Hong Kong is the gateway to Southern China and a bridgehead for the mainland facing South Asia and the Western world. Since the beginning of the last century, Hong Kong’s economic development has consistently outpaced the mainland, achieving the standards of a developed nation early on.
However, since entering the new century—and especially following the explosion of the internet industry—Hong Kong has gradually fallen behind. This is particularly true in the IT sector; local high-tech companies are few and far between, and talent cultivated by universities often chooses to develop their careers on the mainland or abroad.
A unique cultural atmosphere, combined with a lagging industrial system and a fast-paced, high-pressure lifestyle, means that Hong Kong’s youth spend relatively little time online. The online spaces where they typically browse and socialize are concentrated in a few major BBS forums, large international social media sites, and, finally, the Hong Kong Blog.
Chapter 443