Disclaimer: The content of this article is written with reference to network materials combined with personal views, please be aware.
Hong Kong is still bustling in autumn, but it has been caught in the whirlpool of public opinion due to a controversy over "sitting" and "standing", and a large number of mainland tourists poured into the Pearl of the Orient during the National Day holiday, injecting new vitality into the city, but a photo of tourists sitting on the ground in a subway car has sparked a heated discussion about civility, habits and tolerance.
Hong Kong, an international metropolis that blends Eastern and Western cultures, has always attracted tourists from all over the world with its unique charm, and the National Day holiday ushered in the peak of tourism, with the streets and alleys crowded with people, and the lights of Victoria Harbour were brilliant, just as people were immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the festival, an unexpected storm quietly came.
One night during the holiday, a group of mainland tourists squeezed into the subway for the return trip after watching the fireworks display in Victoria Harbour in exhaustion, perhaps because they were exhausted after a day of sightseeing or perhaps because of habit, these tourists found an open space in the crowded carriage and sat on the ground, which was captured by the Hong Kong media and immediately sparked heated discussions on social platforms.
Some people angrily denounced this behavior as unsightly and damaging to Hong Kong's image, while others expressed understanding, believing that tourists just wanted to take a break, and for a while words such as "civilization", "quality" and "tolerance" flooded the cyberspace, and the focus of the debate was not only whether they should sit on the subway or not, but also touched on deep-seated issues such as cultural differences, urban management and tourism quality.
As a former United Kingdom colony, Hong Kong has long been influenced by Western culture to form a unique way of life and code of conduct, maintaining order in public places and respecting others' space, these seemingly simple codes of conduct are deeply rooted in the daily life of Hong Kong people.
The rapid economic development of the mainland in recent years has brought about a huge change in lifestyle, and people are constantly adapting to new social norms while enjoying the convenience of life, and it is not uncommon to sit on the subway in some cities, especially during peak passenger periods, although this behavior is sometimes controversial, but generally seen as a flexible use of limited public space.
This cultural difference is on full display on the Hong Kong subway during the National Day holiday, and it is natural for mainland tourists to find a place to sit and rest after standing for a long time, but in the eyes of Hong Kong people it is an affront to public order.
The controversy has also sparked thinking about double standards, with some netizens pointing out that when foreign tourists sit on the ground on the Hong Kong subway, it rarely causes such a big reaction, and whether people living in Hong Kong have different standards for people from different cultural backgrounds.
The relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland has always been complex and delicate, and since Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, economic and cultural exchanges between the two places have become increasingly frequent, but due to long-term separation and different social systems, there are still considerable differences in the living habits and values of the people of the two places.
The implementation of the "Individual Visit Scheme" policy in 2003 has brought a large number of mainland tourists to Hong Kong, bringing huge economic benefits to the city, but also bringing new challenges, from the initial "double non-pregnant women" issue, to the later "parallel traders" controversy, and then to the "anti-parallel traders" movement in recent years, every friction reflects the spark of cultural collision between the two places.
To some extent, this "sitting on the ground" incident can be seen as a continuation of this cultural collision, which is not only a simple issue of behavioral norms, but also involves deep-seated social issues such as identity and cultural tolerance.
The controversy is also reminiscent of some classic scenes in Hong Kong films, such as Stephen Chow's comedy film "Domestic Ling Ling Paint", in which a mainlander makes a loud noise on the Hong Kong subway, which sparked dissatisfaction among Hong Kong passengers.
With the deepening of globalization, cross-cultural communication has become the norm, and how to maintain local characteristics while accommodating tourists from different cultural backgrounds has become a common challenge faced by many international metropolises.
Some experts pointed out that the key to solving such problems is to strengthen communication and education, and that Hong Kong could consider adding multilingual guidelines on civilized behavior to tourist attractions and public transport, and that mainland tourists should also learn more about the customs and habits of their destinations before traveling.
The controversy has also sparked reflection on the right to use public space, and how to balance the needs of different groups for public space in Hong Kong, where land is at a premium, has become a topic worth exploring in depth.
