This is Hong Kong:
“This is Hong Kong” or so a tourism PR ad many years ago featured as a catch cry in promoting Hong Kong to the wider masses aboard. It was meant to show case the attractive elements of visiting the place. Nowadays sadly “This is Hong Kong” takes on a different meaning.
Un-Welcome to Hong Kong:
One never gets a second chance to make a first impression, and so it seems on arrival into Hong Kong while the brilliant airport makes a stunning warm welcome, getting out of the place does not. As most visitors arrive subject to the usual Hong Kong Immigration formalities, time and time again all I hear from friends and business people visiting is just how long, often an hour and half or more just to “get through” Immigration. All this after a long haul flight and one has to long haul themselves through a long slow queue. A very un-welcome to Hong Kong.
The Airport Express service from the Airport to the city is again an shining example of efficiency, however the pending queue and long wait for a connecting Taxi to your final destination can mean getting around this seemingly compact city can take you up to three hours from the time you disembark from your aircraft.
Hotel Blues:
Add to this the fact the fact the developers in Hong Kong actually take down Hotels to build office blocks that yield higher returns, means there is an acute shortage of Hotel rooms. Take for example the recent episode in which some 340 Qantas passengers had to spend the night at the airport, with most sleeping on the ground or benches. While Qantas tried hard and would of happily provided frustrated passengers with rooms for the night, it seemed all Inns were indeed full. Not even breaking up the passenger group was viable as demand exceeded supply. (see: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/qantas-passengers-sleep-in-hong-kong-airport-after-wing-problem-20110729-1i386.html)
Come on Hong Kong!
So from the start to the end some visitors have their time In Hong Kong fraught with inconvenience. Hong Kong will loose it’s edge if it cannot or will not get basic services in better order, you can dream build and create the most amazing place on earth, but it takes people to make it a reality. The reality is Hong Kong needs better and further development to ensure people keep coming here for the right reasons. This is indeed, Hong Kong.
