On the night of June 23, we took the MTR's new Tung Chung line from Central to our home on Lantau. Walking into the new station was impressive, with its moving walkways and gleaming open public spaces.
The trains themselves were hi-tech, sleek and beautiful. For a moment we were proud to live in a city capable of mastering the building of such a modern and convenient system.
The spell of civility was quickly broken. As the train moved into the station, the primitive tableau so typical of Hong Kong began to unfold. Scores of onbound travellers pushed mindlessly forward to block the egress of those passengers seeking to get off the terminus. With the opening of the doors, they surged forward, pushing and elbowing in an endeavour to hold the passengers on board. As always, the elderly and those with children got the worst of it. One poor woman carrying a small child took a particularly violent hit and was staggering. She regained her balance only to be pushed by others in her efforts to disembark. The reason for the rush was uncertain to me as the train did not depart for almost five minutes. There was ample and comfortable seating for all. Yet, while not uncommon, this melee was brutal even by Hong Kong standards. Evidently, First-world amenities do not a modern city make.
One of the things I've always considered ironic about this behaviour is that, in addition to being backward, anti-social and outright rude, it is counterproductive. Most of us from North America or Europe find it unusual that the MTR makes such prolonged stops at each station, almost three times as long as the station stops in New York City, for instance. However, it's just prudent caution on the part of the MTR as the pushing and shoving matches that ensue at each station serve to delay the boarding and disembarking of trains.
Similarly, a Southeast Asian air carrier advises that it requires an additional 20 minutes minimum to permit boarding of homebound Hong Kong flights, due to the inability of passengers to that destination to board the plane in any semblance of an orderly fashion, again, slowing things down. There are so many new modern conveyances in Hong Kong yet widespread ignorance of how to use them or even, in some cases, of what they are.
It is necessary to teach people. This has been done in many neighbouring cities in the region with a high degree of success.