The new IFC tower in Hong Kong is huge. It's well over 100 stories tall. IFC is rumoured to stand for Incredible F*ck!ng Colossus. It's less than 1/4 occupied, reflecting the poor state of Hong Kong's property market despite the protestations to the contrary by the usual vested interests. But Hong Kong is an entrepreneurial place and blank space is a waste. Most office buildings either have advertising or silly light patterns on them, and often both. Usually they advertise the latest Canto-pop starlet's album or designer clothers. Their very sameness detracts from the fantastic collection of buildings behind them.

So you're running the IFC, you're losing money hand over fist, but you're in the most visible spot on the island. Of course, you put an advertisement on the side of the building. I kid you not when I say this banner must be 50 stories high. It's made of that see-through banner material so if anyone is working inside the building they can still see out. It's advertising a newspaper and an airline. But the sheer size of it distracts attention from whatever it's advertising and defeats the purpose. Plus it makes a phallic symbol look like it has a covering now...perhaps it is a subliminal message to all Hong Kongers to be safe.

I want to know what they do with it if a typhoon hits.