Hong Kong: Easy China

by Jose · Published May 22, 2026 · Updated May 22, 2026

Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region (SAR) since it was returned to China by the British in 1997. This status means that it has its own currency (Hong Kong Dollar) and the legal system is based on English common law. This special status is allowed because Hong Kong is the gateway for 50% of foreign investment in mainland china and the Chinese do not want to mess with that. Integration is happening and the special status ends in 2047 (50 year limit). What this means to tourists like us is that Hong Kong is easy since all the normal apps (Uber, GooglePay, etc.) work and there is no firewall blocking normal western sites. Credit cards, cash, and digital payment are widely accepted and English is widely spoken.

Hong Kong is a unique blend of modern and traditional, British and Chinese. It is a pleasant and interesting place

Walking around Hong Kong with a tour guide really added to the experience. I loved all the little side notes about HK.

I did not know that HSBC bank was Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Company. I also did not know about the two lions commissioned in the 1930s to guard the Hong Kong branch. The lions are Stephen (who is roaring) and Stitt (who is quiet). They were named and modeled after two senior bank managers from the 1920s. They have bullet scars from the battle of Hong Kong in 1941 and were taken by the Japanese to be melted down. An american soldier recognized them in Kawasaki dockyard in Osaka and they were ordered to be returned by none other than General Douglas MacArthur

Harbor cruises on “yachts” (party boats) for the nightly light show are a thing to do. Afterwards, we rode the historic Star Ferry back and I managed to lose my wallet on the ferry. After a scary couple of hours the wallet was found and returned with even the Hong Kong currency intact. For that alone, I will be fond of Hong Kong the rest of my life.

The light show was mid. One of the side effects of all the travel we’ve done is we are harder to impress. Sad but true

Hong Kong Disneyland: The real reason we flew 9,358 miles

Google says the total flight distance between TPA-SFO-NRT-HKG airports is 9358 miles. Karen dislikes travel but loves Disney so I cleverly added Disney parks at the beginning and ending of our China itinerary and in Japan as travel bait.

We tried in 2022 but COVID did not allow us to make it to Hong Kong or Shanghai Disney parks. This year we finally completed visiting all the Disney parks. We have visited the Aulani hotel in Oahu but have yet to visit the Vero Beach Resort Hotel or the Hilton Head Island Resort. Hong Kong Disneyland was celebrating its 20th anniversary and Shanghai Disneyland was celebrating its 10th, kind of cool. Instead of a million pictures, I will focus on some differences and similarities between HK-Disney and the other parks. —SPOILER ALERT— Hong Kong Disney Pictures coming next