Youth Hong Kong interviewed several pedestrians in Kai Tak, an area that has witnessed the city’s old days and new development. Once home to the city’s international airport from 1925 to 1998, Kai Tak has since been transformed into one of Hong Kong’s largest integrated sports and entertainment hubs.
1. Do you like living in Hong Kong?
- I don’t like living in Hong Kong. The pace of life is too fast, and I feel like I can never truly relax, whether at work or studying. However, I do love the public transport. It’s fast, convenient, safe, and clean.
- I have mixed feelings about living in Hong Kong. It’s extremely convenient, but it feels overpopulated, overly dense, and I feel the air quality is getting worse.
- As a traveller (though I previously considered studying here), I think Hong Kong has a great atmosphere. It’s a wonderful place for leisurely strolling as a tourist, though working here seems like it would come with high pressure.
- I like living in Hong Kong. It’s a beautiful city, particularly my neighbourhood in Kai Tak, which feels very open and well-developed.
- I was born here, so accepting life in Hong Kong is just part of reality for me. What I dislike most is the stark, visible divide in living conditions — rich and poor living right next to each other creates psychological pressure for everyone. Still, the convenience, transport, and dining options are great. My adult children choose not to have kids due to the financial pressure, educational challenges, and lack of child-friendly living space.
- I love living and playing in Hong Kong, especially in Tsuen Wan where I live with my parents and sister. My favourite thing to do at home is play games with my sister.
2. Are there too many malls?
- I rarely visit shopping malls because they are too crowded and cramped. I much prefer spending time outdoors in parks. Hong Kong has far too many malls, and they all feel repetitive and identical.
- When I go to malls, I usually spend my time dining out or shopping for clothes. I feel the number of malls in Hong Kong is fair.
- I occasionally wander through malls during my free time to browse shops, relax, and pass the time. I think the current number of malls in Hong Kong is quite reasonable.
- I don’t think there are too many malls given the large population, but I dislike how monotonous they are — they are dominated by identical chain stores, which squeezes out small local businesses with high rents. I rarely visit malls myself, mainly using them just to eat. On nice days, I prefer taking my family outdoors to parks or swimming.
- I only visit malls if I have a specific need or need to buy things for my family. Otherwise, unless it’s extremely hot and I need air conditioning, I prefer walking down the streets to experience the authentic local vibe. I think Hong Kong’s urban planning and commercial infrastructure are highly developed. The interconnected footbridges, underground transit connections, indoor air conditioning, and shaded public seating (like around Chater Garden) make getting around very comfortable and efficient compared to the mainland.
- I don’t shop often, maybe once or twice a month to buy clothes or essentials. In my area, the number of commercial hubs (like AIRSIDE and the Sports Park) feels a bit high-end, though overall it’s acceptable.
- Malls are necessary and work well in high-density residential areas like Po Lam or Tseung Kwan O, where self-contained communities enjoy affordable dining, scenic cycling paths, and footbridges. However, most malls are copy-paste duplicates. I mainly spend time in malls during summer breaks to entertain the child I foster. I think public spaces exist if you look for them, but what Hong Kong truly lacks is adequate, affordable living space.
- I love visiting big shopping malls with my family because I like looking at all the nice, pretty things inside. Outside of malls, I spend a lot of time playing at the big park near my building, especially on the swings and the flying spinner ride. I feel Hong Kong already has plenty of places to play and shop, and I’m very happy with what we have.
3. What would you add to Hong Kong’s urban space?
- More parks and greenery
- Public communal areas like sky gardens and parks
- Community spaces and leisure centres where people can gather, join classes, or enjoy park facilities
- Interactive playgrounds for children
- Public sports facilities, like local basketball or soccer courts ■