Behind Closed Doors: Hong Kong’s ‘Helper’ Culture

Stepping out of my building on my first Sunday in Hong Kong over a year ago, I was greeted by a number of things; shouts from street vendors, the powerful spiced scent of frying meat, blazing sunshine. I had become accustomed to most of these sensations over the preceding days, but one thing was puzzling. Overnight, it seemed, an entirely new cast of characters had appeared in my cramped neighbourhood and were now encamped in the street. They took over benches, walkways and several sought-after patches of shade cast by the towering skyscrapers that make this city famous. These were not beggars, these were casually dressed, bright-eyed women. They sat upon ragtag pieces of cardboard or yoga mats, chatting amiably amongst themselves. They sheltered from the heat under motley umbrellas and napped idly in the afternoon sun, but where had they come from? <a href="https://medium.com/@thelukejkelly/behind-closed-doors-hong-kong-s-helper-culture-3cd91aa43182">Visit Now</a>