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Letters

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As Hong Kong celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, I can’t help but recall my first impressions of the city. As a child, I watched the handover ceremony on television in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Hong Kong wasn’t very familiar. We knew it as the land of kung fu or Britain’s crown colony. I read about Kai Tak airport in a book written by Satyajit Ray and imagined Hong Kong as a vibrant city, shrouded in mystery.
I thought of Hong Kong the way it was depicted in Hollywood films – full of intrigue, skyscrapers and narrow, neon-lit alleys. I never thought I would one day live here.
After 13 years, Hong Kong has become home. I’ve seen many changes, from student protests to the national security law, from overtourism to shuttered businesses, from zero-Covid policies to an economic slump. But one thing has never changed: Hong Kong’s ability to bounce back in the face of adversity every single time.
After concerns about the national security law and the city’s Covid-19 measures prompted many to leave, some in the West proclaimed that “Hong Kong is over.”
Yet, through the determination of its population, Hong Kong has bounced back. Compared to 13 years ago, Hong Kong feels more open and welcoming to new and different ideas. It’s a city of fantastic diversity where people practise their beliefs without encroaching on others.
Meanwhile, the government is working to identify and address weaknesses. Does everything work? No. But is there a sincere effort to make Hong Kong one of Asia’s most attractive cities? Without a doubt.
Recent studies note that Hong Kong is improving in terms of the ease of doing business, government efficiency and university rankings. Cathay Pacific is back among the world’s top five airlines. Hong Kong remains safe and extremely efficient. Problems exist, but when all hands are on deck, progress is possible.
Hong Kong must tell its story with confidence. Like many foreigners who call Hong Kong home, I’ve embraced the city – the people, the good and the bad – as my own. We see Hong Kong’s value, and in our small capacities, we try to share its positive stories. Because this city isn’t done. Its best chapters are still unwritten.
Munira Rahman, Tung Chung
With stability restored, city can build on its strengths
Roads were barricaded. Buses sat stranded. Bricks were torn from the ground to build makeshift blockades. MTR stations were frequently evacuated. Shops with alleged ties to the mainland were smashed. Often a sea of black-clad protesters faced off against lines of riot police officers. One of the darkest chapters came when innocent people became targets of violence.
Those chaotic scenes I witnessed after I came to Hong Kong for a postgraduate programme in September 2019 feel like fragments of another world.
Beijing termed the unrest a colour revolution staged by local radicals in collusion with hostile foreign forces. Yet its response was both measured and resolute. Contrary to widespread speculation in some Western media, it refrained from deploying troops. Instead, the authorities acted swiftly to shore up Hong Kong’s stability and safeguard China’s broader national security.
On June 30, 2020, China’s top legislative body enacted the Hong Kong national security law, which paved the way for the city’s successful shift from chaos to stability, though national security threats persist, particularly amid intensifying US-China tensions.
That said, Hong Kong remains uniquely positioned under the “one country, two systems” framework to capitalise on the strategic rivalry between the world’s two largest economies, serving as a superconnector between East and West.
For instance, with its distinct monetary system, convertible currency and common law legal system, Hong Kong continues to attract financial institutions and initial public offerings. Many of the latter are mainland firms seeking global capital while avoiding US scrutiny.
To remain a consistent winner, Hong Kong must do more to distinguish itself and dispel the erroneous perception that it is merely “another Chinese city”, as some have claimed. It is not, as all on the mainland and in Hong Kong know.
I remember a professor recounting, during my first days in the city, how a mainland official had once emphasised the importance of preserving Hong Kong’s uniqueness: Hong Kong is like a century-old Yixing clay teapot – its tea-stained patina tells the story of time. Scrub it too clean, and you risk erasing not only its charm, but also the very soul that makes it truly priceless.
Tibby Chen, Beijing
Grateful for our world-class MTR
I refer to “Mind the digital divide in revamping MTR information displays” (June 20) which, in finding fault with the rail operator’s revamped information boards, strikes me as an example of the Chinese idiom “trying to find a bone in an egg”.
I am sure most Hongkongers are proud of our MTR system, which is the envy of many people around the world. Our MTR maps are crystal clear.
Overall, Hong Kong is a very organised city. Those who can’t see its many attractions need to look more closely.
Edmond Pang, Fanling


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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s best chapters are still unwritten

A man looks out at Victoria Harbour from Tamar Park in Admiralty on May 5. Photo: Eugene Lee

Now that Hong Kong has its mojo back, what next?

People look at the Hong Kong skyline from the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on April 6. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Pedestrians in Central, Hong Kong, on February 26. The city has expanded schemes to attract global talent. Photo: Eugene Lee

Reaction to Angel Chong’s Miss Hong Kong bid should spark reflection

Sai Kung district councillor Angel Chong has withdrawn from the Miss Hong Kong Pageant. Photo: instagram@angel.cnt


Angel Chong is Hong Kong’s youngest district councillor. Photo: Instagram

Contestants in the 2024 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant gather at TVB TV City in Tseung Kwan O on September 15. Photo: Dickson Lee

From left, Justice Secretary Paul Lam Ting-kwok, fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, Sai Kung district councillor Angel Chong and actor Karl Ting Tze-long participate in a panel discussion at a national security law forum on June 21. Photo: Elson Li

So, Hong Kong has pledged to legalise ride-hailing. Don’t hold your breath

A taxi driver looks at a ride-hailing app on February 3. Photo: Jelly Tse

No better time than a property slump to ‘future-proof’ urban Hong Kong

Illustration: Craig Stephens

Singapore’s Oasia Downtown hotel, with its facade covered in greenery, in the central business district, June 19, 2018. Photo: AFP

Opinion

Readers discuss the progress Hong Kong has made, the impact of the national security law, and the city’s transport infrastructure


Readers discuss the progress Hong Kong has made, the impact of the national security law, and the city’s transport infrastructure.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss the progress Hong Kong has made, the impact of the national security law, and the city’s transport infrastructure

Readers discuss the progress Hong Kong has made, the impact of the national security law, and the city’s transport infrastructure