Bring back the Hong Kong that eats together without table dividers

South China Morning Post

22-06-2025

The other day, I had the pleasure of sitting down in a small local restaurant in Tai Wai to enjoy some dim sum with my wife and my son. It was a rather large table, and after a few minutes, another nice elderly couple came and sat across from us and ordered their meals. As we greeted each other, a conversation ensued.
We didn't discuss anything too deep or life-changing, but our exchange was engaging and insightful and soon we were leaving, the experience having enhanced what was already a pretty good weekend meal with family.
In contrast, although tables are also shared in the teahouse my family and I typically frequent, that restaurant still uses
Covid-era dividers for shared tables . It occurs to me that this is one aspect where Hong Kong has yet to make a full comeback (like the few souls who still wear masks even when they are not sick) and needs to.
It's not so much about letting the world know we beat Covid-19 and it didn't beat us; it's more about keeping an aspect of Hong Kong culture alive. Hongkongers have an amazing capacity for goodwill, kindness and building connections.
Remember the public flats in the 1970s, when neighbours felt more like family members, or the local businesses and
dai pai dong that once filled the streets in some of the more populated areas. People in this compact, robust city have always taken pride in caring for one another in ways I never knew possible.
This type of engagement is a part of Hong Kong that cannot disappear for new generations. As parents or grandparents, we need to keep the tradition alive and underscore its importance to our children or grandchildren. Take down the barriers at the restaurant next time. Join another group at a large table if you can. Meet other interesting Hongkongers and be that much richer from the experience. These are experiences that make all of our lives richer.