Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 318

Welcome to a whole new world
Yew Chung International Primary School, Chen, Ye An Lai Neo - 10
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! As the golden sunlight streamed into Neo’s bedroom through the blurry windows, a
continuous beeping sound came from a blue alarm clock on his bedside desk. He sprang up from his bed.
Neo remembered the principal at school had announced something about the GBA, the Greater Bay Area.
Ah yes, yesterday the government formally made Hong Kong, Macau, and the southern parts of China, one
area! And today is the first day at school in GBA! Yesterday, the principal also said to meet the students at
the new GBA Ocean Park, there, you have to pair up in teams of 3. At Ocean Park, you need to find the
best game, to get a prize from the principal himself!
“Neo! Come down, it’s 7:00 am! You still have to go to school, remember?”
So after breakfast, Neo headed off to the bus stop. Excited for what was going to come in the first-ever
GBA day. Neo got onto the unmanned shuttle bus and met his best friends Ethan and Leo. The bus drove
off to Ocean Park.
Once Neo stepped foot into the wondrous world of Ocean Park, he, Leo and Ethan, decided to be one
team, then went to where the whole of Year Six was gathering. There, they waited for their principal, Mr
Krupp, to declare an important message.
“Teachers and students, boys and girls! We are here today to celebrate GBA! From now on, our
lives will be different! Today, at GBA Ocean Park, we will hold a competition to see who can find the best
game in at Ocean Park. Remember to get yourselves into groups of three” the Principal reminded them.
“Yes!” The children responded in unison.
“Good! Remember, there are three zones, Macau, Hong Kong, and southern China. You can go
to any of them. Stay safe! Let the competition begin!”
Neo, Ethan, and Leo went to a corner and discussed a plan.
“Yo! How ‘bout we go to Macau first? I know a really nice game there!” Ethan said excitedly.
So the three friends happily went to the Macau zone, it was shaped like a Lotus, symbolizing Macau. They
arrived in front of a large building.
“Let me show you, the Ocean Casino!” Announced Ethan proudly.
“Oh no! Mom said gambling is very bad!” Neo exclaimed.
“Don’t worry! This casino is specially built for kids!” Ethan said.
So they stepped into the world full of games and entertainment. Once, Ethan used some fake coins to win
the tiger machine, but instead of it spitting out coins, it spat various different types of sweets.
“Mmm! I’m a bit hungry! Do you know where to eat, Ethan?”
“Of course! Macau is famous for not only the entertainment, but also the food! Seafood, noodles,
the Portuguese egg tart, and steamed pork buns are all famous cuisines in Macau.” Ethan replied.
“Ah! Very good, let’s go!” Neo.
After eating a rich meal of delicious food, the three friends decided to go to the Hong Kong zone.
“Hong Kong is a free port. It pursues a free trade policy and does not have barriers to trade. In
Ocean Park, we can trade the things we have for anything else.” Neo explained.
“I know! Let’s make a lego house by trading the sweets we got from the casino!” Ethan said
excitedly.