Hearts connected across regions

Just before the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China on July 1, 32-year-old Lam Chak-kai from Hong Kong celebrated his seventh wedding anniversary with his wife, who is from Quanzhou, Fujian province.

In 2012, Lam enrolled at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) in Guangdong, the neighboring province of Hong Kong. At the time, however, students from the two regions were unfamiliar with each other's social media platforms. To bridge the gap, Lam took a more traditional approach — he carried around a small notebook and asked new friends to write down their names and phone numbers.

"I probably looked a little strange," Lam laughed. "But it helped me connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds."

One memorable moment was when a classmate introduced him to liangpi, a cold noodle dish from Northwest China. "The spicy, tangy flavors really stuck with me," Lam recalled.

This open-mindedness not only allowed Lam to explore new cultures but also led him to meet his future wife. Despite coming from different backgrounds, they bonded over shared interests.

"We both love soccer, enjoy reading martial arts novels by Hong Kong writer Jin Yong (Louis Cha Leung-yung), and are passionate about Chinese history," Lam said. They married in 2017 and welcomed their first child last year.

Lam's cultural exploration also influenced his career path.

After graduating, he returned to Hong Kong and became a financial advisor, frequently working with clients from various regions of the Chinese mainland.

"Business customs can vary significantly across China," Lam observed. "In northern cities, for example, there's a strong drinking culture, while in cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou, meetings are often held over coffee or tea."

As exchanges between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland continue to grow, more young people like Lam are seeking opportunities for education and work across the two regions.

Among them is 31-year-old Lui Hok-chun, who fondly remembered the moment in 1997 when Hong Kong returned to China. He and his family counted down together in front of the TV, marking the historic event.

"Reunification gave Hong Kong a stronger sense of identity and opened up more opportunities for young people," Lui said.

In 2014, he came to SYSU to study business administration. During his time there, he launched a startup offering transportation services — a project that gained national recognition and received 50,000 yuan ($6,972.88) in seed funding.