Time was that Hong Kong's standing as a cosmopolitan world city would be laudable, but for the notable absence of a bona fide, sustainable alternative to Canto-pop.
However, times have changed, and what was once just a sporadically inspired local independent scene has developed signs of true staying power.
'Indie music has somehow been reborn lately,' says Gary Chan, associate publisher of Re:spect music magazine. 'There are more commercial opportunities for bands now. University shows combine mainstream and indie acts, introducing the alternative acts to new, younger audiences.
'Brands are more open to sponsoring indie events as well,' Chan says.
Yuen Chi-chung, music critic and founder of influential music platform MCB, agrees. 'Now everything is exciting again. The original local indie boom came in the mid-90s with the success of bands like Anodize, AMK and Huh?! breaking into the mainstream,' he says.
During this period, major media such as Commercial Radio 2 carved a sizeable niche by promoting independent local releases, and it wasn't unusual for heavier artists such as N.T. and Screw to be playing the Coliseum to sizeable crowds. However, the mass media soon associated such events with aggression and anarchy, and mainstream interest in the alternative scene plummeted.
It has yet to reach the same heights again.