You can’t deny it. Hong Kong might be a part of China, but there’s no way you can walk the streets of China, come to Hong Kong, and say they’re definitely of the same culture. The structures are different. The land is different. The food is different.
The people are different.
And one thing that I have to admit is that Hong Kong people are in general, very prejudiced against their Chinese brothers. This generation is one of Hong Kong pride, and just a general attitude towards China that is filled with more disgust than ethnic acceptance. It’s a bit sad, disheartening, and wrong all at the same time.
But truth be told, to a degree I must also admit Chinese ask for this prejudice. You simply cannot go to another land and expect to carry out your own ways, even if they work for your country (and this applies to some Americans too). In China, you can spit on the ground and it’s nothing. But you can’t take that practice to Hong Kong and not expect to be looked down upon. Do that in Singapore and you get jailed. If you don’t line up for things in China, fine. But you can’t push people out of your way when you go somewhere else.
Let it be known that I think on the average, Chinese are often more friendly (not courteous, friendly). Their daily words aren’t filled with the rush rush life, nor is their every waking moment wondering about money. A Malaysian friend here was surprised. She got a job here, and every Hong Konger’s first question was, “what’s your salary?” That’s frustrating here.
But some Hong Konger’s are friendly. And the few that I’ve seen, are extremely friendly. They have this happiness that oozes from their eyes and smiles that instantly are distinguishable from 99% of their brethren. I mentioned on xanga a while back that some guy gave his seat to an elderly woman. He was one of those friendly HKers. They even manage to use Cantonese in a soft spoken friendly way.
You know how some people get certain things right that others don’t? And how those that don’t, get something else right that the former didn’t? It’d be nice for some bridging in this land.
Come on Hong Kong and China, make me proud.
