‘City of Lights, Hong Kong’s Neon Heritage’
Book lecture and Slideshow by Keith Macgregor
Celebrating the soul of neon in Hong Kong
Photographer Keith Macgregor brings Hong Kong Neon Back to Life in his new book, which dives into the British photographer’s enormous archive of Hong Kong neon signs.
Date: Saturday 5th December 2026
Venue: St Anne’s Church, London
Time: 16.30 Book signing; 17.00 Lecture; 18.30 End
Cost: £15 pp members / £20 pp non-members
Keith’s book will be available to purchase on the day at a discounted price of £48. Taking place in the run-up to Christmas, this event will offer a perfect opportunity to purchase a copy (or two!) as a special Christmas gift.
Between 1950 and 1980, neon signs became a defining feature of Hong Kong’s streets, transforming the city into the vibrant landscape of colour, creativity and artistic expression we loved and all remember.
Where have all the lights gone? Following regulatory changes in 2010, almost all have disappeared, with fewer than 400 remaining today. Fortunately, Keith recognised their beauty and significance as early as 1998 when he set out to document as many as possible, spending more than 40 nights photographing signs across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. His photographs captured the remarkable craftsmanship and imagination behind these illuminated works of art, resulting in his now-classic 2002 book Neon City, Hong Kong at Night.
This latest book, City of Lights offers a nostalgic look back at a time when tens of thousands of neon signs illuminated Hong Kong uniquely capturing neon’s vivid colours and glow in print before changing technology, urban redevelopment and government regulations began to reshape Hong Kong’s iconic night-time streetscape.
Born in India to British parents, Keith spent his first year in Hong Kong and returned regularly during his school holidays as a teenager. After graduating from Oxford University, he moved to New York before returning to Hong Kong in 1969, where he established himself as a portrait, industrial and commercial photographer. This led to the creation of his photography publishing business, Cameraman Limited. His work first gained public attention through a solo exhibition at the Excelsior Hotel in 1974, followed by his popular Hong Kong calendars (1975) and distinctive, black-bordered postcards, distributed worldwide in their millions. He went on to publish several sought-after books, including six editions of An Eye on Hong Kong (1997–2009), Neon City: Hong Kong at Night and 50th Anniversary of Photographing Hong Kong. Alongside photography, he ran the furniture and home goods business Banyan Tree with his wife. Now based in London, Keith continues to visit Hong Kong to photograph its ever-changing landscape.
Member’s wishing to attend, please log-in to your account to register.
For non-member’s please contact communications@hkas.org