A Hongkonger fiercely defended his country in response to a letter claiming Singapore was the superior tourist destination.
Scott Hegarty, from Tseung Kwan O in Hong Kong, yesterday had a letter published in the South China Morning Post defending Hong Kong in response to another letter that claimed the city was “not that appealing” to tourists as compared to Singapore.
Hegarty’s letter, titled Hong Kong has much more personality than ‘Singabore’, clapped back by saying that comparing Hong Kong’s tourism appeal to Singapore’s is “laughable” due to Singapore’s rigid laws, expensive cocktails, and its sacrifice of “soul” in favor of order.
“We’re talking about a city state that bans chewing gum and makes having a drink an expensive exercise of self-regulation. Singapore sacrifices its soul in return for order and cleanliness; even a square foot of Hong Kong has more personality than Singapore could ever hope to have,” he wrote.
The publication’s “Letters” section is where readers can submit short commentaries responding to articles or discussing various topics.
To Hegarty, Hong Kong has the “world’s best public transport system,” is “convenient” and is a port of “many things” from around the world. Not to mention, the city is rich in culture and food, with “both ancient Chinese and Victorian architecture” and “every world cuisine imaginable” in addition to Cantonese food.
Some readers responded to Hegarty’s letter by defending both cities.
“Singapore must be doing many things right for some HongKongers to start feeling uneasy. It is alright to compare and improve oneself but there is no need to criticise another country,” one Alan L wrote in the comments.
“Singabore, could not agree more,” a user going by Willy X wrote.
The angry letter came in response to another titled Let’s face it, Hong Kong is just not that appealing to tourists, which was published on Thursday and written by Gregory Whitten from Tuen Mun in Hong Kong.
Whitten’s letter asked why tourists would visit Hong Kong over Singapore given the strict Covid-19 policies Hong Kong still has in place but then went even farther.
“I have a larger question: why would anyone visit Hong Kong at all?” he wrote.
He argued that Hong Kong was “the opposite of the classic tourist hotspot” where one might want to live in but not visit. The city might have natural attractions like its “mountainous and verdant hiking trails,” notable museums and restaurants but not “nice” enough to travel for, he added.
Instead, Hongkongers are “too busy and too proud” to help and guide tourists and its transport is “cramped” and insufferable, he said.
Whitten ended by saying that Hong Kong should not even try to appear tourist-friendly.
“Run-of-the-mill holiday-making simply isn’t something that Hong Kong does well, and we shouldn’t waste our time or embarrass ourselves in trying unsuccessfully to do so,” he wrote.
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