Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Episode Transcript

Transcript edited by Hannah “Asher” Sham

Introduction

Asher: The views and opinions expressed during this podcast are those of the speaker and the research they conducted abroad. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Portland Community College, PCC Foundation, or the PCC Accessible Education Resource Department. There are some overwhelming noises to those sensitive to loud sounds or are suffering from Hyperacusis… Listeners’ discretion is advised…

[Rise of intro music…]

Asher: Allow me to take you on a journey across the globe. A city full of culture, good food, history, and is always alive. Within the hustle of this city across the ocean that never sleeps; we will look into the accessibility for the life of the disabled. How they work, play, travel, and live life. This is Accessibility in Hong Kong.

Asher: I had the chance to travel to Hong Kong for a few weeks. Since I had lived in the States for a long time, I never really looked too closely at the disability culture in Hong Kong. I’ve lived here many times in the past, but never looked at life here with the lens of someone with a disability. What if I’m hard of hearing or Deaf? What if I’m blind? Or, what if I have a mobility issue or a learning disability? How do I work, play, and get around in this high-pressure, concrete jungle called “Hong Kong”? My name is Asher, and we are about to find out!

Welcome to Hong Kong

Airhostess:  Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Hong Kong. It is a safety requirement that you remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the seat belt sign has been turned off. Please be careful when opening the overhead compartments as items stowed inside may fall out.

Asher: Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the airport is expansive… But, luckily for me, every sign has English words along with Chinese characters. There are also tactile guide lines on the floor for blind users to get around as well as airport security who could help direct anyone lost.

Asher: Hong Kong has a whopping seven point four million population, all of various nationalities that have migrated here to try living in this fast paced city of Asia. Spanning one thousand one hundred and four square kilometers of territory, it’s split by a bit of ocean; from the mainland to the downtown part of the city, Hong Kong Island. It is also the fourth most densely populated region in the world…

Asher: Below the towering skyscrapers, the city is filled with all kinds of stores; food, clothes, branded goods, supermarkets – This city is really a consumer’s paradise… I took a walk along the busy streets where everyday people do their grocery shopping.

Navigating the Streets and Markets

[Street chatter]

Asher: The sounds here are deafening… There’s so many people, it’s so crowded, and the footpaths here are really narrow and not very accessible. Despite that, the produce sold here; fruits, vegetables, and dried wares are really cheap in comparison to US prices. 

Asher: As of June two thousand twenty-four (2024), the exchange rate between the US Dollar and Hong Kong Dollar is approximately: one US Dollar equal to seven point eight one Hong Kong dollars. Hong Kong maintains a currency peg since 1983 to ensure financial stability and trade confidence, which keeps the exchange rate within seven point seven five (7.75) to seven point eight five (7.85) Hong Kong dollars per US Dollars. 

Asher: Buying about a basket of apples which consists of five apples costs only about fifty Hong Kong Dollars which is equivalent to only six US Dollars. Compared to US prices where a kilogram of apples cost anywhere between two dollars and thirty-five cents and four dollars and forty-six cents.

Asher: Besides the street side stalls, there are many indoor markets that are known, directly translated as “Grandma’s Market”, or a Wet Market. It is more so a Wet Market, in every sense of the word. 

[Wet market chatter…]

Asher: The wet markets here in Hong Kong are much like their counterparts out in the street, narrow, busy, and a lot more people because of the lower prices. However, here, you can buy fresh fish still swimming in vats of water, freshly cut poultry, and other ingredients. The prices here are even cheaper than those of outside.

[Street chatter #2]

Asher: There aren’t many tactile guidelines on the busy streets of Hong Kong. They’re mainly found in the city, some malls, and public transit centers. But, when you ever do cross a street in HK; you’ll most likely hear this…

[Crosswalk chime…]

Asher: The crosswalk signals turn on automatically without needing to press a button. But, there is a button if you need extra time to cross the street. You typically don’t want to try to cross a zebra crossing if you can avoid it, as drivers here in HK don’t yield to pedestrians, but rather it’s the other way around… As for traveling…

Public Transportation Insights

Public transportation made accessible for all

[Octopus card tap…]

Asher: The sound you heard just now was the tapping of a transit card, to pay for transportation fare. The card is known as an “Octopus Card” and you can use it not just to pay for transit, but to pay for everything… and I mean everything!

