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11 things that fill Hongkongers with rage

11 things that fill Hongkongers with rage

“You wouldn't like me when I’m angry”

Written by
Olivia Lai
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You have pressure, I have pressure.” Does Bus Uncle’s catchphrase strike a chord in your life? Sure, there are many reasons to love Hong Kong – and you can tell us about it in our current City Index survey – but with the average living space per person in Hong Kong a mere 140sq ft for those in public rental housing – the dimensions of a standard car park space are 135sq ft, by the way – it’s easy to understand why we Hongkongers can be snappy. There are a million and one things that can make us rage on a whim, here are just the top 11... Priscilla Lee and Olivia Lai. 

11 things that fill Hongkongers with rage

People who have no understanding of personal space

1. People who have no understanding of personal space

We’re flattered when people long to get to know us better by erm, coming into close physical contact, literally. Unfortunately, we can’t quite reciprocate the feeling since we value our personal space, be it while we’re queuing in the supermarket, on the MTR, in a restaurant or wherever.

Restaurant lingerers

2. Restaurant lingerers

Hungry people are angry people. Don’t mess with them. While we love hanging out with our friends over a meal and excitedly chatting about the latest Game of Thrones episode or the latest office gossip, we abhor those people who, done with their food, remain forever at their table pointedly ignoring the line of customers waiting to be seated.

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People mashing buttons at an ATM

3. People mashing buttons at an ATM

When we queue for an ATM, we know what we want: either some money or to pay a bill. Others, however, seem to arrive at ATMs in a sort of fugue state, unable to recollect how they got there. They continually press different buttons for several minutes, achieving nothing, taking their sweet time and not their money. This behaviour is the incentive we need to move into a cashless society.

People who lean on the MTR pole during rush hour

4. People who lean on the MTR pole during rush hour

We’re looking at you lot, those assholes who lean their whole body on the poles in MTR trains so no-one else can grab them for balance. These poles are meant for multiple passengers and not just for you, you selfish bastard, to trap in between your asscrack. 

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House prices

5. House prices

Remember that Mount Nicholson unit that sold for $132,000 per square foot earlier this year? Need we say more?

Waiters who dip their fingers in our drinks

6. Waiters who dip their fingers in our drinks

Don’t think we don’t notice when waiters – or waitresses – dip their nasty dirty digits into our drinks when they try to hold multiple cups in one hand. Y’know, we didn’t order milk tea with extra human essence, thanks very much. 

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People walking with trolleys on the street

7. People walking with trolleys on the street

You know who we’re talking about: those cretins who slow pedestrian traffic by plodding along with their trollies and taking up most of the pavement. Them and the ones who roll over your toes or – even worse – brand new shoes and are thoroughly unapologetic about it. What makes us remarkably pissed is not so much the act but the attitude.

Water droplets raining down on us from AC units

8. Water droplets raining down on us from AC units

We love our AC here but we can absolutely do without the units that weep dirty water on us when we’re rushing about town. It’s actually illegal to have a unit that drips water onto the street but that doesn’t seem to prevent the problem. At least it’s not bird poo?

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People who abruptly stop on the street looking at phones

9. People who abruptly stop on the street looking at phones

It might be when we get that Tinder message we’ve been dying for or those moments when Google Maps deceives us, but we hold our hands up and admit we’re guilty of this one too.

Taxi drivers who refuse to take you to your destination

10. Taxi drivers who refuse to take you to your destination

We know taxi drivers don’t have it easy but is it really necessary to be so rude? And we’re not just talking about the taxi man in Yuen Long who threatened a couple with a metal bar back in August, we’re talking about the times you get in and they refuse to take you to your destination or to accept your big note as payment.

Think you’re a Hongkonger?

11 things every Hongkonger has Googled at least once
  • Things to do

Hongkongers pride themselves on their local knowledge, especially anything that involves getting the best value out of a situation. Here are some things we’ve all searched for at least once.And in case you need more Hong Kong life hacks, check our guide here. 

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