The British are Leaving! The British are Leaving!

Well, the girls finally got their first ride on a double-decker bus. Gostick –bless her heart- took us out for lunch on Saturday. After the meal we parted ways, but not before she got us to a bus stop and told which bus to wait for. We rode on the top level of course. As we rode around the city high above the masses, it was hard not to pity those plebians below who are walking or riding a bike or, worse yet, riding on the lower level of the bus. What are they doing down there? Don’t they know that they are on a double-decker bus!?

Double-decker buses are just one of the tell-tale signs of the influence Great Britain has had on Hong Kong.

In the 1800s, Great Britain, established Hong Kong as a major trading port. In 1898, after they defeated the Chinese in the second Opium War, the British managed to finagle a ninety-nine-year lease from Peking. In 1997, that lease expired. Good to their word, the British –with great pomp- lowered the Union Jack and handed Hong Kong over to China.

The British may no longer be in charge, but their influence is definitely felt everywhere you go. For starters, English is widely spoken. This has worked to our advantage on multiple occassions. We have had to stop and clarify directions several times, and every time, the person we’ve asked has spoken excellent English. Of course we pick out the most cosmopolitan looking young person we can find.

And it’s not just English, it’s British English. Therefore no one here goes on vacation. Everyone goes on holiday. “Hey kids, you have to take the stairs down this morning the lift is out of service.” And it’s not your backside, it your bum. And of course we see that tell-tale spelling around town with all those extra letters in harbour and programme.

Steering wheels are on the right and everyone drives on the left.

And Saturday, while riding through town on our double-decker bus, we rode past some squash courts.

And then of course there’s all those Brits hanging about who didn’t get the memo that the party was over.

-Jack