top of page
ANECDOTES
Over the course of its history, Hong Kong has accumulated thousands of stories—some funny, some unexpected, some strange, some tragic. Learn more about the events that are an integral part of the city's history through these 1-minute-long anecdotes.


The First Hong Kong Born Player in the NBA
Do you know David Muoka, the first Hong Kong Born player to sign a contract with a NBA franchise?
1 min read


Lion Rock Nearly Got Its Own Cable Car
Did you know Lion Rock nearly got its own cable car?
1 min read


A Minibus License Was Once Worth Over US$1 million
When Hong Kong minibus licences cost US$1 million
1 min read


The Coloured-Tiles of MTR Stations Were Designed to Combat Illiteracy
Why does each MTR station feature its own unique color scheme?
1 min read


The First Commercial Flight to Land at Chek Lap Kok International Airport
On July 6, 1998, Chek Lap Kok became Hong Kong's new international airport. But which commercial flight was the first to land there?
1 min read


Cannons Were Installed on The Roof of HSBC Building to Fend Off Bank of China Tower's Negative Energy
For the last thirty years, the Bank of China Tower has been an iconic landmark on Hong Kong’s skyline. Ieoh Ming Pei’s masterpiece has been featured in numerous American blockbusters, as well as in video games like SimCity, a franchise centered on city-building. In fact, unlike the Bank of China Tower, few people outside of Hong Kong would recognize the headquarters of its main competitor, the HSBC Main Building. Yet, in the 1980s, when both skyscrapers were under constructio
1 min read


The Tunnels Under the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong
The relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has always been complicated. Add Hong Kong—a former British colony at the doorstep of mainland China—to the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for outlandish rumors. One such rumor revolves around secret "escape tunnels" that allegedly run from the U.S. Consulate on Garden Road to various locations across the city. Depending on the source, these underground passages supposedly lead to the Go
1 min read


Bank of China Building Was an Anti-Capitalist Propaganda Tool
In 1934, the Nationalist government of China commissioned the renowned architectural firm Palmer and Turner to design its headquarters in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Construction of the Shanghai headquarters began in 1936. However, the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 delayed construction of the new Bank of China branches in Hong Kong and Singapore. Although the war ended in 1945, the Chinese Civil War immediately intensified between the Nationalists a
1 min read


Labubu Was Created by a Belgian-Dutch-Hongkonger
In 2015, The Monsters, a picture book series inspired by Nordic folklore and mythology, made its grand debut in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Four years later, in 2019, Pop Mart acquired the exclusive license to produce and sell Labubu toys. However, it was not until 2024 that the Labubu craze truly took the world by storm. Since then, it isn’t unheard of for people to queue for hours just to purchase a "blind box." Although the character of Labubu is heavily rooted in Nordic mytholo
1 min read


The Handover of Hong Kong Took Place on July 1st, 1997
On June 30th, 1997, shortly before midnight, the flag of Great Britain, along with the colonial flag of Hong Kong, was officially lowered for the last time. Moments later, on July 1st, 1997, shortly after midnight, the flag of the People's Republic of China, along with the flag of Hong Kong SAR, was officially hoisted for the first time. But why was July 1st, 1997, chosen for the handover of Hong Kong to China? In 1842, when the Qing Dynasty signed the Treaty of Nanking, they
1 min read


The Town You Are not Allowed to Enter
Hongkongers have always benefited from a high level of freedom of movement. Whether you want to experience the frantic activity of Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, or prefer the peace and quiet atop Hong Kong’s mountains, no one will prevent you from doing so. This is true across the territory, with one notable exception: the town of Sha Tau Kok on the northeastern tip of the New Territories. Located right against the boundary of Shenzhen's Yantian District, the town-along with oth
1 min read


The Callsign of Hong Kong Airlines Is BAUHINIA
In aviation, a callsign is a unique identifier assigned to an airline for use by pilots and air traffic controllers during radio communications. This ensures aircraft can be distinctively recognized both in the sky and on the ground. For instance, the callsign for Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s largest airline, is CATHAY—a direct reference to the company’s name. While most airlines choose a callsign that readily reflects their brand, Hong Kong Airlines opted for a different appr
1 min read


The Last Pirates Executed in Victoria Gaol
It may come as a surprise, but throughout its history, colonial Hong Kong was plagued by maritime piracy. In fact, the last case of piracy that affected Hong Kong occurred in November 1998—a little over a year after the handover of Hong Kong—when a group of thirteen pirates hijacked the Hong Kong-owned cargo ship Cheung Son, bludgeoning its entire crew to death. All thirteen pirates were executed by firing squad in Shanwei, China. The last pirates who were executed on the ter
1 min read


The Supervolcano Beneath Hong Kong
Hong Kong stands out as a geologically stable region. Although minor tremors stemming from earthquakes in mainland China are occasionally felt, earthquakes with epicentres within Hong Kong itself are extremely rare and weak. In fact, the strongest tremors ever felt in Hong Kong date back to 1918. That earthquake, centred in Shantou—300 kilometres (185 miles) east-northeast of Hong Kong—registered a Modified Mercalli Intensity of VI to VII locally. Yet, it may come as a surpri
1 min read


Eliot Hall Was Named after Sir Charles Eliot, not after Sir Charles Elliot
Anyone who has studied at the University of Hong Kong will be familiar with Eliot Hall. Opened in 1914, the hall was named after Sir Charles Eliot, a British diplomat and colonial administrator. It was not, however, named after British diplomat and colonial administrator Sir Charles Elliot. This may sound confusing, but the statement is entirely correct. Sir Charles Elliot (with two "l"s) and Sir Charles Eliot (with one "l") were two different individuals whose legacies are d
1 min read
bottom of page