Hong Kong - Bird’s Eye View

Returning to Hong Kong from Taiwan, I happened to sit at a window on the left hand side to the rear of the plane, on a clear sunny day, in mid afternoon.  I have not seen Hong Kong from this perspective for some time.  We were landing from the north east, so we were flying across much of the North-East New Territories and North-West Kowloon.  

The first place I recognised was Sai Kung. With little white leisure boats dotting the harbour.  

Soon we crossed the mountains and passed over Shatin.  With the straightened Shing Mun River splitting the old “new” town, the huge oval of the Race course dominating the scene.  I could barely made out the building where my family lived for 7 years, near the MTR station. The Central Park where our children roam. The hills that our children climbed. 

We crossed some of the highest mountains in Hong Kong and flew over the Shing Mun Reservoir, the source of the Shing Mun River.  It is surrounded by dark green forests, yet so very close to the edge of the city.  

Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi Island.  So densely populated.  With the multiple bridges linking the two.  I remember walking across at least one of them.

Ting Kao Bridge, one of those linking Tsing Yi Island to the mainland.  With its distinctive shape.  I had “run” across it on one of those annual Standard Chartered Hong Kong Full Marathon Runs.  

Tsing Ma Bridge, on which I had run several times.  It had looked so massive up close. Yet so slender from a Bird’s Eye View. I could even see the “Noah’s Ark” on Ma Wan Island, one of many similar “Arks” across the world. 

North Shore of Lantau Island, with DisneyLand faintly visible in the distance.  

And the man-made island that is the traffic exchange just in front of the airport.  Just before landing in Hong Kong International Airport. 

From the Bird’s Eye View, Hong Kong looks as beautiful as ever.  In fact, it is looking vibrant.  There are more and more tall buildings.  More interconnected with visible, beautiful bridges, and hidden tunnels.  More land has been created, to accommodate the growing population.  From a distance, it looks peaceful and welcoming.  It even brings back many pleasant memories.  My wife is waiting at home.  

Once we land, however, the reality hits.  While we are landing, many more are leaving, or have already left.  Many are leaving, not for studies, jobs or adventure - the normal, innocuous reasons for departing.  But because they do not like the place anymore, do not feel they belong anymore, do not feel safe anymore , do not feel welcome anymore.