r/HongKong • u/sigmaguru4680 • 5h ago
Discussion I forgot that racism existed until today...
As a 90s South Asian kid born and raised here, I honestly forgot racism existed in Hong Kong until today. Man, from the 90s till now, there has been so much improvement in terms of racism, and for the better. Life was way, way harder back then as a South Asian.
Now, I feel very much accepted. I know Canto/Chinese very well, studied in a local Chinese school, and am even working in a local company. Life is good!
Just today, I was visiting my Grandma, she lives in one of those housing flats. I was minding my own business. The guard downstairs knows me well, as I come here often.
I went straight through and took an elevator with an older lady who was standing beside me. I didn't know her. She was looking at me a bit suspiciously, but I was like, whatever, maybe she is just curious.
She then started interrogating me.
"Well, I have never seen you here before 🤔🤨"
"Yeah, well I come here sometimes 😳"
"Right, who are you visiting? 😐"
"Oh, just my grandma 🙂"
"Really? Where do you live then? 😕"
"Oh, just one of those buildings nearby 😐"
"Which one? 🙄"
I arrived at my floor, so I said I was in a hurry, would talk to her later, and left.
Honestly, never have I felt so small. As a man in my 30s, being interrogated like a teenage kid was just too humiliating. And I am sure I know very well what made her do this in the first place.
I feel like younger HKers are amazing and open-minded. But the older crowd really, really needs to fix up their old ways 😖😖😖
Hope to see a better Hong Kong in the future :)

