Loyal Hong Kong shoppers forgo Shenzhen, channel hometown pride to support local businesses
Quality assurance, political values, human ties and ‘stubbornness’ among reasons they stay home to shop
Hong Kong homemaker and part-time teacher Tam Mei-ling is on a personal mission to preserve her city’s cultural landscape and identity.
The 48-year-old mother of two does that by supporting local businesses and refraining from joining the crowd of Hongkongers heading across the border to shop and eat in mainland China.
She told the Post that this was important, especially for people such as her, who had chosen to remain amid the wave of emigration following the social unrest of 2019, Beijing’s imposition of the national security law and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Saddened to see Hong Kong shops, restaurants and other businesses closing, she said: “It’s heartbreaking to see how much things have gone downhill.”
As for those who prefer to stretch their dollar on the mainland, she said: “I don’t want to use the word ‘abandon’, but it does feel that way … they have abandoned the city they are still living in, and I find it hard to understand.”
Tam is one of a small group of Hongkongers adamant in their support of local businesses, with some even rejecting the idea of going to the mainland at all, despite the higher prices in the city.
Some have taken to social media to talk about their choice and complain about being criticised by family and friends for bucking the trend.
