Sitting on the ground caused controversy, and the Hong Kong subway became the focus of heated discussions on the Internet
During the National Day Golden Week, Hong Kong became a popular destination for mainland tourists. But who would have thought that after a fireworks show, the picture of tourists sitting on the ground in the Hong Kong subway caused an uproar. Isn't it just sitting on the ground and resting, why has it become big news? It's not easy.
That night, the fireworks show in Victoria Harbour had just ended, and thousands of tourists flocked to the MTR station. The subway was packed with people, crowded like canned sardines. Some tired tourists couldn't hold it anymore and sat on the ground to rest. Who knew that it didn't matter if it sat down, and it immediately attracted the "attention" of the Hong Kong media. Some media also wrote "This is Hong Kong, please stand up", as if sitting on the ground is a big rebellion.
After the fireworks show, the subway was crowded, and tourists sat on the ground, causing controversy
To be honest, I really didn't expect this to make such a big fuss. You know, that day was the 75th anniversary of the National Day, and Hong Kong held a big fireworks show, attracting millions of tourists. As soon as the fireworks ended, everyone crowded into the subway, and the scene, tsk, was simply crowded.
A Hong Kong tour guide named Ah Keung chatted with me and said, "I was there that night, and the queue outside the subway station was a few blocks away. When I entered the station, the carriage was so crowded that I couldn't even insert a needle. He added: "Some tourists may be new to Hong Kong and don't know the rules here. In addition, I just watched the fireworks show, and I was tired and excited, so I sat down without paying attention for a while. "
However, this explanation is clearly not satisfactory to everyone. Some Hong Kong netizens began to complain on the Internet, saying things like "low quality" and "no rules". Some people even threatened to pay a fine, saying that sitting on the ground in the Hong Kong subway could be fined 1,000 Hong Kong dollars. As soon as these words came out, mainland netizens were annoyed.
Public opinion fermented, and mainland netizens and Hong Kong residents insisted on their own opinions
This matter has spread more and more widely on the Internet, and mainland netizens and Hong Kong residents have quarreled fiercely. Some mainland netizens said: "Isn't it just sitting on the ground? It's not a hurtful thing. Someone else said, "Hong Kong people are making too much of a fuss, right?" We spend money to travel and contribute to Hong Kong's economy, and treat us like that? "
On the other hand, Hong Kong residents are not to be outdone. Someone said, "This is a public place, follow the rules." Others complained: "There are too many tourists, which affects our daily lives." "
Watching the two sides go back and forth, I suddenly remembered an incident that happened a few years ago. In 2019, a tourist from an island country ate on the Beijing subway and posted an apology video after being stopped by the attendant. At that time, there was also a lot of uproar. With such a comparison, shouldn't we also reflect on it, and should we pay more attention to other people's territory?
How to balance the tourism economy and local feelings has become a difficult problem
Truth be told, the problems exposed by this incident are not as simple as sitting on the floor. It reflects the contradiction between the tourism economy and the feelings of local residents.
According to data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong received 10% more mainland tourists during this year's National Day holiday than before the pandemic. This is undoubtedly good news for Hong Kong's economic recovery. Hong Kong's hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls are making a lot of money.
However, the influx of tourists has also put a lot of pressure on Hong Kong. Subway congestion is just the tip of the iceberg. A Hong Kong friend complained to me: "The shopping malls are crowded with tourists, and you have to queue up to buy daily necessities." "
This reminds me of the "Sister Tea" incident by the West Lake in Hangzhou a few years ago. At that time, it was also because of the influx of tourists, and the locals felt that their lives had been affected. This situation exists in many tourist cities, such as Venice and Barcelona, where policies have been introduced to limit the number of tourists.
Cultural differences and mutual understanding take time and tolerance
Going back to the incident of sitting on the floor in the Hong Kong MTR itself, I think there are still a lot of cultural differences in it.
In the Mainland, especially in some second- and third-tier cities, it is not uncommon to sit on the MTR on the ground, especially during peak passenger periods. But in a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong, it may not seem very decent.
A friend of mine who works in Hong Kong said, "It's not that Hong Kong people don't understand the behavior of tourists, they just want everyone to respect each other." He added: "Actually, there are rest areas in Hong Kong MTR stations, so if you are too tired, you can go and sit there for a while." "
At the end of the day, whether you're a tourist or a local, you need to be understanding and tolerant of each other. Tourists should respect the local rules and habits when traveling, and locals should be aware of some small mistakes that tourists may make because they don't understand.
Overall, the Hong Kong MTR incident has taught us a lesson. It reminds us to be mindful of respecting local culture and rules while having fun traveling. At the same time, as a tourist destination, how to find a balance between economic development and protection of the interests of local residents is also a question worth pondering. After all, tourism should not be a zero-sum game, but rather a process of cultural exchange and mutual learning.