Chungking Mansion, made up of hostels, shops and other services.
What is the real-life there? How do different people make their interpretation?
We have interviewed the current residents, tourists, shop-owners here.
Let’s click inside the extracted interviews to have a taste of what Chungking is!
What is the real-life there? How do different people make their interpretation?
We have interviewed the current residents, tourists, shop-owners here.
Let’s click inside the extracted interviews to have a taste of what Chungking is!
A Couple from Australia (Tourists)
Q- Interviewer A1- The lady A2- The Man
Q: How can you find this place ? Through the online booking? Why don’t you choose other hotel but this one?
A1: Because it’s cheap.
Q: How much is it?
A1: $1000
Q: $1000 for 4 days?
A1: Yeah. It’s a good area too, very convenient.
Q: Do you love the environment here? Do you have any feeling towards this? You know there’re many Indians or minorities here…
A2: Yes we have heard a little bit. It’s not too bad, just ignore them.
Q: Do you have any friends who have visited to Hong Kong and lived here?
A2: No, we just searched online.
Q: Will you choose this place to live next time?
A1: I think so. Actually we have just arrived.
Q: Oh..You arrived this afternoon?
A2: Yes, we are about to do the last minute. I think we did not do really much (on the booking), so can spend more time to plan (next time).
Q: Are you satisfied with the quality of the hostel?
A1: Yes, sure.
AN INDIAN, ONE OF THE WORKERS AT SHOP
Q- Interviewer A- The Indian
Q: How long have you been living here?
A: For 7 years already.
Q: Are you here working for this shop?
A: I am just sitting here (kidding).
Q: What are you doing here?
A: I am watching for everything.
Q: Do you meet your friends here?
A: Yes, to meet my friend. I have many friends in Chungking Mansion.
Q: Where do you come from? India?
A: Yes, India.
Q: Are there lots of people coming from India?
A: Yes
Q: Are you living in hotel (hostel) here?
A: No I am living in Prince Edward, got no room here.
Q: Do you think it is a good place for you guys staying here?
A: I like.
Miss Wong, the daughter of a shoes-shop owner
Q- Interviewer A- Miss Wong
Q: Do you only sale for shoes? How many years have you run the business?
A: Yes, for 30 years, since the generation of my grandpa’s.
Q. Is your family local or moved from mainland?
A: My grandparents moved from mainland.
Q: Are you the current resident in ChungKing?
A: I was but only for my grandpa now.
Q: How long had you lived here?
A: Around 5 years, I moved away at 5 years old.
Q: As you have been running the business for a long time, do you think the shoes-business is profitable and attractive to foreigners?
A: We target at foreigners. They mainly come for business, or buy for family. Especially for those in Africa, they have big family and raise lots of children.
Q: Did any of them do mass purchase here and do retailing in their own countries?
A: Yes there used to be, but drops after the open policy in Mainland China.
Q: What do you think about the ethnic minorities here?
A: The Indians are very united here, they have groups. There is separation between Indian and Pakistan, but will help each other still. We will greet each other as we all have known for a period of time already.
Q: How can you observe their united spirits?
A: For instance they will call allies when they get into trouble. I have witnessed they got into fight or conflicts…
Q: Will you be frightened?
A: No, because I didn’t get involved. If the incident went too big the security here or the police would help anyway.
Q: The Owner’s Cooperation has been doing the image rebuilding of Chungking Mansion to give new impression towards the public. Do you support this idea?
A: Yes, sure. The renovations do help refreshing the outlook of the building. Improving the image can attract more visitors to come.
An old man, the owner of a stationary shop (Current Resident)
Q- Interviewer A- The owner
Q: How long have you been working here?
A: For 40 years already.
Q: What are the changes that you can observe?
A: Changes? There are dramatic change, with better renovation and environment, but not the business (laugh).
Q: Are there many customers from overseas?
A: Yes for the past. For instance, the American. But now, there are mainly the local Hong Kongers and the residents here.
Q: So are you living here?
A: Yes
Q: How long have you been living here? For 40 years?
A: Not that long, I moved here.
Q: Do you think there are much more people nowadays in ChungKing Mansion?
A: Yes, much more, probably because there are more hostels here. Some of the residential rooms were sold for foreigners for building the hostels.
Q: Do you mean the backpackers?
A: Yes, not only backpackers but anyone. They can make booking through internet very easily.
Q: What do you think about the security here?
A: Very good, I am not frightened by anyone. There’s nothing happened here.
Q: Is there any criminal case?
A: Nonono!
A current resident in Chungking Mansion,
An University student (The University of Hong Kong-HKU)
Q- Interviewer A- The HKU resident
Q: How long have you been living in Chung King Mansion?
A: From 2 years old till now. 18 years already.
Q: What are some of the responds when you tell your friends that you live in Chung King Mansion?
A: Some of them are very surprise because they didn’t realize that Chung King is a residential area for Chinese. They think that it’s a place for minority groups only. Actually there is a fair amount of Chinese families living here.
Q: How do you feel about Chung King Mansion? Do you think there are lots of foreigners?
A: I didn’t feel that when I was small. But I really find that there are a lot of foreigners there now. I think it is mainly because there are more local Hong Kong people opening guesthouses in Chung King. Thus, there are more tourists nowadays. My grandpa also ran a guesthouse before. Moreover, there are many people from India, Indonesia and South Africa staying here too.
Q: Can you tell me more about the guesthouses in Chung King Mansion?
A: The reason why the guesthouses in Chung King Mansion can attract so many tourists is because the price is really reasonable. The lowest cost for a night is only for around 100HKD and also it located in Tsim Sha Tsui, an area that is full of attractions and spots. Moreover, there are many security guards walking around. From my observation, these guesthouses mainly attract backpackers and also Chinese tour groups. Foreigner tourists choose to stay here mainly because of their friends’ recommendations.
Q: As you mention about security, how is the security in Chung King Mansion?
A: To be honest, the security of Chung King Mansion was very bad when I was small. There were always illegal activities happened. Thus, I always saw police cars parking outside ChungKing. But now, after the renovation of the buildings, the owners' corporations hired more security guard. The security is a lot better now. However, there are still some prostitutes and drug dealers in Chung King Mansion after midnight.
Q: Is it common for Hong Kong people to come here?
A: Not quite. Most Hong Kong people come here just because they want to try the “real” Indian food. My dad sometimes buys the curry sauce from the shops running by Indian people.