Hong Kong: Not What I Expected

Categories: Life 2023-07-02

The Beginning

A few months ago, thanks to an introduction by Uncle Wolf, GIAC’s Global Internet Architecture Conference invited me to share about the integration of Rust and frontend technologies. The conference was in Shenzhen, and I immediately accepted. Despite having traveled extensively, I had never visited Shenzhen or Hong Kong. Some good friends live there, and finally I had a “reason” to visit.

However, my flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen on Friday night was delayed from 7:40 PM to 10:40 PM. Arriving in Shenzhen around 1 AM, it took me over 20 minutes just to walk out of the airport. After a taxi ride to the hotel, it was already 2:30 AM, and I was exhausted.

I was scheduled to speak in the afternoon session of the second day. Attending the morning sessions, I noticed how hot AIGC was, while Web 3.0 and Node seemed to be declining. After the day ended, my friends took me out for barbecue. Although I didn’t explore much of Shenzhen, the oysters were truly exceptional. Later, we strolled around Shenzhen Bay, gazing at Hong Kong across the water, and then headed to a bar for some casual drinks.

The next morning, I headed to Hong Kong. I took a taxi to Futian station, and a 15-minute high-speed train ride later, I arrived at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon station. It felt just like taking the subway, albeit with immigration procedures.

Observations

It was my first visit to Hong Kong. I’m not the type to rush through tourist attractions; instead, I prefer to observe the cultural and environmental settings. I noticed several aspects that were “Not What I Expected,” which I’ll share here.

1. Sunday Gatherings of Filipino Domestic Workers: Surprisingly, parks, plazas, and bridges were crowded with Filipino domestic workers on Sundays. Despite the rain, they sat on the ground, surrounded by their belongings, wearing colorful clothes, eating, chatting, laughing, singing, and video chatting with family. This joyful day off seemed like a happy, hardworking holiday. I witnessed this vibrant scene at Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Park. Sundays are their official rest days. Since restaurants and malls can be expensive, public spaces become a preferred spot for gatherings with homemade food, reminiscent of casual camping back home. This highlights Hong Kong’s inclusivity.

2. High Cost of Living: The cost of living in Hong Kong was higher than expected. A bottle of water costs 10 HKD, and a small sandwich from FamilyMart is 30 HKD. Dining at a decent restaurant can easily reach 500 HKD per person, which deterred me, although Starbucks prices are similar to mainland China. Service fees surprised me; luggage storage at West Kowloon station cost 140 HKD, and forgetting a locker’s code required an extra 60 HKD. Uber rides are pricey—a short 1.5 km trip can cost 60 HKD, similar to taxi fares in Japan. Fortunately, the extensive subway network makes public transportation convenient. Yet, some places seemed only slightly more expensive than mainland China. For instance, dining at “WaSo Ice Room” in Tsim Sha Tsui, we spent under 160 HKD for five dishes, feeling full and satisfied.

3. Accessibility in Public Spaces: Public spaces in Hong Kong are remarkably accessible, promoting an atmosphere of equality. Almost every traffic light, elevator, and subway station is equipped to assist visually impaired users. Traffic lights emit audible signals to indicate when it’s safe to cross, and handrails and subway barriers have prominent Braille labels. Even subway station entrances feature Braille for reading and button interaction.

4. Unique Transportation Aspects: Vehicle license plates in Hong Kong can be customized, which is quite fascinating. In mainland China, plates like “666” or “ILoveYou” would seem fake, but they’re perfectly legal here. Cars drive incredibly fast, and small vehicles give off a racing vibe. Interestingly, adherence to traffic lights isn’t strict; about a third of pedestrians cross on red lights if the road is clear.

5. Friendly Encounters: Many people were exceptionally friendly. A local gentleman at the high-speed train station went out of his way to give us directions. Convenience store staff are courteous in explaining things. It’s common to see older individuals working, indicating a society that offers employment opportunities to seniors. The streets are filled with foreigners and locals alike, engaging in conversations in Cantonese, which thrilled me as a fan of Hong Kong movies and Cantonese music.

6. Other Observations: Power banks are surprisingly scarce—bring your own. Mall air conditioning is exceptionally cold, and the weather tends to be unpredictable with sudden rain showers, making an umbrella essential. Large screens outside malls display news and stock market indices. Communication in fluent Cantonese or English is easy.

In conclusion, while the cost of living is higher than expected, the culture, atmosphere, and scenic beauty of Hong Kong make it worth a second visit.

Photos

Delayed Flight

Shenzhen Bay Overlooking Hong Kong

Victoria Harbour

Filipino Domestic Workers

Kowloon Park

Tsim Sha Tsui

Hua Sao Ice Room

Subway Braille

Purchase of Virtual Currency

Shenzhen Airport Internal Shuttle