Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 128

The Notepad
Harrow International School, Beijing, Liu, Elsa - 11
Tiffany screamed. It was reflected in her eyes, a lightning bolt crackling with energy pelting towards her
boat. A fraction of a second before its stricken, Tiffany casted one last glance at the dock: sailing coached
ushering campers into the building, yelling, scrambling, with sail boats struggling against the wind. No one
noticed a helpless, blonde, wet girl strangled amongst the waves. Her second scream was muffled by the
streak of light shaking the boat. Tiffany clutched her stomached in pain as the tiller stabbed it. Rain poured;
wind howled. She tried to yell again, trying to get the coaches’ attention, but before a word could escape
her mouth, the icy waves folded over her.
A storm later
“...today’s lecture, we’ll be talking about china’s ambitious plan of....”
Tiffany’s eyelids shot open. She was sat on a bench, her head laying on her hands on an un-spacious table in
front of her. It was dim, like the inside of a cinema, only the stage alight. She could feel people shuffling on
either side of her. What has happened? Where am I? The last thing Tiffany remember seeing was the waves
folding over her in her sailing camp, her sail collapsing into the water.
“...There are many challenges for the greater bay area, such as separate laws, the search for talented
professionals and safety provided...”
Who is this talking? Tiffany’s weak hands felt for her hair. Dry. Tiffany puffed a shaking breathe and pushed
herself up. Her tired eyes welled with shock and widened. In front of her stretched a large audience, behind
her too. The two people on either side of her looked like they were in university, one a girl with thick
glasses and one a freckly boy. Her guessing was proved by the words printed on the corners of their
notebook pages: Daisy’s university for talented young adults.
“...the greater bay area will represent china and provide opportunities for internal economic...”
How did I get here? Why am I here? Tiffany cleared her throat, mustered her confidence and whispered to
the girl next to her, “Uhm... Hello, where am I?” The girl didn’t make the slightest reaction of that she was
there. Tiffany wrinkled her nose in slight annoyance and reached out her hand. Tiffany tapped her on the
shoulder. She didn’t move. Tiffany tapped a little harder. No reaction. Deciding she had had enough,
Tiffany coughed as loudly as she could and shoved her face in the girl’s. But she just looked straight ahead
and completely ignored her. Tiffany didn’t feel offended. She felt strange that no one around her was acting
like she was there at all.
“...with a population of 67.74 million people, it’s already ahead of San Francisco bay area...”
Tiffany stopped trying to get the girls attention and glared at the woman on the lecture stage. She looked
middle-aged, with shoulder-length chestnut hair and a high nose. It was hard to make out what she looked
like from such a distance, but the banner behind her has an obvious, clear picture of her face on it. Tiffany
was sure she was a professor. She cleared her throat, took a sip of water from the lecture desk and continued
with whatever she was blabbering about.
“Of course, this goal to lead the world economically in 2030 can’t be done with a single city. They’ve split
the job between 5 of the major cities: Hongkong as the international finance, navigation, trade and
transportation hub; Macau as the international tourism centre, a trade platform for Portuguese-speaking
countries; Guangzhou as the administration hub; Shenzhen, economic zone and tech hub; Dongguan is the
high-tech manufactory base.”
The students in the lecture theatre shuffled noisily to picked up their pens and started scribbling away on
their note pads. Tiffany peeked over the freckly boy’s shoulder to look at his notes;
Greater Bay Area of China – 2020, March 8 th
Location:
Southern china, Guangdong province, made up of 11 cities (Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen,
Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhuhai, Zhaoqing)
Facts:
1. Population: 67.74 million
2. 56,000 square km
3. GDP: US$1.39 trillion, still behind Tokyo Bay Area
4. The Hong Kong-Macau Mega bridge connects the bay to the mainland, making it easier to travel
between the cities.
Hubs:
Hong Kong: International Fina