Since 2003, when Hong Kong universities were allowed to start enrolling mainland Chinese students, more than 160,000 mainlanders have come to Hong Kong to pursue studies and careers. These mainlanders have been labelled “Hong Kong drifters”.
Young Hong Kong drifters have formed a unique social group in Hong Kong. When their graduations are impending, most mainland students must face the question of whether or not to stay in Hong Kong.
The experience of Yi Yi (a pseudonym), a Hong Kong drifter who has been studying at the University of Hong Kong for a short time, may provide an inspiration for Hong Kong drifters who are considering whether to stay in Hong Kong.
Many people have said that Hong Kong people are relatively apathetic. As the society is money-oriented and the economy is declining now, most Hong Kong people tend to be very impetuous, and pessimism can be felt in the air of the society.
However, Yi Yi, a young student who recently came from the mainland, found that Hong Kong people are warm and polite and behave with propriety. Although she is shouldering work stress and the pressure of life more heavily than in the mainland, Hong Kong people’s genuine human warmth touched her and let her fall in love with this city.
Warm-hearted stranger
When Yi Yi went to attend an interview for graduate enrollment at the University of Hong Kong, she was very excited. She had high expectations of the upcoming journey.
On that day, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station for the University of Hong Kong had not opened yet. The most convenient route to the university was to take an MTR to the Austin Station and then transfer to bus No 970.
Chatting and laughing with friends, Yi Yi arrived at the Austin Station. Suddenly she found that she was confused, as there were many exits. Which exit would lead to the bus stop?
Carrying heavy luggage, she already felt very tired after a long and arduous journey. She could not rely on the Internet, as her SIM card was not ready yet. How could she find the station?
They chose an exit randomly and went out. Then Yi Yi saw many people working on a construction site of the high-speed rail station, and she asked a worker for directions. The worker spoke only limited Mandarin, but he was very warm-hearted.
Unfortunately, he did not know where the stop for bus No. 970 was. The worker thought for a moment. Then he took out a mobile phone from his pocket. After searching for a while, he told them the directions and enthusiastically recommended a mobile phone app.
Yi Yi was moved by Hong Kong people’s warmth on her first day in Hong Kong. Immediately Hong Kong became a lot closer to her.
