CK: Most Pathetic Thing for Hongkongers is Giving Ourselves Up

Most Pathetic Thing for Hongkongers is Giving Ourselves Up

Translated by Chen-t'ang 鎮棠, Written by CK
Original: http://www.passiontimes.hk/article/05-07-2014/14877

This "Golden Week" of May 1st, there were less mainland visitors. The streets are more cosy. It has been a long time since our last comfortable moment on streets.

Often I hear people say, "Hong Kong will die without individual visit scheme (IVS) visitors." I always doubt: Does this mean Hong Kong has no abilities to do other business besides IVS tourists?

I actually feel, after 2003, the Chinese central government started the IVS, which has become the 'most comfortable' option. The city puts a lot of resources on the most 'comfortable' option, which makes people lazy to think of other alternatives - until this option 'backfires'.

I do not believe Hong Kong will die without IVS. Hong Kong is an international city at the end of the day. We do not survive only on earning money from a region/country. But when the most 'comfortable' option is at hand, there is a fat chance that the merchants of this city will transform themselves with determination.

So, people put all eggs into one basket without consciousness, allowing our economy gradually depending on a single nation, which makes us forget our survival skills. And some smart asses keeps on popping out: "We will die without XX."

We don't like some mainlanders having "almsgiver attitude" towards Hongkongers, but among Hongkongers, we can also hear some pathetic voices saying that we are becoming a sunset city that can only survive on alms. Every time I hear our people saying things like that, I always feel: Why are we so dejected and dispirited? Are we giving ourselves up already?