In which the winner is "new" Hong Kong in a knockdown

This morning I decided that I need to find a gym to start working out at immediately. Not because I want to. Nope, it's because I've suddenly noticed that I am developing a severe case of lunch lady arms.

Remember the lunch lady at your high school who's triceps flapped when she raised her arms? Who could, in a stiff wind, sail you out of harm's way if need be? Yep, I'm succumbing to that same phenomenon.
My God, I'm one step from asking "tater tots or fries?".

Anyway, on my way to check out Hollywood Fitness and the like, I was struck by just how much HK is a city in stark contrast with itself. Sure, every big city has the rundown areas and the gated communities but none that I know of are so close together in such a small area. For example, the above pictures were taken about 100 yards apart. The one on the right is slated for demolition to make way for a tourist information center. The tenants have no choice.

Something's gotta give and I'm pretty sure it's not going to be the "new" HK. And this is a shame because there's more character in the distressed old neighborhoods than there will ever be in the posh newer ones. That's not to say that I want the poor to stay poor or the buildings to stay quite as dodgy as they currently are but why not try rehabbing an eyesore like this rather than ripping it down and sending the tenants elsewhere to start all over again elsewhere?

The HK Government seems to be taking the approach of "out of sight, out of mind" and they're spending a great deal of time giving short shrift to those of lower economic status. God forbid a tourist should see some poor bastard hanging his laundry out his apartment window to dry in the building he's lived in for the last 40 years.

And that's where they're completely missing the point. That is part of Hong Kong's charm! Sure, the peak and the views from the skysrapers are great but it's the local people and customs and culture that make it what it is and, I'm sure, what keeps people coming back. If all people wanted was upper crust shopping and light shows they'd stay in Vegas.

Here's to old Hong Kong! I'm going to try to take as much of it in as I can because who knows how much of it will be left in 10 years?