Class of ’97: May Cen thinks Hongkongers have better manners and speak quieter than mainland Chinese people
Cen says she wants to settle in the city as salaries are higher, though she may retire to her hometown
Meet the class of ’97, born the year of the handover. Their childhoods tell the stories of Hong Kong’s first two decades after the return to China. Some remember Sars, others took part in Occupy. Now, they’re trying to work out what their future holds – and how Hong Kong’s own uncertain future fits into their plans.
May Cen Yinyi
“I moved to Hong Kong with my mother after finishing high school in Jiangmen, Guangdong province. My mum is from Jiangmen, my dad from Hong Kong, and he used to run a car repair shop there.
“Now I live in a rented flat in Sham Shui Po with my parents and two younger brothers. I have been working part-time since I came here, first in a sushi place and now a cookie store. I am really satisfied with my life but would like to get a full-time job.
When I first came to Hong Kong, I was not used to the small flat, and I missed my friends back home. Later I became friends with many locals. They are all very nice people. I don’t feel any discrimination.
Life in Hong Kong is fast-paced. People walk faster. They also have better manners. Hongkongers don’t speak as loudly as Guangdong people do.