[Rapid beeps of Octopus card…]

Asher: This one card; you can top it up and use it to pay for your bill at a cafe, or buy a sandwich at a convenience store. You can even use it to make big purchases at a supermarket! This one card can do it all!

Asher: The main form of transportation here in Hong Kong is the train – called the MTR here – a bus or, my favorite, The Mini Bus… 

[Blast of Mini Bus…]

Asher: The mini bus is basically a small school bus that goes around in a specific area much like a regular bus, but in a much smaller circuit. The other difference is that unlike a bus, where you can press a button to signal your stop…

[Asher calls out stop in cantonese…]

Asher: “Stop at the school, please!”

Asher: You need to call out your stop. You can tell the driver in advance where you want to stop and they’ll stop for you. Also, there are some Mini Buses that now have a stop button, but unless you know where the stop is you’ll keep going until someone calls for a stop…

[MTR chatter…]

Asher (VO): The Hong Kong Train Stations, otherwise known here as MTR’s, are of all different shapes and sizes with many entrances and exits that can leave even the most local resident confused. There are large maps within the station with English guides telling of the different entrances and exits and where you’ll land if you come up from an underground station, but there is something especially special for those that are blind. 

[MTR guidance tune…]

Asher: This special little tune can be heard in most MTR stations, and it’s quite loud over the usual busy hum. It’s a small metal stand with a detailed tactile map of the station along with braille descriptions of the entrances and exits on it. 

Asher: There’s also a big red button here. I don’t want to press it, because it would probably call for someone to come and help you if you’re really lost… 

[Rise of MTR Chatter…]

Asher: For ticketing gates in the train station, HK has installed these new gates that have a flap that opens and closes rather than using a turn wheel to get through, there are also larger ticketing gates for those that have luggage or use a wheelchair.

Asher: Mobility culture is quite a big thing here, where even if you use a wheelchair to get around; ramps, elevators, and accessible walkways have made it so traveling is easy. There’s even a place to charge your electric wheelchair in the station if you need to! That’s actually really cool! 

Asher: Getting into the train station, you can ask for help from a train Attendant who holds a booth along the platform. Need a ramp to get on the train, or need help finding an elevator to get to the concourse level? All you have to do is ask. 

Dining & Nightlife in Hong Kong

The unique foods of Hong Kong, Dim Sum

[Street Restaurant Chatter…]

Asher: If you come to Hong Kong looking for really traditional food, the street side restaurants and cafes are the places to be. Sometimes, the cramped and the louder the better. These stores aren’t typically accessibility friendly; with cramped narrow spaces and needing to rub shoulders and backs with strangers. Sometimes, even heated arguments break out amongst customers and the store owner, adding to the overwhelming atmosphere…

Asher: There are great restaurants that are more accessible in malls that also have great food. Bigger Malls have monitors and physical guides and directories to help tell you what kind of stores and restaurants there are and if you’re lucky, they can switch from Chinese to English with just a swipe of a finger. The afternoons during high tea and rush hour, especially during the weekends, is when the most people are out and about. Bringing the hum of the city to a chaotic fever pitch…

[Louder street noise / Car horn blares…]

Asher: In today’s day and age, having a digital device is important when traveling around and on the go. Using your phone’s map can especially make things a lot easier when traveling around, and scanning a QR code for a menu in a restaurant is a sure way to help users who need to use a screen reader. In this busy and fast-paced environment it’s so easy to get lost or even get in trouble… 

[city noise fades out.]

