I like to think of Mauritius and Hong Kong as two sisters, born of one English father, with Mauritius a French mother and Hong Kong a Chinese mother. Mauritius is an island, so was Hong Kong (before adding Kowloon and New Territories) – in area term 787 squares miles and 426 square miles respectively. They were administered under the same British system of governance with a flair of Chinese for Hong Kong and French for Mauritius, each headed by a Governor appointed by Her Majesty the Queen of England. So when I landed in Hong Kong in 1966 I felt quite comfortable, secure and at home.
I was recently reading “Hong Kong A Cultural History” by Michael Ingham, an interesting book which described the origin and history of many monuments, buildings, streets, temples and places in Hong Kong. I was particularly intrigued with these descriptions as I was able mentally to walk through these familiar spots as I read them.. Then I was thrilled to read of Sir John Pope Hennessy, Governor of Hong Kong (1877 to 1883) who also became Governor of Mauritius (1883 to 1889).
A typical Mauritius beach
Hong Kong overlooking Kowloon with Victoria Harbour in between
Mauritius, a remote island in the Indian Ocean, became British territory in 1810, ceded by France during the Napoleonic War after close to one hundred years of French rule. Her younger sister, Hong Kong was born in 1841, ceded in perpetuity to Britain by China as a price paid for losing the First Opium War. Over the years Hong Kong had grown fatter by annexing Kowloon in 1860 as China ceded it to Hong Kong as a price for loosing the Second Opium War. Then in 1898 the New Territories were leased from China for 99 years ending 30 June 1997. Kowloon is a peninsula of mainland China separated from Hong Kong Island by the Victoria Harbour, and the land immediately north of Kowloon is the New Territories.
Hong Kong was a “barren rock” when Britain took it over and there were deep concern and regret among the British Leaders that they should perhaps have asked for a better concession. But Captain Charles Elliot of the British Forces who negotiated the deal saw the importance of Hong Kong’s deep natural harbour.
Hong Kong A Barren Rock
Mauritius has developed rather nonchalantly over the century, relying mainly for a long time on agriculture, principally sugar which is world famous, and more recently tourism and textiles. It is one of the world’s top luxury tourism destinations, due to its tropical climate, clean warm water, beautiful beaches, variety of flora and fauna, and last but not least friendly multi-ethnic and cultural population. It is an upper middle income economy, with 2015 per capita GDP at US$17,716, the highest of its neighbouring African countries. Its population has not changed drastically since I left the Island in 1966, lingering just over the million mark.
Hong Kong, by contrast, has developed at a more aggressive speed over the century, relying mainly on commerce and trade and as an entrepot port. Its population grew from around 3 million when I first arrived there to over 7 million today.
Hong Kong started to prosper after the Second World War. Its manufacturing industry boomed in the 1960s and 1970s as it drew from the expertise and ambition of well, Chinese and Western, educated business people, mainly from Shanghai, who had descended on Hong Kong in large number when the Communists took control of China in 1949. Thereafter most factories closed and moved to China as it opened its door and welcomed the world. Cheap land and cheap labour were very attractive incentives. I remember a time when everything was “Made In Hong Kong” and then it changed to “Made In China”. Starting late 1970s having lost its manufacturing base, Hong Kong switched focus and became a major entrepot in Asia Pacific. Now it is the world’s largest re-export centre, mainly goods made in China and distributed via Hong Kong, resulting in Hong Kong becoming the world’s second busiest container port and the world’s busiest airport for international cargo. At the same time it changed from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy.
Hong Kong Container Port, 2nd Busiest In The World
Hong Kong ranks as the freest economy in the world and becomes a top Financial Centre in the league of London and New York. Its 2015 per capital GDP stood at US$56,428.00. Beyond question, Hong Kong is dynamic and always on the move, nothing stands still and is appropriately characterized by what is written on one of the Island’s street warning signs: “Waiting will be prosecuted”. While Mauritius has developed on its own pace, the speed and breadth of change in Hong Kong are quite a world apart.
Hong Kong Street Sign –
“Waiting will be prosecuted”
Hong Kong was known for many years as a “shopping paradise” for its cheap and wide range of products. Though it is no longer a bargain destination, Hong Kong is still the world’s most popular city for tourists.
Hong Kong was once known as the Pearl of the Orient
However, not all that glitter is gold for Hong Kong. The gap between the rich and the poor gets bigger, to the point where Hong Kong has become the least equal city in the developed world. Hong Kong’s real estate is the most expensive on the planet. A home was reportedly sold not too long ago for about US$192 millions to the boss of Alibaba, China giant tech firm. The previous owner had bought it in 2000 for around US$21 millions plus US$7 millions in redevelopment/renovation. This kind of transaction is incredible and can only happen in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong home sold for US$192 millions
Behind the glittering glass windows of fabulous skyscrapers live tens of thousands of people literally one on top of another. Not only in term of layers of flats in the high rise buildings but also in the layers of bunk beds within the flats. The very rich live in luxurious apartments or mansions with stunning view of the Hong Kong harbour, the very poor live in 12ft by 2.5ft wire mesh cage home, also known as “Coffin” home. Many apartments are divided up to seven 50 square foot cubicles, each of which can accommodate only a bunk bed and a small cabinet and barely any space left to stand. A 2013 report described a 63 year old grandmother living in one of these cubicles, located in Wan Chai district where the classic movie “World of Suzie Wong” was shot in the 1960s, with her 9 year old granddaughter and 13 year old grandson. The father had abandoned them, and the mother lives in China unable to get a resident permit. The poverty line was unofficially marked at HK$12,000.00 per month income and it was reported that 1.19 millions people lived below this line in 2012.
Hong Kong “Coffin” Homes
Hong Kong Cubicle Home
By contrast I understand a high percentage, eighty percent or so, of Mauritian families own their homes and the living condition of the very poor is not that disgustful. The Hong Kong Administration had promised to build more subsidized housing to alleviate the living condition of the poor. We have yet to see an improvement.