As someone who grew up in HK in the 90s, also kept coming back during college years and ultimately made HK my home as an adult (at least for most of the year), and is now raising my own child here, there are moments when I agree with this. But I've realised recently that I will likely always have a base in HK because, despite everything, it's still a place where the world (yes, now including mainland China) comes together, and where exciting things happen at a thrilling pace. I don't think anywhere in Asia has that pull. (I know you probably want to say Tokyo, but tbh how do you really do anything beyond tourism if you don't speak Japanese? And please don't say Singapore). You can still access it if you know where to look. This has always been part of HK's energy, but what makes it less desirable post-protests is a feeling that most people are always on edge. People blow up over the smallest things, like the tram driver who almost swore at me for asking if there was a timetable, or the person whose doorbell I mistook for a charity's (next door). So yes, daily life has gotten a bit more stressful, and these things do grind you down. I find that while I'm desperate to leave every few months, I also keep coming back. It's more complicated than Hong Kong just seeming more like Shenzhen (actually imo they're pretty different — maybe it's more like Shanghai?? meets Manhattan...?). I built a life here before covid and the protests, and most of that life is still intact and sprouting like pesky weeds that refuse to die 😂 So yeah, just here to say, I don't feel like the oversimplified narrative that "HK is just China now" to be my experience.

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