Asher: This is all just what I had managed to explore while going around Hong Kong. After a search on the government’s website and talking to some friends, there seems to be a lot more going on than I had initially thought! According to the website “Disability:IN”; 7.4 per cent of the overall population has a disability. With approximately 39.1% of individuals with disabilities working. From what I understand, the definition of “persons with disability” extends to the elderly. The fact being that the rapidly aging population, here in Hong Kong, means that people with mobility difficulties or other forms of impairment are becoming the majority. According to the “Hong Kong Free Press”. Quote, “By 2041, almost one in every three Hongkongers will be 65 years old or above.” end quote…

[Nature sounds in HK…]

Asher: The government has services and support for persons with disabilities. According to their official government website; their is a list of rehabilitation services, vocational rehabilitation services, transport and access support, and many other support links that people with disabilities are entitled to. In addition, people with disabilities and their family members or carers may apply for free delivery service offered by supermarkets in Hong Kong, with an application form provided by the Labour and Welfare Bureau’s website. Despite this flowery outward exterior, according to some residents, things aren’t as good as they may seem behind the scenes…

Asher: An anonymous individual who works as a kindergarten teacher, told me about their experiences working with children who have disabilities and special needs… I asked them about how students with disabilities in Hong Kong are treated and their response was that unless the student is “completely disabled”, meaning they are completely deaf or hard of hearing or they’re fully blind, they are placed in a special school. Otherwise, they go to the standard public school, where they do get their education needs met, but it’s done through extra classes which take up their recesses time. She also stated that it’s very difficult to get into these special schools as you need to take exams and assessments in order to get in… In a standard school, there is some equipment provided and funded by the Education Department. The Education Department is the main organization in Hong Kong that focuses on the education from preschool all the way to College and University, along with the hiring and training of teachers and instructors. Equipment that would help in a classroom that the organization can provide, could be an electronic magnifier for students with low vision. However, the student must also take assessments as the machine itself is expensive and in order to maintain the machine, the student or parent will have to either pay for someone to maintain it or maintain it themselves… 

Living in Hong Kong

Kai Tuk Sport’s Stadium

Asher: If you decide to visit Hong Kong, chances are you’d end up living in a hotel. But, if you’re like me who have parents living here; you’ll probably end up staying in their home…

[water kettle going off & sound of fan…]

Asher: Residential home’s in Hong Kong are pretty different from those here in the states. For one, many of them are these high rise apartment blocks that go up to thirty floors and each floor has about twelve units. So, you could very well hear what your neighbour is doing… There’s also not as much space in each unit; like my parents home here in Hong Kong the total square unit of the entire house – a living room, kitchen, a shared bathroom, and two bedrooms – is about 484 square feet. Because of that, big appliances aren’t normally bought for small apartments like these; which means no dishwasher so everything is hand-washed and, even if there is a washing machine, there’s no dryer so clothes have to be hung out to dry, and no bathtub; just a standard standing shower…

Asher: As you can guess, such small spaces are not accessibility friendly, especially if you need wheelchair access in and out of the house… But, if it’s a must, residents have made innovative ways to make living in these small apartments work. There are private houses in some of the older districts of Hong Kong. But, those are few and far between; as land gets more and more scarce, it also becomes more expensive to own a home…

(Muffled Cantonese TV chatter…)

Asher: Nights like these, hanging out with my family in front of the TV is the best in my opinion, despite all of that. Even though eating out is a pretty big thing here in Hong Kong, it is typically cheaper to buy groceries and cook at home in our tiny one-person kitchen. The term “too many cooks in the kitchen” was definitely applicable when I tried to help cook for my family… Rice is a big staple in a Hong Kong household, and it is usually served with a vegetable dish and a protein dish. On special occasions, we would make some soup to have before the meal… As for nightlife, people tend to go out for drinks and explore the city skyline. But, for me I would spend hours into the night talking to my family about life in the states, eating snacks and cracking open a beer or two. 

