Anecdotes

Do you know David Muoka, the first Hong Kong Born player to sign a contract with a NBA franchise?

Did you know Lion Rock nearly got its own cable car?

When Hong Kong minibus licences cost US$1 million

Why does each MTR station feature its own unique color scheme?

On July 6, 1998, Chek Lap Kok became Hong Kong's new international airport. But which commercial flight was the first to land there?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is a well-known fact that the history of Hong Kong is closely intertwined with the opium trade. Indeed, Hong Kong as the global financial hub it is today simply would not exist if it were not for the British opium trade in China through Canton (now known as Guangzhou). Following the cession of Hong Kong Island to the British in 1841, the colonial government established an opium monopoly. As a highly taxed and widely used commodity, opium represented up to 30% of the govern

Crossing Yee Wo Street toward SOGO in Causeway Bay, you will find yourself on the seemingly ill-named East Point Road, which forms the junction between Lockhart Road and Great George Street. After all, Causeway Bay sits smack in the center of Hong Kong Island’s northern shoreline, and East Point Road is located in the western half of the neighborhood. Why, then, does it bear such a name? In fact, East Point Road is one of those streets—like Boundary Street or Reclamation Stre

If you are into fishkeeping, you have probably heard of the highly popular Crystal Red and Crystal Black shrimp. Despite their small size—measuring just 2.5 to 3.5 cm (1 to 1.4 inches) in length—these tiny shrimps stand out due to their vibrant red-and-white or black-and-white patterns. What you may not know, however, is that their wild ancestor is endemic to Hong Kong and the Guangdong province in southern China. In fact, its scientific name, Caridina cf. cantonensis, direct

Hong Kong produces virtually nothing. Yet, remarkably, this tiny territory of 7.5 million inhabitants remains one of the world's leading exporters. In fact, as of 2026, Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok) stands as the world's busiest cargo airport, while the Port of Hong Kong remains a major global shipping hub. This maritime prowess peaked in the early 2000s when Hong Kong was the busiest container port in the world. Its dominance was largely driven by its unique

No one familiar with Hong Kong football would be surprised to find Hong Kong ranked in the bottom third of the FIFA Men's World Ranking. Indeed, during the 2026 World Cup held jointly in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Hong Kong was ranked 156th out of 211 member associations. Yet, there was a time when Hong Kong beat the odds. On February 21, 1996, Hong Kong reached 90th in the rankings, marking the men's team's only appearance in the FIFA top 100. This unique achieve