Hong Kong drift talks. 上｜A newcomer who was an uneasy "bystander"｜01 Weekly

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Written by: Cheng Xue

2021-06-18 12:00

Last update date: 2021-06-18 12:00

Considering Hong Kong's single industry, high cost of living, and serious social tears, some "Hong Kong drifters" chose to leave.

However, some "Hong Kong drifters" choose to stay, take up the responsibility of solving problems and become stakeholders in Hong Kong society.

The "Hong Kong New Direction" established in 2019 has gathered such a group of "Hong Kong drifters".

On the homepage of the website, they wrote "We all have a common identity-Hong Kong people working hard for a better tomorrow for ourselves and Hong Kong."

"Hong Kong 01" invited Liu Chang, the founder and executive committee member of "Hong Kong New Directions", Wen Fan, the convener of accounting and financial services, and Yan Ni, the convener of education majors, to discuss how to realize the "bystander" in Hong Kong society. Participant’s identity changes.

This is the third of the "Floating in Hong Kong" series of reports

Series of articles:

Hong Kong drift.

One | Hong Kong, where you can leave, Hong Kong where you can’t leave

Hong Kong drift.

2. Lack of long-term planning Hong Kong has become a transit point for "talents"

Who has never been a port drifter when starting a family and starting a business in an immigrant city?

Hong Kong 01:

Hong Kong is facing the problems of an aging population, a declining fertility rate, and a shortage of labor. In the future, it will participate in a very fierce competition for talents.

For Hong Kong, "Gang Diao" is a relatively elite group, and it is a talent that needs to be retained, but the society does not realize the significance of "Gang Diao" to Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong 01" believes that it is time to re-recognize "Hong Kong drifters"-they are no longer the "others" in Hong Kong society.

But the change in cognition needs to start from the "Hong Kong drifter" group itself.

So, what exactly is "Hong Kong drift"?

Is this an identity, a group, or just a state of existence?

Liu Chang:

In my opinion, "Gang Piao" is a neutral label-maybe others will think it has negative connotations.

"Drift" is a verb, showing an unstable state.

So what is the corresponding state? Are they so-called aboriginals?

However, Hong Kong is a city of immigrants, who is not a "Hong Kong drifter"?

Is Mr. Li Ka-shing "Hong Kong drifting"?

Are Tung Chee-hwa and Jin Yong "Hong Kong drifters" again?

Back to myself, I have been in Hong Kong for more than ten years, got married and have children.

Am I still "drifting"?

Including the so-called "Hong Kong drifters" friends around me, in my opinion, they are not "drifting", but are building Hong Kong down-to-earth and steadily.

Therefore, one of the identity I agree with is "Hong Kong people working hard for a better future for myself and Hong Kong."

Of course, I don't think I have only one identity.

I was born in Yunnan, studied undergraduate in Beijing, and lived in Hong Kong. I can be from Yunnan, Beijing, or Hong Kong.

Therefore, I don't think I am a passerby.

With children, you will pay more attention to the medical and educational issues in Hong Kong. Changes in your life trajectory will expose you to all aspects of the life you want to live in. Only then can you realize what kind of problems you have and hope it will become better. Wish, you will be a part of here

Liu Chang

Jenny:

I think "Hong Kong drift" is a kind of "state", divided into two levels, psychological and physical.

When we first came to Hong Kong, we all lived in rented houses. We didn't have a so-called home. This was a physiological "drifting" state.

On the psychological level, the estrangement of living habits and cultural differences will cause us to resist this place and produce the idea of ​​"I don't belong here."

This is a state of "drifting".

At the same time, when a person feels that he fits this definition and is willing to use this word to define himself, "Hong Kong drift" becomes an identity.

When these people gather together, they naturally become a group.

Wen Fan:

How did the term "Hong Kong drift" come from? It should actually come from "North drift."

The so-called "beijing drift" actually refers to people who work in Beijing but do not have a Beijing registered permanent residence. The reason why they "drift" is because they do not have the right of abode in Beijing.

But in Hong Kong, this problem does not actually exist. When you arrive in Hong Kong, you will have an ID card and enjoy the most basic rights of a citizen. When the time comes, you will become a permanent resident.

