Thanks for this interesting update and photos. I lived in Kowloon next to the TV studios for two years during 1977 to 1979, I was a British soldier - an engineer based in the military workshops in Sham Shui Po. Very happy memories still and good Chinese friends. Went back a couple of times around thirty years ago and stayed with friends. Although it’s time as a British colony is perhaps looked on as ‘good times’ by some we certainly did very little for the ordinary people of the colony - it was a money-making centre for UK companies. The ordinary people had no access to their rights nor to democracy until a very short time before it was handed back to Beijing, and that was simply an exercise designed to make the Chinese look bad by comparison.
I lived in Hong Kong for most of my life. I was placed on the front line in the governments insane war against covid. In the end we decided to leave. Just like the company I worked for, it wasn't the company I left but the managers. By the same token, it wasn't the place I left but the government. Hong Kong is magic. What's happened to it has been soul destroying. In the end we couldn't bare it. Resonate article. Thank you
Nice photos. And ticking all the stereotypical cultural references: WKW. Blade Runner. Colonial street names. There are always two sides to the story. Having lived and worked in Britain, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia-- and now been in Hk for almost a decade -- I’m rather glad that it’s changing. Perhaps because I don’t harbor a rose-tinted view of the city from a bygone Golden Age. Things are moving post Covid. And it’s moving fast. Historically HK doesn’t give a hoot. Most people of all ideological persuasions are just here to make their stash.
Was in HK two years prior to the Communist Chinese takeover and asked a British expat who had lived there for a couple of decades and asked her, "What are you going to do when the CCP takes over" and she said "I don't know, but I'm not going to stay here". She was decades ahead of the ultimate demise of a free society. When we were there, I remember seeing more luxury cars than on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The standard of living for every demographic in an almost totally free enterprise society outside the U.S. This is certainly no longer the case as wealth created by ideas has been confiscated by a totalitarian govt. reducing opportunities for financial gain for every demographic. Now everyone will be more "equally" poor.
My first visit to HK was in 73. I went probably 100’s of time from then until 97. After 97 I did not have a business reason to go. Under the Brit’s the rules were clear. As few as possible. Make money, not trouble. Under Beijing the rules are no longer clear. Of course the rules in China changed greatly in the late 80’s. Everyone knew what not to do. But for HK there has been a confusing situation. And many people do what Beijing does not want them to do. And Beijing no longer needs the expertise of HK to grow from the stalled state of their economy. So it’s probably not much fun in HK these days. Unless one is determined to have fun and not violate the changing rules.
A story through sentimental, rose coloured lenses. Typical Western mainstream, brainwashed and barely scanning the surface of what the majority of HK people really feel. The bad Chinese and the good old days under British colonisation. What a piece of rubbish.
Stunning writing. I appreciate your observation on how easy it can be to see our own projections when traveling. It’s been years since I visited and hid something in one of those banyan trees on HK Island- you brought alive so much of what I reveled in. Applause.
Have been fortunate to live on Hong Kong for 3years…in Stanley…loved the experience…life changing. However, sad to return to the U.S. where there was no interest in hearing about it or anything about the far East. Thank you for the vivid picture of being there.
Interesting read that makes me nostalgic ... My last visit to HK happened in 2018, before COVID, and I’m not sure whether to revisit in the near future. Thanks for capturing the city’s iconic vibe that’s fading away.
Such a special place. It's sad to see its mainlandization.
Outstanding article I love it, and I love the pics
Great pics
Thanks for this interesting update and photos. I lived in Kowloon next to the TV studios for two years during 1977 to 1979, I was a British soldier - an engineer based in the military workshops in Sham Shui Po. Very happy memories still and good Chinese friends. Went back a couple of times around thirty years ago and stayed with friends. Although it’s time as a British colony is perhaps looked on as ‘good times’ by some we certainly did very little for the ordinary people of the colony - it was a money-making centre for UK companies. The ordinary people had no access to their rights nor to democracy until a very short time before it was handed back to Beijing, and that was simply an exercise designed to make the Chinese look bad by comparison.
I lived in Hong Kong for most of my life. I was placed on the front line in the governments insane war against covid. In the end we decided to leave. Just like the company I worked for, it wasn't the company I left but the managers. By the same token, it wasn't the place I left but the government. Hong Kong is magic. What's happened to it has been soul destroying. In the end we couldn't bare it. Resonate article. Thank you
Nice photos. And ticking all the stereotypical cultural references: WKW. Blade Runner. Colonial street names. There are always two sides to the story. Having lived and worked in Britain, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia-- and now been in Hk for almost a decade -- I’m rather glad that it’s changing. Perhaps because I don’t harbor a rose-tinted view of the city from a bygone Golden Age. Things are moving post Covid. And it’s moving fast. Historically HK doesn’t give a hoot. Most people of all ideological persuasions are just here to make their stash.
Was in HK two years prior to the Communist Chinese takeover and asked a British expat who had lived there for a couple of decades and asked her, "What are you going to do when the CCP takes over" and she said "I don't know, but I'm not going to stay here". She was decades ahead of the ultimate demise of a free society. When we were there, I remember seeing more luxury cars than on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The standard of living for every demographic in an almost totally free enterprise society outside the U.S. This is certainly no longer the case as wealth created by ideas has been confiscated by a totalitarian govt. reducing opportunities for financial gain for every demographic. Now everyone will be more "equally" poor.
My first visit to HK was in 73. I went probably 100’s of time from then until 97. After 97 I did not have a business reason to go. Under the Brit’s the rules were clear. As few as possible. Make money, not trouble. Under Beijing the rules are no longer clear. Of course the rules in China changed greatly in the late 80’s. Everyone knew what not to do. But for HK there has been a confusing situation. And many people do what Beijing does not want them to do. And Beijing no longer needs the expertise of HK to grow from the stalled state of their economy. So it’s probably not much fun in HK these days. Unless one is determined to have fun and not violate the changing rules.
Was there in 2006...wondering if there is still a Bubba Gumps at top of Victoria peak?
A story through sentimental, rose coloured lenses. Typical Western mainstream, brainwashed and barely scanning the surface of what the majority of HK people really feel. The bad Chinese and the good old days under British colonisation. What a piece of rubbish.
Stunning writing. I appreciate your observation on how easy it can be to see our own projections when traveling. It’s been years since I visited and hid something in one of those banyan trees on HK Island- you brought alive so much of what I reveled in. Applause.
Our borders wide open ,people coming over untested from who knows where, makes zero sense
Have been fortunate to live on Hong Kong for 3years…in Stanley…loved the experience…life changing. However, sad to return to the U.S. where there was no interest in hearing about it or anything about the far East. Thank you for the vivid picture of being there.
Another vibrant, unique and irreplaceable place that I loved destroyed by collectivist tyranny.
I as a USN sailor was in Hong Kong in 1968. You had to be
careful of garbage tossed out
of a residence high up in a building. An occasional bag of garbage would explode upon
landing on the sidewalk. This custom, I would assume, has
been stopped.
I had two sports coats made
by one of H.K.'s many fantastic
taylors.
A neighbor from back home
asked me to visit a private school for girls and to photograph a girl she was supporting with school tuition
and a monthly stipend.
Many adventures and disappointments did I have in
dear old Hong Kong.
John
Interesting read that makes me nostalgic ... My last visit to HK happened in 2018, before COVID, and I’m not sure whether to revisit in the near future. Thanks for capturing the city’s iconic vibe that’s fading away.