The self appointed status as ASIA'S WORLD CITY, which Hong Kong has claimed, undemocratically at that, is a source of annoyance to me as I guess it is to many others, it would be interesting to see views and comments from other residents on the topic, and specifically reasons why it should NOT be appointed this status.
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Wouldn't it be better start if you offered your definition of a world (class) city perhaps citing examples of cities that reach this class, and then also offer your reasons why you feel HK is or is not a world class city.
You are wanting others to offer their reasons but you are not prepared to offer your own first.
By not offering you own first, just turns this forum into a mindless argument page for those who have different opinions to you but no one knows what your opinions are to start with.
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Hi Bob, fair point, however the list would be extensive and the intention this forum is also to extract spontaneous and abstract comments from citizens and residents. I would suggest that the major aspects to consider are social, economic and political, however I would also not like to "shoe horn" the entire debate into these categories.
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Ed
13 yrs ago
HK is no NY or London... but I have lived in Shanghai, KL, Bangkok, and spent a bit of time in Singapore... and HK is definitely the most cosmopolitan of any of these by a long shot...
Where else can you get world class efficiency, restaurants and access to just about any product or service you could possibly want - along with a vibrant international community?
For me however, all of the above are off-set by the 3rd world pollution in HK...
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Ed
13 yrs ago
A few things in support of HK:
HK is not only about the Sevens - there are loads of international concerts and a massive Arts Festival here each year - HK also has the philharmonic... There are none of these in the other cities mentioned
Public Transport particularly the MTR are unrivaled in the world
None of these cities can hold a candle to HK's restaurant scene - it's one of the best in the world
Internet Speeds and cost - unrivaled (I am on a 512kb line here in Indonesia and I pay USD150 a month)
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In my humble opinion, the lack of art and culture makes HK never be the one ever. Period.
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So sad that Reno feels there is no art of culture. It may not art or culture as defined by western standards, but there is an amazing amount of art and culture in HK. Performing arts, fine arts, even on street corners you will fine Chinese arts and culture.
Near our estate on Friday nights, the local Tai Tais will perform dance and music on the street/pavement. So entertaining and an opportunity to learn a little more about HK.
You really have to open your eyes, and get out more.
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Ed
13 yrs ago
I don't think Bangkok comes anywhere near to HK in terms of top restaurants... It's a strain to come up with a single memorable one...
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
Despite what ones views are either for or against HK being "Asia's World City", isn't it all just marketing, why take it too seriously. I doubt India is as "incredible" as the ad says, or that Malaysia is "truly (representative of)Asia" as we all hear, or that Seoul does posses a soul and is Singapore as unique as the ads tells us?
Anyone remember the old Carlsberg ad from the UK? "Probably the best lager in the world"
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FKKC
13 yrs ago
Hypocrites still around.....madtown & Boston Bob??
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White Kiwi Trash, you are spot on with your assessment..
For those saying that there is a lack of culture in HK, it would be nice to know exactly what these comments are based on? If taking music as a medium, here are the names of some performers who will be coming to HK in hte near future : Murray Perahia, Evgeny Kissin, Nigel Kennedy.. Those ranting about culture will know these names, unless off course they themselves know very little about culture.
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As far as pollution goes, we have to accept that we are in fact choking mainly on the excess fumes of China. Our own level of omissions are likely no worse than many other "world cities" since HKG is no longer an industrial powerhouse and although the authorities cheat on emissions data we cannot be worse than LA, NY or London. Our seas are filled with effluents, mainly originating in China, whilst there are ever increasing projects in HKG to clean our own coasts. Water quality has in fact improved here in the past 20 years. Pass?
Politics and political freedoms, well most of us know the answer to that one. Fail? Equality and discrimination laws ........ another questionable topic. Fail?
Socially, we probably fare quite well, not as good as most of the EU, but likely much better than the US. Pass?.
Business wise, fair trade, we all know who runs HKG. Pass or Fail?
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
WhiteM, are you able to pull together anything you actually like about Hong Kong?
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FKKC
13 yrs ago
Funny, I was thinking the same....WhiteM seems to be very bias in his views about Hong Kong.
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Cheap cabs, fried crab (can you say it in Cantonese?) , good chinese take away, efficient public transport system so reasonably smooth traffic for me to drive to work in, good healthcare system for the masses, FDH"s, Chinese tourists, good shark fin soup (not that I eat it), ASIAXPAT, no casinos, safety doors on the MTR, CX first class lounge, mormons in mid levels, the mystery twins (where are they these days, have I missed something?) Free parking at Chinese New Year, Ocean park, shark attacks in spring (not many recently, probably too much soup), Indian fortune tellers, champagne breakfast on new years morning in the Pen, the Macklehose trail, route Twisk in winter with mist, St Steven beach, Brides Pool, running along Blacks link and Bowen road in the morning, pei dan chuk, roast pigeon, races in Happy Valley on a hot Wednesday night, a stroll through Happy Valley bone orchard, trams, James Bond (he was here), Bottoms Up (oh yeah, it's gone now), wet markets, the FCC, the cross harbor swim, Mai Po Marsh, the simple tax return form, expensive real estate, free local phone calls, no duties on wine, pink dolphins, Chung King Mansions, Regina Ip, fire flies in my garden at night in autumn, humidity in summer, junk trips to Po Toi, ID card self service processing at the airport, no rickshaws (they used to be hell in traffic), liberation from Japanese occupation, Vegemite, the SPCA, surgical masks, disposable chopsticks, lion dances, The Tiger Balm Garden, Chinese weddings, the bold and fearless policemen, PCCW, snake soup, protesters in Central, this list could be endless, do you want me to carry on? It still does not make us Asia's world city, does it?
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
That and the fact HK is now post 1997.
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
You have yo admit, HK for it's relative small size packs in a lot of what the world offers, so it's not far off from the aptly self named Asia's World City -nothing pompous about that. So much of the great outdoors -both land and sea -in harmony with one of the most vibrant metropolis.
Where else in Asia can you do so much per square mile?
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Fixer
13 yrs ago
Madders, you really don't make a very polite house guest do you.
Never said HK wasn't overcrowded and yes it is somewhat crowded compared to Alaska -does that make HK the big bad place as you paint it? It's like calling an obese person horribly gross before you get to know them.
On the whole the people that are here, both natives and guests, take it for what it is and learn how to make the most of what we have. Have you been to some of the outdoors WM mentioned -Brides Pool, SKCP?
Do you have a list of things you like about HK besides the transport system?
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