Hong Kong has lot’s of interesting places, so it hard to choose a favorite. I like hiking on Lantau or around Sai Kung. I also like looking at the colorful cloth and sewing shops and stalls in Sham Shui Po, and I love the summer sunsets at Wu Kai Sha.
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Since June 2019, there has been a lot of controversy about politics In Hong Kong, but there has been little discussion about how to actually make the territory a better place to live. Hong Kong is quite a good place, but it does have a lot of problems as well. Let me list a few of them here:
I am sure there are a few more. Let me know in the comments below if I missed any.
Increased democracy might make the government more accountable, but democracy BY ITSELF doesn’t solve problems, especially if the elected leaders make poor decisions.
Therefore, for this discussion question, we are asking you for a suggestion on how to help solve at least one of Hong Kong’s problems.
NOTE: This discussion topic is a set up to deal with issues other than pro-democracy, anti-government or anti-China grievances and to elicit constructive suggestions about other aspects of Hong Kong life. Responses that don’t respect this will simply be deleted. You have the freedom of speech to criticize the Hong Kong or mainland governments or to push for greater democracy on your own social media posts. This freedom, however, doesn’t extend to hijacking discussions on this page.
Cantonese is known for its colourful colloquialisms. What are your favourite Hong Kong slang expressions? What do they mean? When would you use them? What are the equivalent expressions in English?
In this video, CarlosDouh explains Chok
Here are two phrases that I know:
I was asked in class recently to give an English equivalent of the Cantonese slang exression ‘Haam Sup’. Literally, the phrase means Salty Wet, and it is an adjectival phrase used to describe people, usually guys, who always think about sex.
In English, we often use the term ‘Dirty Old Man’ for such a purpose, but this phrase is more restrictive; you need to be a ‘man’ and ‘old’ for this to apply to you, whereas anyone has the potential to be ‘Haam Sup’.
One closer English equivalent would be ‘One Track Mind’. which refers to thinking almost solely about one thing, with that one thing usually being sex.
A: What were you doing last night?
B: Nothing. I just went to bed.
A: Who did you go to bed with?
B: (Sighing) Why do you have such a one track mind?
Another equivalent would be ‘dirty mind.’
He has got such a dirty mind!
‘Perverted’ doesn’t quite work because it implies that something is abnormal.Lascivious is a suitable word, except it is not particularly well know and seems rather formal.
She is well known for her lascivious predilections.
‘Horny’ also comes close, butt his word mans has more to do with being sexually aroused rather than just thinking about sex. Which do you you think is the English expression that is closest in
FF was explained to me as meaning having impossible hopes, In other words if one is FF, that person can be considered ‘deluded’ or ‘delusional.’ It is derived from the name of the game Final Fantasy. It is not really related to the game—it just carries the meaning of having the ‘ultimate’ in delusions.
The Hong Kong government is still deciding whether to allow more free-to-air stations in Hong Kong. The two companies that now own such rights, TVB and ATV, are up in arms, claiming that the local market can’t afford more stations. Meanwhile, City Telecom has been waiting for over 1000 days to get a licence to start broadcasting. Why is the government so slow to make a decision? is there really not enough room in the market for another station or are ATV and TVB simply frightened of the competition.
Personally, I think a little competition would help improve local programming. Hong Kong has been stuck with the same sort of shows for decades: melodramatic soap operas and celebrity game shows. Isn’t it time to get some newer ideas?
What do you think?
This was a hot topic this year, with the Hong Kong government finally backing down from its plan to push through a mandatory National Education curriculum after mass protests from local citizens.
What are your views on the issue? How should national education be integrated in the curriculum? How can Hong Kongers develop a stronger sense of pride in China?
Write a message to our incoming Chief Executive and let him know what you think he can do to help improve Hong Kong.
Hong Kong will have it’s next Chief Executive (after Tung Chee-hwa and Donald Tsang) in March 2012.
Who do you think will win? Why? Who would you prefer to win? Why?
What do you think of the process of choosing the Chief Executive (chosen by an election committee of of 1200 members) ? When writing the above questions, I initially used the phrase: “Who will be elected? ” Would ‘selected’ be a more accurate word?
After a bitterly fought selection contest, Leung Chun-ying emerged victorious and will be Hong Kong’s new Chief Executive? What are your thoughts on the scandals that plagued the candidates during the campaign. What do you think of CY Leung as the incoming leader of Hong Kong?
Feel free to enter any of our discussions. Just leave a reply. You can print out your comments and add them to your portfolio in the teacher-approved activities section. If you want to include your comments in the portfolio, make sure you include your name and class (e.g., Ingrid W. 2A).
What is your favourite hawker food? I was reading a recent article on the CNN website—Gai daan tsai challenge: The quest for Hong Kong’s best egg waffle—that introduces some of the different kinds of waffles you can buy. Among all the different kinds of street snacks in Hong Kong, I like waffles the best (though roasted almonds are also). Which street snacks do you like the best?
The photo is from: Photo from: www.afoodieworld.com/stephfung/7022-top-5-must-try-traditional-hk-street-food-savoury-edition
A few years ago, one of my students at CityU wrote a poem about Hong Kong street snacks. Let me share it with you here:
Eating in the Street
Fish, turn into balls
become fishballs, are sold
for five dollars for five
uncooked, small;
cooked, they are GIANTS
people like GIANTS
people drool, hawker’s bag? Full.
Squid, with eight legs
only have four when sold
for five dollars for four
legs. Mind you, eat
the legs first or
sauce splatters your face
people drool, hawker’s bag? Full.
Waffles, too many squares
with peanut butter when sold
for five dollars for half
Caution! Hot!
With the power to cook your tongue
people drool, Hawker’s bag? Full.
Siu Mai, a dim sum
pigs become fish when sold
for five dollars for five
or six, wearing fine yellow jackets
with soya sauce and too hot.
people drool, hawker’s bag? Full.
Students, teachers, workers,
policemen, housewives, firemen
bowing together, 90 degrees
specks on uniform
people like eating in the street
stomach full, doctor’s bag? Full.
~ by Clara Cheuk
You can read more student poetry here: longzijun.wordpress.com/projects/online-creative-writing-workshop/
Anyways, let us know what street snack you like best (and why) by leaving a reply. (Stephen Richards)
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