2012-2016 Snapshots of a city, part 4

HK Edition | Updated: 2017-06-27 07:56

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Hong Kong coped with its fair share of troubles in the last five years, dealing with disasters - of the political, and natural, sort. However, in this final installment of photos, charting the city's journey through the years immediately preceding its 20th anniversary, China Daily Hong Kong photographers Edmond Tang and Roy Liu would rather focus on surviving the difficult times than dwell on them.

In keeping with the idea of sending out positive vibes and optimism in the lead-up to the grand celebration, these images touch on the city's effervescent, never-say-die attitude. The same spiritedness shows when key figures of the city's major commercial establishments take the ice bucket challenge and again when firefighters are seen relentlessly battling a blaze that raged for 108 hours and killed two of their colleagues.

We consign the hard times to memory and revisit the good times with pride and joy. Happy Birthday, Hong Kong!

1. Aug 3, 2012: Hong Kong's own Lee Wai-sze tucks into the bronze medal she won in the women's keirin (track cycling) event at the Summer Olympics in London. AP 2. Dec 11, 2014: Police forces stand in attendance as the main thoroughfare adjacent to the government headquarters in Admiralty, blocked by protestors is cleared out after 79 days. Edmond Tang / China Daily 3. June 22, 2016: Firefighters try to douse a blaze in Amoycan Industrial Centre building in Kowloon Bay. Two firemen died and several others were injured trying to put out the flames. Edmond Tang / China Daily 4. May 2, 2013: A gigantic replica of the rubber duck toy appears against the skyline in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. Created by the Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, the inflatable sculpture is modeled after the generic toy that used to be a major Hong Kong export during the city's manufacturing heydays. Edmond Tang / China Daily 5. Aug 20, 2014 : (From second left to right) Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group; Gregory So Kam-leung, secretary for commerce and economic development; and Simon Galpin, director-general of InvestHK, take the Ice Bucket Challenge. Edmond Tang / China Daily 6. July 26, 2016: Hong Kong joins the Pokemon Go craze after the augmented-reality game is officially made available in the city. Roy Liu / China Daily 7. Feb 9, 2016: Smoke billows out of a fire started by rioters in Mong Kok district, after hawkers clashed with policemen on duty. Edmond Tang / China Daily 8. April 22, 2013 Customers scramble to buy gold items after the price of the precious metal dived to its lowest in more than 30 years. Edmond Tang / China Daily 9. Oct 2, 2012: Rescuers search for survivors in a sinking boat. Two vessels had collided, killing at least 36 and injuring several others, in one of the city's worst maritime accidents. Edmond Tang / China Daily 10. July 13, 2015: A temporary tap to supply fresh water to residents is set up in Kai Ching Estate after the water supplied to the public housing estate in Kowloon City was reported containing excessive lead. Provided to China Daily 11. May 28, 2013 Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso Sing-yu punches twice world champion Wandee Singwancha from Thailand to score a knock-out victory in Round 4 of the WBC AMCO Asia Continental super flyweight title at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Edmond Tang / China Daily

(HK Edition 06/27/2017 page6)