I Love Hong Kong

[ignoramus]

I Love Hong Kong

Almost anything and everything about Hong Kong sounds so good and looks so good. The MTR, HKIA, the supertall skyscrapers, the movies, the fashion, the cool weather...everything...except maybe the fact that the city is such a superexpensive place to visit.

But what are Hong Kongers' lives like? What makes Hong Kong appeal to many like me? What else is there? Do Hong Kong movies and one's visit to Hong Kong truly reflect just what Hong Kong is really like?

[ailiton]

What so cool about HK's weather?

I think many tourists are impressed by how smooth HK's traffic is.

[superchan7]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

HK's weather sucks. Income disparity/dichotomy is a problem. Capitalistic greed is a problem with respect to social morals. Excessively stressful (and unrewarding) education system is a problem. Lackluster English standards is a problem.

[Syd-Hk]

there's too much air pollution in hong kong and apartments are very SMALL, just enough to live in.

[ignoramus]

What so cool about HK's weather?

I think many tourists are impressed by how smooth HK's traffic is.

Well there's little humidity and the temperature usually hovers around the mid 20s. Whats so bad about that?

Speaking of weather, whats that ''flame'' symbol that I see on the SCMP's weather page?

The pollution cant be that bad right. Seriously I havent been anywhere so far that I can detect strong pollution in the air. How's pollution there like? You mean everywhere you go you inhale fumes...

When I think of traffic in Hong Kong I think of cars...many many cars...and when I think of the MTR & KCR, I think of many...many many people on them... Its a bit too congested for me to live in (Ya HK apartments are internationally recognised for being small)...

But as a place to visit, HK comes in tops. The city just has so much buzz in it, right??? Everything just wows you... The skyscrapers are standing in front of you, flaunting their steel and glass facades and piercing the sky.

And my impression of Hong Kongers is that they are so IN with the times. Everything is so busy, so vibrant, so COOL! Everything seems so unrestricted (except the democracy part).

Do Hong Kongers really feel that way about their city, polluted and un-democractic?

[vvill]

food is amazing in hong kong. there're cheap hk tea restaurants everywhere and yet there're also many many proper and authentic restaurants serving different cuisines from around the world. fusion food is also good in hk probably also because it's the place where east meets the west. shopping is brilliant. i mean, you can almost find every single famous fashion brand in hong kong yet it's much cheaper compared to london or new york. it's probably because we don't have sales tax. these aspects are probably what most tourists find hong kong extremely attractive.

[RafflesCity]

I used to go to HK for every sch vacation like 10 years ago, been there a total of 5 times.

Going in December is great cos the weather is cold.

Back then Kai Tak airport was in operation and I always got a window seat to watch the plane swoop in over Kowloon Tong.

I heard the Banana-Leaf restaurant in HK is doing well :)

[ignoramus]

Richie Rich you! I want to go there so much and I can't! For all sorts of reasons. Dammit.

December's a great time to go, but thats when airplane tickets are the MOST MOST MOST EXPENSIVE. And thats when nothing in your wardrobe is suitable to wear there...

[RafflesCity]

isnt Valuair offering cheaper flights now?

[ignoramus]

The last time I checked it was 228 return without tax etc. If tiger airways flew there if would be much much cheaper, but I wouldnt necessarily take it cause flying valuair sounds cooler and its more comfortable.

[superchan7]

Hong Kong's weather is a joke. It's constantly humid (there isn't a single dry season except autumn if you stretch your imagination) and for 2/3 of the year the sopping-wet heat is unbearable. Blue sky is often a long-awaited blessing (then again, I've become used to San Diego, where it's a rarity to see rain), and even if it's there, haze ruins the deep-blue colour.

What would you do without the almighty air conditioner? You can't even sleep at night without one. Central A/C is far too weak for any decently sized home; every room needs its own unit.

The heavy maritime traffic and the reliance on heavy-duty diesel vehicles for public and goods transportation makes ground-level pollution intolerable. The diesel fumes at the street level is quite unacceptable, especially when heavy vehicles pass by.

These are some of the bad sides of Hong Kong. I still like the place; it's unique in setting and development. The city packs an incredible economic and psychological punch for a couple of rocks and a small patch of mainland. One who sees Hong Kong is likely to be impressed and think, "THIS is a true achievement of modern mankind."

