Recently, a video guide by a mainland Chinese internet celebrity titled “Travel in Hong Kong for Free, Not Spending a Penny for a Day” has stirred up a huge controversy online. Netizens have expressed strong disapproval towards the tactics mentioned in the video, particularly criticizing the idea of “mooching off charity meals” as unethical and crossing a moral boundary.
Housing in Hong Kong is expensive, leading many mainland Chinese tourists in recent years to opt for a “budget travel” mode to save expenses.
In a video released by a Douyin influencer, he teaches viewers how to “freeload” while surviving in Hong Kong, even incorporating charitable resources into his “money-saving tips”. In the video, the influencer lists in detail the so-called methods for a “free trip to Hong Kong”.
He claims that you can freely drink water from the MTR station water dispenser, save money on renting power banks by using charging services for free, thus achieving drinking water and charging for free; when it gets hot in the summer, go to public bathrooms, sleep directly in 24-hour McDonald’s at night, calling it the “best shelter”, and even bring a folding chair to “sit anywhere in parks or by the seaside”.
The most controversial action mentioned is “mooching off charity meals”. He specifically recommends viewers to visit charitable restaurants that provide free meals for vulnerable groups, praising the food as “abundant with meat and fish” and even reminding everyone to “bring their own lunch box and cutlery to solve one meal at zero cost”.
Following the release of the video, the comment section exploded with criticism.
Some netizens pointed out that this seemingly “meticulously planned” series of actions actually treats public resources and charitable assistance as personal conveniences, especially the “mooching off charity meals” tactic which is viewed as despicable.
Netizens have criticized his behavior as unethical, even accusing him of abusing charitable resources. “Meals are given to those who really need them, it’s charity, not for you ‘budget travelers’! Please have some self-respect!””This is too much! Free meals are for those in difficult circumstances to eat, are you audacious enough to take their food away?” and “Taking charity meals, do you have no shame?!”
Facing the overwhelming criticism, the influencer issued a response stating that the original intention of making the video was to showcase the convenience of living in Hong Kong but admitted that they indeed lacked consideration when it came to receiving charity food. He acknowledged that charity meals are intended for those in need in society and stated, “If anyone is truly in difficulty, they can receive temporary assistance for free”, while also promising to admit mistakes and hoping to spread warmth.
In fact, in recent years, with the economic downturn in China leading to high unemployment rates and difficulties in earning money, people are trying to spend as little as possible. Emerging travel trends such as “budget travel” and “special forces-style travel” have been popular among young people, aiming to maximize travel enjoyment with minimal expenditure. However, the influencer’s actions are seen as crossing moral and even legal boundaries.
Charitable restaurants in Hong Kong mainly provide basic food and warmth to low-income groups, the homeless, and others in need, with each “charity meal” carrying societal goodwill. Treating charitable assistance as part of a “budget travel guide” is not only disrespectful to the recipients but also tramples on societal ethics.
The establishment of facilities such as water dispensers in the MTR and public bathrooms is intended to facilitate the daily needs of residents, not for tourists to take advantage of. If a large number of tourists imitate the influencer’s behavior, occupying local resources, it will ultimately damage the city’s service capacity and image.
Following the escalation of the incident, many netizens have called for rational budget travel. Some netizens expressed that “true budget travel is about meticulous planning without taking advantage, experiencing the local customs and culture rather than consuming societal goodwill”. Some Hong Kong residents have bluntly stated, “Welcome everyone to visit Hong Kong, but please don’t take our goodwill for granted.”