So I didn't feel that I was in a "drifting" state in Hong Kong from the beginning. Since I am here, I just want to develop here, then I am the person here.

In those years, "You can only go to bed as soon as you enter the door." The kindness of Hong Kong people to build a home.

Hong Kong 01:

Although everyone has different understandings of "Hong Kong drifters", they have all experienced a change in their identity from "Hong Kong drifters" to "Hong Kong people working hard for themselves and Hong Kong for a better tomorrow."

How did this change come about?

Jenny:

Time.

I think it will take some time for everyone to adjust to the new environment.

When you become more familiar with this place and identify with this place more and more, your psychology changes and you no longer feel resisted. You feel comfortable and free to live here, and you even find a sense of belonging. Then this "floating" state will be Began to blur.

You might think, "I don't have this kind of fatigue. I am the person here."

I am from Shandong and came to Hong Kong in 2010 to study undergraduate.

Before coming to Hong Kong, I didn't know anything about this place. It can be said that the ignorant are fearless, so there is no fear.

After I came, I discovered that there is such a big cultural gap in this place.

Linguistically speaking, I do not speak Cantonese.

At that time, I was the only mainlander in our class. Sitting in the classroom, the students around all spoke Cantonese, and I couldn't understand it either.

Until everyone noticed me—hey, why doesn't this little girl speak.

In fact, my classmates at the time were very friendly and willing to speak Mandarin with me.

They are also very curious about the mainland, and they will ask me a lot about the mainland.

Some people will feel the impact of tearing and feel the instability of Hong Kong society. Maybe they will choose to go back, but those who stay will realize that this may be the time when we need to make changes.

Jenny

I was most impressed when a classmate asked me, can I drink bubble tea in the Mainland?

My feeling at the time was-what kind of place do you think the mainland is, and why do you ask such questions?

At that time, I felt that they didn't know much about the mainland.

I'm not used to eating.

I don’t like meat, I like vegetables. After I came to Hong Kong, I couldn’t understand the char siu rice. There is a combination of rice and meat. There is no vegetable, and the meat is sweet?

I can't get used to it.

The most difficult part should be the time to find a job after graduation.

At that time, I felt that there was a certain distance between college and Hong Kong society. After all, teachers and classmates in school would take care of you.

But after graduation, I feel that I don't understand this society at all, and I can't live here at all.

I am from a sociology background and it is difficult to find a job related to my major. I have experienced many twists and turns during the job search, and I always fail to meet my expectations.

But at the time, I felt that it was a pity to go so far. I wanted to gain more experience and stay, and slowly find a career path that suits me.

But over time, I will also find good places in this city.

For example, the social system, such as a strong sense of order and security, such as the professionalism and sense of responsibility of colleagues.

Gradually, I developed feelings for this place, and it became difficult to leave.

Liu Chang:

I also had a strong sense of "wandering" during my studies.

Came to Hong Kong in 2008 and rented a tenement unit opposite Shitang Tsui.

By now, that tenement building should be about fifty years old.

My room is a little over two square meters, and I can only go to bed as soon as I enter the door.

There is a butcher shop next to that tenement building, and I look for this butcher every time I go home.

One day when I came home late, the butcher shop closed, and I couldn't find my home.

At this time, I have a strong anxiety, feeling that this is not my home.

In addition, there is a lot of pressure in adapting to society and academics, and I can't speak Cantonese. I felt very aggrieved and mixed.

But half a year or a year later, I met the aunt at a nearby sugar water shop, and I would pack an extra portion of the sugar water for me; when I met the owner of the restaurant, I would give me two more foods for dinner.

It's still the butcher shop, the tenement building, and the two-square-meter bed, but I don't think it is that strange, and finally I feel at home.

Continue reading:

Hong Kong drift talks.

Next｜I am also a "Hongkonger"

The above was published in the 269th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly (June 15, 2021) "Dialogue with Hong Kong Drifters: I am also a Hong Konger".

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Highlights of the 269 issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly News:

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"The 14th Five-Year Plan" has clear goals

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"Military technology complex" becomes a new modern battlefield

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