Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 495

Cities of Wonder
The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Cheung, Tin Yan - 13
“Here is your tea!” the cyber-waitress chirped.
I looked deep into the mystical magenta liquid and tinges of pale pink, which reminded me of ancient stories
about magic and witches. I first inhaled the fragrant aroma of strawberry and sugary rose petals then timidly took
a sip from the pale porcelain cup. Its fruity sourness instantly awoke my senses. I chewed the strawberry granules
and its blossoming sweetness. Mild and succulent, they were a salvation after the sourness, which encouraged me
to indulge in more of such a pleasing drink.
I was at a café called The Myst - A Tea and Coffee House Where All Magic Happens. It was reminiscent of
19th Century Europe yet fully computerised for a true 21st Century experience. The setting reminded me of the
old and frivolous Victorian times, with their small round-wooden tables, velvety Prussian blue sofas, and fine
linen tablecloths, elegantly rimmed and embroidered, but the service in contrast was virtually cybertronic. You
could just place your order by clicking on the holographic table your meal of choice, and could even personalise
your own dish if you wished, and the food would be dispatched by mobile-trays along the isles. As I sipped my
tea, I thought about my parents in Beijing. They had suggested moving to the Greater Bay Region, as there
would be more opportunities. With that in mind, I wanted to observe and understand the reality of the promised
opportunities that it had to offer. So with my parent’s permission, I embarked on a journey to the GBR to see
for myself.
So, I was here inside this state-of-the-art cafe, absorbed in my thoughts, when I suddenly heard: “… krclang!!”
Startled, I turned to find that the young woman who had sat beside me had dropped her porcelain cup,
which now lay on the glossy flooring, splintered in fragments. Concerned that she might have been injured, I
asked: “Are you fine? Are you hurt?” She looked at me, seemingly feeling all embarrassed, and quickly gave me
the cold shoulder: “Yes, I’m fine… thank you!” The waitress, or to better put it, a fully automated sweeping
machine, equipped with a vacuum-pipe, swept the porcelain cup away in a manner of moments. The young
woman, who should have been profusely apologizing, was now instead apparently irritated by the whole scene
especially when the cyber-waitress electronically issued payment for the broken cup.
The woman, visibly annoyed, placed her palm on the holographic table to confirm the transaction, and whilst
grumbling in complaint stood up and proceeded to stomp her way out of the elegant exit. Everyone else
remained silent, as if untouched by what had just happened as though it didn’t happen at all. In the old Hong
Kong, now the Core City of the GBR, things would have been dealt with differently, with greater fuss and
attention. Glad to see that things have become far more efficient.
Leaving the cafe, I prepared to go to my next stop: the extravagant city of Macao, the mecca of entertainment.
As I walked to the station, I couldn’t help but marvel at the bustling streets, their unique interconnectedness,
thanks to the new state-of-the-art urban structures. Something caught my eye. I suddenly noticed that there
were many young people gathered together on the street next to me. The realisation came to me that all across
China, young entrepreneurs talked about the GBR with enthusiasm, especially those looking to work in the
technology and business sectors. It is also a popular holiday destination for many Asians and Westerners, thanks to
its famous skyscrapers, which rivals Sky City 1000 and Burj Khalifa, and its innovative, cutting-edge technology
in infrastructure, transport and manufacturing. It is also very well-known for its world-wide technology fairs
and casinos.
Immediately after, I thought: ‘No wonder it has attracted lots of people both from the mainland and western
countries to move there, including my parents.’ They were fascinated with the appealing modern look of the
area, attracted to the high-quality lifestyle which it offered and its multitude of opportunities. Furthermore,
Sky-Cities, initially proposed more than 30 decades ago, and like most initial ideas considered a ‘FLOP’ or even
‘too good to be true’, now dotted the skies of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, encompassing their best qualities.
They were, in all of their glory, very different, yet better and more modern in all aspects!