Asher (VO): there are many places you can go to, to explore. Some are accessible and some are not. I would recommend going to the more newly renovated and built areas, like this place I had the pleasure of visiting in Hong Kong…

[Stadium announcer & cheers / noise…]

Asher: Kai Tak Stadium… A multi-purpose sports venue at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It opened its doors this year, 2025, in May and seats up to ten thousand people during major competitions and events. The architecture of the stadium is fascinating; the stadium is shaped like a smooth, flowing ring that feels both futuristic and organic. Think of it like a giant, circular amphitheater, with a skin made of light metal and glass – cool, sleek, and strong – stretching wide and open to the sky. During the day, the stadium’s walls seem to camouflage with the sky’s backdrop in a gradient of color. While at night, the outside walls, which are actually made with something similar to LED screens, light up; basking the surrounding area in bright colors. The area has accessible walkways, ramps, and elevators to get to the lower floors outside; a garden space that overlooks the mainland of Hong Kong…

Asher: Hong Kong is widely recognized as one of the most digitally connected cities in the world. With some of the highest smartphone penetration rates globally… Over 90% of the population uses smartphones and fast, widespread internet access. You’d expect that technology would be a great equalizer, but when it comes to accessibility, things are less advanced. Many public sector websites and apps still don’t comply with basic web accessibility standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines help ensure that websites are usable by people with visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive disabilities. But, in Hong Kong, adoption of these standards is not mandatory. The government has published digital accessibility guidelines, but since they aren’t legally binding, compliance is often inconsistent. For example, some official websites support screen readers or offer text resizing tools. While others are nearly impossible to navigate without sight… This creates a frustrating, and sometimes impossible, experience for users who rely on technology for basic services like booking appointments, paying bills, or online food delivery services. Most Hong Kong apps, whether for banking, shopping, or food delivery, are built with speed and design in mind, not accessibility. Features like voice navigation, keyboard-only functionality, or alt text for images are rarely included. Without regulations requiring companies to make their digital services accessible, there’s little incentive for change. Language is another key hurdle. Many globally-developed assistive technologies are designed for English-language environments, which limits their usability in Hong Kong. Screen readers like JAWS or Apple’s VoiceOver work reasonably well with English interfaces, but they can struggle with Chinese websites, especially those using Cantonese-specific content or layouts not optimized for accessibility. Even when the tech exists, access remains a challenge… Devices like braille displays, adaptive keyboards, or hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars. While Non-government organizations; such as the Hong Kong Society for the Blind or the Hong Kong Association of the Deaf offer subsidized tools, training programs, and digital literacy workshops, the reach is limited; especially among elderly or low-income individuals with disabilities. For older adults who didn’t grow up with technology, learning how to use a screen reader or navigate a smartphone can be overwhelming. And if there’s no Cantonese-language support built in, it becomes an even thicker barrier.

Asher: There are, however, signs of progress. I had heard that some local startups and university research groups are working on AI-powered captioning, Cantonese voice assistants, and inclusive fintech solutions. For instance, projects at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have explored haptic feedback systems and gesture-based controls to help users with mobility impairments. But these innovations are often in early stages — not yet available for widespread use.

Outro

[Street Guitar Player @Heartist]

Asher: Like every country, there are pros and cons to disability culture and accessibility. Thankfully, before I had left Hong Kong, I heard that an additional special needs school will be opening its doors to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Whether or not exams or assessments need to be taken before admittance is unknown. It’s heartwarming, however, that change is slowly, but surely, being made for the next generation… With the culture of high performance here in Hong Kong, it’s people like my interviewee that can help those with disabilities and special needs be recognized in this bustling city that never sleeps…

Asher:  Thank you for listening to Let’s Talk Portland Community College’s broadcast about disability culture. Find more information and resources concerning this episode and others at pcc.edu/dca. This episode was produced by the Let’s Talk Podcast collective as a collaborative effort between students, the accessible education and disability resource department, and the PCC multimedia department. We air new episodes on our home website. Our Spotify Channel X-Ray 91.1 FM and 1 0 7 0.1 FM and KBOO Radio, 90.7 fm.

Additional links:

Services and Support for Persons with Disabilities

Disability:IN – Disability numbers in HK

Hong Kong Free Press: “Disability Should not be…”