15th June 2025 – (Hong Kong) A video circulating on social media has sparked widespread debate after a mainland Chinese tourist criticised her recent trip to Hong Kong, claiming the city is “30 years behind the Mainland” and vowing never to return. The tourist, who was travelling with her daughter, shared her dissatisfaction with what she described as Hong Kong’s shortcomings, including unfriendly locals, disorganised streets, poor environmental standards, and outdated infrastructure. Her daughter also expressed disappointment, ruling out any future plans to work in the city.

In the video, which has been widely shared on platforms such as Threads, the tourist described Hong Kong residents as indifferent and hurried, noting a lack of friendliness in their demeanour. She also criticised the city’s streets, calling them cluttered and chaotic, with makeshift stalls and disorder that she claimed would not be seen in cities like Guangzhou or Foshan. Additionally, she expressed frustration with the poor cleanliness of the streets, pointing to litter and comparing the environment unfavourably to cities on the Mainland, which she said have made significant improvements.

The tourist singled out her experience at Prince Edward MTR station as particularly disappointing, describing the facilities as outdated and poorly maintained. She mentioned the escalators making unsettling noises and recounted difficulties using the ticket machines, which required multiple attempts to purchase tickets.

The video has drawn mixed reactions online, with some users agreeing with the criticisms and noting that Hong Kong does feel outdated in certain areas. Others, however, defended the city, highlighting its high standards of civility and service. Some argued that the tourist’s observations reflect her personal biases rather than Hong Kong’s true state, while others dismissed the complaints entirely and focused on the city’s positive attributes, such as its culinary excellence.