« Picking up the meme | Main | Old language - new language »

March 04, 2005

The turnaround of Hong Kong

Hong Kong suffered badly from the financial crisis in 1997 and, afterwards, more and more from the emergence of China. Many people thought that this is a city that is a has-been.

In addition, who wanted to go to Hong Kong anyway? There were many stories about how rude their inhabitants are. I guess everybody can share a story or two.

Stories that you cannot enter a shop when you don't want to buy something or stories that you cannot try clothes or anything if you are not interested.

That was the impression that I had.

It is a has been. At least in the parts of the city I visited after my working days, together with my colleagues.

Plenty of incidences.

We were looking for a restaurant where we can pay with creditcard (still difficult in Hong Kong). The owner of one restaurant, an older lady in her mid-fifties, hardly speaking English, brings us to another place. 400 meters away. Asked, if there is no guest in her restaurant, she says, not many, today. And keeps walking besides us.

The store attendants that greet your friendly, as if you were their best friend. Smiling, and helping. Suggesting new things in a professional manner. Not angry, when you go out and buy things or clothes next door, at their competitor. Still smiling at you, when you pass by again, still saying hello to you.

The waiters that joke with you. Friendly. That tell you everything you want to know about their Chinese tea. That bring you a desert, free of charge, to show you, that their food is great.

You inquire about a direction, and someone shows you the way. You move on and get lost again, the minute you turn around the corner. The guy on the road that incidentally oveheard your earlier question is still behind you and he immediately stops to help you further.

The police who rides on their big bikes and helps to untangle the traffic the moment it gets jammed. The stop their bikes, get down and start "cleaning" up, before moving on.

I really was astonished. I didn't know how this can happen. Chinese colleagues told me that this is the making of competition, and that the government is surely at least partially responsible by educating the people.

I don't know the answer to this. May be it was an exception, may be it is the rule, currently. But this people are engaged, they are motivated and they are having fun. By the way, they also move fast

Whatever it is - it surely is a better promotion than any rebranding effort. Or, for that matter, depictable actions such as this described in The Star about the taxi driver that robbed the passenger.

Tagged in Technorati under:



Posted by Andreas at March 4, 2005 09:51 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.alwayswow.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/112

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The turnaround of Hong Kong:

» The Might of The Dragon: Maxtor moves production plant to China, Singapore to lose 5,500 jobs. from Brand New Malaysian
The price that a developed nation pays is that while knowledge workers will thrive, the knowledge workers with a lot cheaper labour and the promise of a huge emerging domestic market wins over hands down.... [Read More]

Tracked on March 6, 2005 02:19 AM

Comments

My relatives went to HK a few years ago and they came back with negative comments. They said the people were extremely rude. My cousin sister wanted to buy a coat and the owner asked her- can you afford it? My cousin was pissed.

My parents went to before Christmas last year and they said they HKs are totally different! People are friendly! It's nice to hear that they have changed and people are friendly.

Posted by: Eileen at March 6, 2005 04:41 AM

Hong Kong is indeed a fast-paced place. I was not used to the regular 'greetings' received when entering a shop - they would go "Hello!" or "Welcome!", and thanked you anyway when you leave - felt rather embarassed initially. This habit has been picked up by some of our local shops, though.

Posted by: Strizzt at March 5, 2005 12:19 PM

I've only been here since September, and will remain for a couple of years or so. I came across some of the stuff you recounted, and I always thought the sentiment was built-in a long time.

But if you're right about this being a turnaround, methinks it's more recent than 1997. Maybe post-SARS, perhaps?

Posted by: Solb1 Kenobi at March 4, 2005 10:47 PM

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?