Hong Kong the Weird

Last month, the MTR announced it was no longer going to be nice about eating and drinking on its trains or in its paid areas. It's "costumer care team" was going to enforce fines for those who broke the rules, it said. Unlike the TTC in Toronto, Hong Kong's public transport prohibits food consumption on its property. There is also an agressive campaign to stop people from rushing the doors of trains and carrying large baggage on to trains and buses. The difference is noticable and so these are fair rules I think. Even though I enjoy a coffee on my morning commute, I understand hygiene and cleanliness are important. But if this is the case, I hope the MTR will consider the other odd unhygienic acts that happen on its trains.

On Monday, while on my way to Central, I witnessed a skillful demonstration of how to change a diaper the MTR. It was rushhour and a grandmother in her sixties sat in the middle seat in a row of a crowded train. Her grandson who was no more than 2-years-old stood in front of her, between her knees. She took a moment to settle into her seat and then, out of nowhere, popped out a fresh diaper. Oh no, I thought, this is not going to happen. But it did. With one hand she held up the clueless boy, while the other stripped his bottoms: first his shoes, then his pants and then his dirty diaper. He must have hung in the air with his pride hanging out for a full minutre while Grandma struggled to replace the diaper. Thankfully for the child's emotional well-being, he didn't seem to notice. Still, it could nothave been good for hygiene. MTR, please add "no diaper changing" to your list of no nos.