Far from being in a stupor, creativity is actually thriving. It's flourishing just like the lavish gardens pictured in so many new real estate developments that continue to pop up in this land-starved city. Take a look at the latest campaigns by Cheung Kong and Cyberport to launch their new upscale residential developments.
In one, a woman, wind in her hair, drives along an empty, winding moutain road overlooking a picturesque bay. Is it the south of Hong Kong? But wait a minute. Diary never knew Hong Kong to be so lush or the skies so brilliantly blue? Was it all due to the magic of the production wizards?
Apparently not. Try the south of France instead, where Cyberport had the TVC for its Residence Bel-Air shot. Cyberport even managed to get Latin diva Laura Fygi, who sings on the TVC, to spout its pitch: "Residence Bel-Air really does look like something special ... I'd love to live there myself."
Cyberport isn't the only developer heading thousands of kilometres from Hong Kong to film a real estate TVC. Cheung Kong Holdings headed to Prague for its TVC to launch One Beacon Hill.
Where to next ... the slopes of Aspen, the beaches of Tahiti?