Hongkong Post says display of the royal emblems is “inappropriate” since Hong Kong is no longer under British rule. Image: Shutterstock
Activists and conservationists are up in arms to protect historic postboxes that bear the royal insignia, saying that they’re an important part of Hong Kong’s history that must be preserved. They are writing en masse to the postmaster general, Ting Yip Yin-mei, on Friday, World Post Day, to oppose a planned move to seal off the royal emblems.
Hongkong Post earlier announced a plan to cover up the royal emblems on 59 pre-colonial era postboxes across the territory, saying that they are “inappropriate” since Hong Kong is no longer under British rule. Authorities are also concerned that they might cause public confusion over whether they’re in still in use.
But heritage groups say the postboxes are a reminder of Hong Kong's heritage, and should be carefully preserved.
The Hong Kong Post Box Search Team, a voluntary group established in 2009 to protect historic postboxes, believes political pressure from Beijing has prompted the government to downplay British colonial elements in Hong Kong. “This is some attempt at decolonisation, at whitewashing the colonial history of Hong Kong”, its captain, Sin Wai-man, said.
The head of a Beijing think-tank on Hong Kong affairs, Chen Zuo’er, said last month that there is a need for Hong Kong to shake off its colonial legacy.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1216329-20151009.htm