[ailiton]

HK's summer is extremely oppressive. Although temperature doesn't normally go beyond the 34C mark, humidex often reaches 48C. Even my domestic helper from the Phillippines had been complaining that HK's weather is quite a bit more oppressive than that in her home country. Spring is supposed to be the most humid, with relative humidity lingering at about 100% for weeks. HK is affected by NE monsoon in winter so relative humidity often drop below 50%.

[OBman]

stress for everyone, the young, students, working class, old... thats for the people who live and work there of course.
none the less, it's a shopping heaven, cheap electronics and clothes, all the trendy stuff...

must get shoes from MK..... any of u hate MK people?

[zergcerebrates]

I Love Hong Kong

Almost anything and everything about Hong Kong sounds so good and looks so good. The MTR, HKIA, the supertall skyscrapers, the movies, the fashion, the cool weather...everything...except maybe the fact that the city is such a superexpensive place to visit.

But what are Hong Kongers' lives like? What makes Hong Kong appeal to many like me? What else is there? Do Hong Kong movies and one's visit to Hong Kong truly reflect just what Hong Kong is really like?


Well I just bought a ticket from Cathay Pacific which cost US$1,450 to HK from LA during December. SO pricey during the holidays. Anyhow just to let you guys know I'm not born or raised in HK but I do love to go back to Hong Kong. For some reason HK is very attractive to me, its fun, the food is good, up to date consumer technology, and of course the beautiful skyline. As for pollution wise its not HK's fault anyways its from Guangdong's industrial regions, sometimes the air pollution can be bad but most of the time its acceptable, its not like you're going to suffocate. As for weather HK is not really that great during the summers its hot, and humid but since you're from Singapore I guess you're use to the equatorial temperatures. In Los Angeles its hot, but its not humid the wind is cool and dry that is why I go to Hong Kong mostly in December so its cold and cool.

As for the road, Hong Kong does have a lot of cars, but depends on which location, at business districts and the Kowloon area its mostly taxis and buses that crowds the streets. In new territories and HK island theres more private cars. MTR and KCR is especially crowded during peak hours but its great, I like to be part of the sardine experience I think its cool and fun for a tourist I guess its just so busy and lively its just full of atmosphere.

What are HKgers life like? Well it depends I have a cousin that lives on top of the mountain where she has a 3 story house that overlooks the entire victoria harbour its so nice, the best view even better than "The Peak" but transportation wise is a problem buses don't go to my cousins area so taxis or personal driver is needed. I have some other relatives that lives in Shatin and the flats are quite small, my bathroom in LA is already bigger than their kitchen its ridiculous, the size is about 850sq ft. so its really small but in terms of HK standards its average. But in Shatin area its really convenient, market is just around the corner, shops are just at the bottom and bus stations is just right below with taxi stands, so HK's life can be quite convenient.

[zergcerebrates]

stress for everyone, the young, students, working class, old... thats for the people who live and work there of course.
none the less, it's a shopping heaven, cheap electronics and clothes, all the trendy stuff...

must get shoes from MK..... any of u hate MK people?


Yes I don't like Mongkok people but not to the point I hate them. HK is crowded so I guess people are more stressed out there

[HKT]

Hong Kong's weather is a joke. It's constantly humid (there isn't a single dry season except autumn if you stretch your imagination) and for 2/3 of the year the sopping-wet heat is unbearable. Blue sky is often a long-awaited blessing (then again, I've become used to San Diego, where it's a rarity to see rain), and even if it's there, haze ruins the deep-blue colour.

What would you do without the almighty air conditioner? You can't even sleep at night without one. Central A/C is far too weak for any decently sized home; every room needs its own unit.

The heavy maritime traffic and the reliance on heavy-duty diesel vehicles for public and goods transportation makes ground-level pollution intolerable. The diesel fumes at the street level is quite unacceptable, especially when heavy vehicles pass by.


I don't think HK's weather is a joke. After all, you can see the difference between summer and winter. Humidity is also something that HK needs. In the old days, HK relied on rain heavily because that was the main source of water supply. Today, its role had changed to moisturing plants and trees, cleaning the roads as well as the air. The air is usually cleaner and fresh during and after rain. Sometimes, it also gives us holiday to relieve the pressure from work. For your information, we did not have a drop of rain last October so 2/3 of the year raining is not really right though.

Almighty air conditioner? Isn't that a must in Las Vegas or Southern California like Palm Springs even it's dry in summer? Likevise, you'll need heaters in East Coast, and the Mid-West.

