Kong’s cityscapes, down from 120,000 a decade ago, according to unofficial estimates. 

One of the iconic neon signboards removed recently belonged to the Mau Lam Street branch of Tai Ping Koon, one of the city’s oldest restaurant franchises. The piece was installed in 1964, which makes it the oldest preserved sign in Hong Kong on record, according to Tai Ping Koon’s fifth-generation owner and managing director, Andrew Chui.

The original neon sign of the restaurant’s Mau Lam Street branch was removed recently and replaced with a smaller, government-approved version. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Neon signs have been a part of Tai Ping Koon’s signature style since its inception. “We’ve been using neon signs ever since we set up our first branch in Hong Kong in 1938,” says Chui, who is proud of the distinctive calligraphy and other design elements of the neon signs associated with the brand. 

He believes the neon signs on the restaurant’s wall played a major role in building the enterprise’s brand identity. It was almost as if the popularity of neon signs in Hong Kong and that of the Tai Ping Koon brand grew hand in hand. Chui says he is proud that Tai Ping Koon played a significant role in shaping the city’s neon sign heritage. 

Tai Ping Koon restaurant owner Andrew Chui. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

As per the current government regulations, “owners need to uninstall all old neon signs and seek approval from the Buildings Department before putting up a new one”. Many owners don’t bother as “the costs of removal and re-installment are too high”. Chui reveals that the cost of installing a new, Buildings Department-approved version of a neon sign at their Mau Lam Street branch was more than HK$200,000 ($25,570). 

The restaurant’s remaining neon signs continue to draw visitors. Patrons are often seen taking photos of these. Chui says that he cannot help but notice that some of the returning customers are disappointed when they see the neon signboards they had come to love and cherish over the years have been cut to size.