No, picture is more recent than that, 2013 max. You can see Langham Palace on the back.
No idea about when the signs were removed, that would probably require digging in local Chinese press from that time, something I am unable to do. It suggests they were all removed at once or close to that, save for the one left there. I am a bit surprised that Q's picture is as recent as 2015 given the massive difference in the area outlook, but it seems credible.
For the speculation on the who, I've got to admit Prince William or Edward are credible leads, but why? The speculation on Western Pacific Kindergarten and the sauna is pure smokescreen BS.
March 2014 seems more credible but it is the second picture from the singapat blog. Snowden was in HK mid-2013 and it could very well be around that time as well.