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M+, Hong Kong. Gift of the Estate and family of Arthur Hacker in his honour, 2019, © HKSAR Government
Arthur Hacker 許敬雅
Information Services Department, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 香港特別行政區政府新聞處
Poster, Clean Our Buildings, Keep Hong Kong Clean campaign 清潔香港運動「清潔屋宇」海報
1973
In the early 1970s, the Hong Kong Government Information Services (GIS) launched a civic campaign focused on public cleanliness. The face of the campaign was the cartoon character Lap Sap Chung, created by Arthur Hacker as a green polka-dotted monster representing the consummate litterbug. The campaign included posters and other printed matter, televised programmes, public performances, and youth group activities to emphasise the individual and collective responsibilities of waste disposal. This poster shows an aerial view of Hong Kong, with Lap Sap Chung looming over the city and its surrounding hills in an allusion to the popular genre of monster films. Vertical text in English and Chinese prods viewers to ‘clean our buildings’, driving home the simultaneous personal and urban scale of the challenges of public sanitation.
Although Lap Sap Chung was intended to be an antagonist in the campaign’s narrative, Hacker’s monster became a beloved symbol of Hong Kong’s broader attempts to bolster civic pride and environmental awareness. Hacker, an author and historian as well as an art director and illustrator, was known for his distinctive curlicue-laden line drawings that document 1970s and 1980s Hong Kong. In addition to his work for the GIS, he published several books highlighting the city’s history and landmarks through his playful illustration style.
Although Lap Sap Chung was intended to be an antagonist in the campaign’s narrative, Hacker’s monster became a beloved symbol of Hong Kong’s broader attempts to bolster civic pride and environmental awareness. Hacker, an author and historian as well as an art director and illustrator, was known for his distinctive curlicue-laden line drawings that document 1970s and 1980s Hong Kong. In addition to his work for the GIS, he published several books highlighting the city’s history and landmarks through his playful illustration style.
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