Hong Kong again – a new era, a new atmosphere

After four years, coming to Hong Kong again, foreign countries and the new crown epidemic, just like that, it is also the end of the world, living in a city across the water, every shallow bay, the port closed during the epidemic, but more and more feel that Hong Kong and the mainland are sometimes really far apart.

Although Shenzhen is separated from Hong Kong by a water, Hong Kong's urban area is mainly concentrated on Hong Kong Island, near the two shores of Victoria Harbour enclosed by the Kowloon Peninsula and the southernmost part of the New Territories, and the distance of tens of kilometers is actually "far away" from Shenzhen in the north due to the existence of mountains and differences in systems.

Hong Kong is naturally developed, as an oriental capitalist international metropolis that has been open for more than 150 years, the fourth in the world human development index, is a developed global economy, one of the richest in the world, the highest standard of living in the world, various Western rankings and indicators make this city of only more than 1,100 square kilometers and a population of more than 7.4 million has the results that few economies in the world can match.

The world loves Hong Kong, and mainlanders yearn for Hong Kong, either to go shopping, or to find the "taste of Hong Kong, Hong Kong film and television songs" that appear on the screen - in those days, Hong Kong, like the West, led the trend. After the mainland recovered sovereignty in 97, Hong Kong maintained rapid development, and its economic and other achievements far exceeded those during the British colonial period, and the most important thing was that Hong Kong, which returned to the embrace of the motherland, began to be able to truly be the master of its own country, and was more free, active, and maximize its role in the process of national development.

Mainlanders go to Hong Kong more and more, we are also one of them, because of the close distance, basically the day back and forth shopping to enjoy the scenery, eating, drinking and entertainment is not a big problem, even if there is a time limit for Hong Kong and Macao Pass, Shenzhen people are still very convenient to go to Hong Kong - because after all, it is in two completely different systems, not going abroad is also going abroad, so in fact, the experience and feeling brought by the special differences brought by such an experience is the most important.

The turmoil in 2019 actually discouraged many people in the mainland who want to go to Hong Kong, Hong Kong is very lively, but the noise and chaos at that time allowed us to see the high penetration of foreign anti-China forces in its internal society and the black hands of the United States and the West, which lasted for a long time, the impact was extremely bad, and the author in Europe also felt the impact. The chaos of the central government has accelerated everything back to normal, the new crown epidemic has swept the world, and Hong Kong has quieted down, surprisingly quiet. During the epidemic, it was difficult for mainlanders to go to Hong Kong for weekends and shopping, so all walks of life began to look forward to mainland tourists. Now in 2023, the mainland (Shenzhen to be exact) and Hong Kong have accelerated customs clearance, and then now full customs clearance. After a few years, although I have been to Hong Kong several times, but this time, because it is a "long farewell reunion" - for Hong Kong after the epidemic, after the storm of the amendment of the extradition bill, the new Hong Kong after the introduction of the Hong Kong National Security Law is more expected, that is to say, what I am looking forward to is not the Hong Kong of the past, but the vitality, the rapid flow of society, all walks of life focus on doing things, and everyone is striving for their own better tomorrow; What is expected is that after the chaos, the powerful role and effect of the National Security Law will be determined; What is expected is the "second return" of the people's hearts and trends.

The sky in Hong Kong is still very blue, the air is clean, of course, here is the same as Shenzhen, but it is still the same sentence - special institutional arrangements and lifestyles, naturally there will be different experiences and feelings. Since the first few times were not long apart, there was not much strangeness, but after a few years, the strangeness of Hong Kong still gave birth.

There are 8 connecting ports between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, some 24 hours, some 6:30-24:00, etc., anyway, the two cities are extremely convenient in commuting, sufficient time, and the traffic is very convenient. After exiting from the Futian Port in Shenzhen - customs clearance, inspection, etc. - you will be on Hong Kong land in an instant, and then basically the same convenience as Hong Kong to Shenzhen - you can take the subway or bus to go deep into the city.

