'Scotland was the winner': Hong Kong's expat Scots agree on one thing after historic vote
Supporters of both camps, they came in kilts and wrapped in their country’s flag. Hours later they left after their countrymen and -women voted “No” to independence. They agreed Scotland was the winner.
Supporters of both camps, they came in kilts and wrapped in their country’s flag. Hours later they left after their countrymen and -women voted “No” to independence. They agreed Scotland was the winner.
It was apt – given the eventual outcome – that Scottish expats in Hong Kong gathered in The Canny Man bar in Wan Chai (canny being the Scots word for careful or thrifty) to watch history being made.
The majority of the 80 or so there erupted in loud cheers and applause as the first “Yes” result came in from the eastern city of Dundee, but the mood did not last as a “No” victory became inevitable.
“I’m heartbroken,” said Colin Porter, 20, who wore a kilt and Scotland soccer jersey to the bar. “There’s something that’s gone wrong for the vote to go so crazily ‘No’.”
“I’m disappointed and slightly embarrassed for Scotland,” said Archie Tsui, a first-generation Scot dressed in a Made in Glasgow T-shirt.
“The people have spoken, we’ve got to look forward. Scots will soldier on,” said Tsui, who had voted “Yes” by post before coming to Hong Kong.
Non-resident Scots were barred from voting, but that did not lessen the depth of feeling among expats, who waited anxiously as each district was declared.
“Yes” voters remained optimistic as the first results came in, but applause from the unionist side became louder as more districts fell in their favour.
John Bruce, 55, a 20-year resident in the city, was disappointed with the result.
“If the Westminster parties deliver on their promises, it will be good for Scotland,” Bruce said. “That’s a very big if and I don’t know if the electorate in the United Kingdom will allow it.”
Others, like Iain Reid, 55, who has been living in Hong Kong for 24 years and opposed independence, were more upbeat.
“I don’t think there’s another country in the world that would be big enough or secure enough to have this kind of referendum,” he said.
Alan Cherry, a Scot on business in Hong Kong, said his Edinburgh-based auditing firm planned to add “Scotland” to its name to capitalise on the exposure the country has gained through the independence vote.
“Everyone in the world knows Scotland now,” Cherry said. “It’s good for us because the trust, the history, the focus, this will go down well, particularly in China.”
