Hong Kong welcomes the world
To the editor:
Vacation is over. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the spring semester and as with any big event, people are waiting until the last minute to get moving. A journey that takes 30 minutes takes a couple of hours.
The final part of the trip to campus is composed mostly of the shuffle step. Lines and lines of people are coming back to the campus and so you get in line. Each subway train that pulls up has room for only a few. You squeeze and squirm your way in to the cabin and the doors close. Sardines travel in spacious luxury.
Hong Kong is two hours away. It is part of China today. Originally intended as a bulwark against the invasion of foreigners, the Chinese granted the areas of Macau and Hong Kong to Portugal and Great Britain. It was thought that if the foreigners were limited to these territories the larger empire would not be disturbed. Within these areas, different cultural values were introduced. There are solid signs of the strong education systems and acculturation process of English schooling present from the moment you enter the city.
The train trip is about two hours, like going to Bangor in a way. Everyone talks about going to the great metropolis. First, you go through the exit process. Passport presented, departure certificate completed, stamped, and collected. Down the escalators to the train, climbing aboard the car, locate your seat, stow your bag and sit. Exactly on time, the train leaves the station and you journey through the countryside of the Pearl Delta. You know you are entering the Hong Kong Territory when you sense the train is slowing down and you see the wrought iron fences protecting the train tracks.
Once the train stops at Hung Hom station you go up and line up once again for the same ritual. Presenting the passport, arrival card, and smiling at the immigration officer, you receive a stamp in your passport, and it’s off to the new world.
The first thing you notice is the quality of English on the signs. British grammar to be sure, but still English of an understandable nature. Hong Kong has a well developed transportation system.
In minutes you have left Hung Hom station and are on the waterfront. Here you can see the world as it passes by. An older Chinese junk floats into view from the left. From the right a super-size ferry plods along. In the background ships from Arabia, Europe and America anchor and bob in the water. Welcome to the world.
Orpheus Allison
Guangzhou, China
orpheusallison@mac.com