The controversy is also reminiscent of the 2014 Occupy Central movement, when large numbers of citizens occupied Hong Kong's main streets, sparking a debate about democracy and autonomy.
In this controversy about "sitting" and "stationing", there are also some humorous voices, some netizens joked: "The Hong Kong subway is so clean, everyone wants to sit on the ground." Someone else joked: "Is this a silent protest by mainland tourists against Hong Kong property prices?" These humorous comments go some way to relieving the tension and reflect the sense of humor of Hong Kongers.
Historically, Hong Kong has sought a balance between different cultures, from its humble beginnings as a small fishing village to a United Kingdom colony to its current cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong has undergone tremendous changes, and each change has been accompanied by the collision and integration of cultures.
When Hong Kong opened its first subway line in 1974, many Hong Kong people were not used to taking the subway at the time, and some even worried that the MTR would affect Feng Shui, but over time the subway gradually became an integral part of Hong Kong people's daily life, and this example shows us that cultural habits can be changed through time and education.
We have also seen the double-edged sword effect of social media in this controversy, social media provides a platform for people to express their opinions, promotes public discussion, and it is also easy to amplify contradictions and exacerbate antagonistic emotions.
This incident has also raised questions about the definition of "civilization", what is true civilization, is it strict adherence to rules or tolerance and understanding of others? Some scholars have pointed out that true civilization should be based on respect for rules and giving others the greatest understanding and tolerance.
The key to solving these problems is to enhance mutual understanding, and Hong Kong and the mainland can strengthen cultural exchange programs to give people in both places more opportunities to learn about each other's lifestyles and values.
Some people criticize some media for exaggerating the big events and hyping a small event into big news, but others think that the media reports have played a positive role in triggering social thinking and discussion.
From becoming a United Kingdom colony in 1842 to its return to the motherland in 1997 and now becoming an international financial center, Hong Kong has undergone tremendous changes, each of which is accompanied by cultural collision and integration, and this "sitting on the ground" incident is also a microcosm of this continuous change to some extent.
In the 70s of the last century, in order to improve the urban environment, the Hong Kong government vigorously promoted the use of garbage cans, at first many people were not used to it, but through continuous publicity and education, the use of garbage cans eventually became the habit of Hong Kong people, this example tells us that the formation of civilized habits takes time, but also needs the joint efforts of all sectors of society.
In today's globalization, similar cultural collisions are happening all over the world, for example, in Japan, many foreign tourists are not accustomed to the tradition of taking off their shoes and entering the room, and in France, some tourists will be unhappy because they do not understand the dining etiquette, and the friction in cross-cultural communication is universal, the key is how to face it with an open and inclusive mind.
Some sociologists have pointed out that this incident reflects the deep-seated changes that Hong Kong society is undergoing, and that with the increasingly close ties with the mainland, Hong Kong is looking for a new identity, and how to maintain its own characteristics while integrating into the overall development of the country has become an important issue facing Hong Kong.
What does this controversy over "sitting" and "standing" teach us? Perhaps the answer lies in how we perceive differences, how we tolerate others, as one philosopher put it: "True civilization is not about eliminating differences, but about learning to live in harmony with them." "
This controversy may fade over time, but it leaves behind reflections that deserve our long-term attention: in an increasingly globalized world where each of us can become an "outsider", and if we can put ourselves in the shoes of others, we may be able to create a more inclusive and harmonious society.
If you were that tired tourist, or that disgruntled local passenger, how would you handle that situation? What do you think of the practice of mainland tourists sitting on the floor in Hong Kong? Feel free to leave your views in the comment section.
Resources:
Extraordinary half-sleeping diary2024-10-06Hong Kong media criticized mainland tourists to Hong Kong on National Day, this is Hong Kong, please stand up!
(Disclaimer) The process and pictures described in the article are from the Internet, and this article aims to advocate positive social energy and no vulgar and other bad guidance. If it involves copyright or character infringement issues, please contact us in time, and we will delete the content as soon as possible! If there is any suspicious part of the incident, delete or change it immediately after contacting!