Hong Kong First Impressions

harbour with high rise buildings

After three flights totaling eighteen hours in the air, I arrived with incredibly swollen feet—in Hong Kong—three days before a ten-day tour of mainland China. The group on the tour organizes around the central theme that peace with China is in everyone’s best interest. They study the results of policies enacted by China. A couple examples include the elimination of poverty, and the emergence as a leader in green energy technology.

On the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel, the driver got into the passenger side of the vehicle.

“Oh, it’s the British system in Hong Kong,” said my traveling companion, Virginia.

The driver proceeded to the left side of the road.

As you might know, Hong Kong is an island close to the coast of China. It came under British control during the Qing dynasty as a consequence of losing the First Opium War.

Back in the 1800’s, the British exported opium from China. Due to addiction issues in China, the emperor said: No more opium.

England said: If you’re going to shut down our lucrative operation, then give us Hong Kong (to continue exporting).

China said: Okay.

(Okay?)

Disclaimer: I’m no historian. If you want to know more, look it up.

This control lasted until 1997.

As a result, many people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese plus English.

Current day Hong Kong belongs to the country of China, but has separate legal and economic systems and…a notable number of billionaires.

Here’s my first insight for you to ponder:

Who gets to decide our systems of governance?

How do the deciders decide the system is good for everyone?

Did you know that American democracy is considered an experiment?

That means there are other systems in existence. I hope to understand and explore a few of them. Because of peace.

As for the taxi driver, he didn’t speak English, but he seemed to enjoy our marveling at the city. There are bridges and ports with container platforms and cranes. People live vertical here. Water is in the foreground; then a phenomenal number of high, really high, high-rise buildings. Directly behind the buildings are mountain-like hills blanketed in the greenery of the tropics. Heat plus lots of rain equals the color green.

The taxi driver dropped us off at a hotel overlooking Victoria Harbour.

Victoria?

Well—now you know.

Yours on the journey,

Julie

Posted on: November 9, 2024, by :