>"The heavy maritime traffic and the reliance on heavy-duty diesel vehicles for public and goods transportation makes ground-level pollution intolerable."

The same statement can be made in California too. With POOR public transportation, please look at the amount of all-sized trucks, cars, SUVs, and perhaps old/classics cars with poor exhaust air quality control on the highways. Because of the highrises in HK, it just seems that the air there looks better than in HK. But when you look at Los Angeles from the East or landing at LAX, I don't think the haze there in LA is any better than HK. Same thing can be said for Northern California. It is always hard to see either side of the Bay in the Bay Area and when driving from/to Sacramento, you can see that think hazy sky. Because of that, there are always so called "Spare the air day" in summer to encourage people from driving. However, I don't see it a success.

Every city does have pullution problem, perhaps the most less polluted cities are those islands in the middle of Pacific Ocean.

[ignoramus]

Well I just bought a ticket from Cathay Pacific which cost US$1,450 to HK from LA during December. SO pricey during the holidays. Anyhow just to let you guys know I'm not born or raised in HK but I do love to go back to Hong Kong. For some reason HK is very attractive to me, its fun, the food is good, up to date consumer technology, and of course the beautiful skyline. As for pollution wise its not HK's fault anyways its from Guangdong's industrial regions, sometimes the air pollution can be bad but most of the time its acceptable, its not like you're going to suffocate. As for weather HK is not really that great during the summers its hot, and humid but since you're from Singapore I guess you're use to the equatorial temperatures. In Los Angeles its hot, but its not humid the wind is cool and dry that is why I go to Hong Kong mostly in December so its cold and cool.

As for the road, Hong Kong does have a lot of cars, but depends on which location, at business districts and the Kowloon area its mostly taxis and buses that crowds the streets. In new territories and HK island theres more private cars. MTR and KCR is especially crowded during peak hours but its great, I like to be part of the sardine experience I think its cool and fun for a tourist I guess its just so busy and lively its just full of atmosphere.

What are HKgers life like? Well it depends I have a cousin that lives on top of the mountain where she has a 3 story house that overlooks the entire victoria harbour its so nice, the best view even better than "The Peak" but transportation wise is a problem buses don't go to my cousins area so taxis or personal driver is needed. I have some other relatives that lives in Shatin and the flats are quite small, my bathroom in LA is already bigger than their kitchen its ridiculous, the size is about 850sq ft. so its really small but in terms of HK standards its average. But in Shatin area its really convenient, market is just around the corner, shops are just at the bottom and bus stations is just right below with taxi stands, so HK's life can be quite convenient.

Woah thats like S$2000 for an air ticket from LA to HK. Is that one way or return? Sorry I am not very good with ticket prices. With that sum of money I could fly to HK to and fro 4 times and still have about a thousand dollars left in spending money. haha...

[superchan7]

Well, diesel fumes stink, and roadside pollution is the worst for human health. You breathe it all in directly. Euro-Ten-Thousand emissions standards won't change the fact that diesel engines (and all gas-combustion engines) release foul and harmful particles.

I won't disagree that the Los Angeles area's air is also terrible. However, I'm in La Jolla near San Diego, so I breathe heavenly air molecules and have high expectations.

[hkskyline]

Diesel is a major street-side pollution problem. That's why there are incentives in place to convert the lorries to something less polluting. The taxis have made the move to LNG and the new buses pollute far less with new technology. However, these things take time but things are pointing to the right direction.

At the same time, more regional collaboration is needed to combat the smog problem as well. Hong Kong and Guangdong authorities are engaging in dialogue to share ideas on reducing air pollution, but it's highly unlikely that industry will stop to reduce pollution. What kind of balance will there be?

[Syd-Hk]

well most pollution is from
-cars/ traffic
-power plants [COAL]
-industrial buidlings

if they can reduce emission from those, there will be much cleaner air.

china is going the wrong way by building so many highways at the moment. it's promoting car use. if they react fast enough, it wont be another america.

[zergcerebrates]

Woah thats like S$2000 for an air ticket from LA to HK. Is that one way or return? Sorry I am not very good with ticket prices. With that sum of money I could fly to HK to and fro 4 times and still have about a thousand dollars left in spending money. haha...


Oh thats rountrip. Yah its the holidays so prices in december are $$$ especially with Cathay Pacific. I have to take CX because if not my mileage will expire next year.