After passing the customs in Shenzhen, I took the MTR East Rail Line directly to Admiralty Station in Central, Hong Kong, in fact, people who know Hong Kong, or people in Hong Kong, know what Central means - the government centralized office area, the Hong Kong garrison is also there, the political center is the Central area - it is also the most chaotic during the turmoil, the most impacted, this time after coming out of the Admiralty MTR station, everything is like "nothing happened" - in other words, cross the overpass from Admiralty MTR Station, pass through Tamar Park under the SAR Government Office Building to Victoria Harbour, Everything is harmonious here. Of course, the weather is indeed very good, in short, walk around and see how people's lives are, because the mask order has not been canceled a few days ago (officially canceled on March 1, 2023), and almost everyone is wearing masks outdoors, everything looks orderly and normal.

Seeing the Kowloon Peninsula opposite from Hong Kong Island is as lively as ever - of course, the author myself also went deep into Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and other places in the Yau Tsim Mong area to experience and observe the face of Hong Kong people. It should be said that the chaos and disorder in Hong Kong in the past few years that have not been heard in the news and in the mouths of friends for a few years, but now after the introduction of the National Security Law and other relevant measures, Hong Kong is indeed accelerating "from chaos to prosperity", which is very gratifying.

Whether it is the flow of people and traffic in Causeway Bay, or the flow of people on both sides of Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui, the busyness of the Star Ferry, etc., I have to say that this Hong Kong is still the same as the one I knew at the beginning, but it is also different - Hong Kong's inner is getting better.

The problems and crises that have erupted in Hong Kong in the past few years have actually shown the social problems and the existing institutional problems -- but Hong Kong cannot be chaotic, and this is exactly in the arms of the reactionary forces in the West. Regarding Hong Kong's problems, especially those of young people, I dug deep in my last article, trying to find out what is wrong with Hong Kong from many aspects. What to do later?

Of course, political matters are left to professional people to do, ordinary people still have to pay more attention to personal life and ideal struggle and pursuit, build society while realizing the embodiment of personal value - these can not be placed in the immature young people and social environment - I mean Hong Kong's special institutional arrangements are actually not mature, of course, any system will not be easy or short-term to mature, Hong Kong needs time, but Hong Kong also needs its own efforts.

I watched the so-called world's largest light show - Symphony Yong Heung Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui in Victoria Harbour, and I have to say that Hong Kong's appearance is still so charming, but Hong Kong's interior is still worrying, which is also what I am very concerned about when I go to Hong Kong again. Of course, I also like Hong Kong, this is our place in China, and it is a very special - a child who has been away from home for too long, but maybe we have given Hong Kong special institutional arrangements for various reasons, or even "freedom has gone too far", but now Hong Kong can no longer be willful, after all, many cities in the mainland have developed better under the socialist system, and more advantages than Hong Kong have begun to show - Hong Kong not only needs to integrate into the development of the country, but also needs to truly be in tune with the motherland.

Tourists go shopping and viewing, eating, drinking, and shopping, of course, what they bring to Hong Kong is purely economic, but Hong Kong is prosperous because of the economy, but because of politics and chaos, Hong Kong must be well figured out in the order of priorities, and the cart must not be reversed. Of course, there are many opportunities for Hong Kong, but it depends on whether Hong Kong can grasp them.

My pace is always fast, which seems to fit the rhythm of Hong Kong – but I observe, think, of course, eat, drink, and climb the mountain to enjoy the scenery; Hong Kong seems to be only developing the economy, and some things have "gone too fast" out of control, and we must find a plan and truth on how to "go steadily and far".

A day to climb mountains, go shopping, take the MTR to and from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, this rhythm seems hard, but I have to say that this kind of shuttling and comparing between the two systems and diverse groups of people, as well as the frequency of observation and analysis, makes it easier for me to understand and explore many internal problems - a special zone from a socialist society and a capitalist society.

Of course, the streets of Hong Kong are very good, and the pork knuckle noodles are also delicious, and the frozen milk and pineapple buns are also delicious. There are many people, but orderly.