Letters | A shame Hong Kong appeared shabby in YouTube star’s live stream

Readers highlight what the city could have done to better showcase its appeal on IShowSpeed’s high-profile visit

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YouTube star IShowSpeed (in a red jersey) leaves Hong Kong’s Ocean Park accompanied by a large number of bodyguards, on April 4. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 11:30am, 8 Apr 2025

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As an ardent reader of the Post who takes heed of Hong Kong’s declining position as a tourist hub, I am profoundly disappointed by the recent visit by popular YouTuber IShowSpeed to Hong Kong. It was a squandered opportunity that further underscores our eroding capacity to position ourselves as a welcoming global city.

With more than 38 million subscribers and a worldwide audience tracking his Hong Kong journey, Speed’s visit could have been a dazzling showcase of Hong Kong’s rich cosmopolitan culture, breathtaking scenery and unique gastronomic delights. Instead, owing to a lack of coordination, unruly crowds and an overall lacklustre itinerary, the live-streamer’s visit was a disorganised mess that left both him and his fans disappointed.

This falls short of the government’s goal to rekindle Hong Kong’s allure as the vibrant, world-class destination it used to be. Public transport delays that left him stranded, rude teenagers and the lack of a professional tour guide that could have offered insights to local sites all contributed to the chaos of the trip.

As a Hong Kong resident, I feel a mix of frustration and embarrassment. Speed’s infectious energy and large fan base could have been the golden ticket for Hong Kong to demonstrate its cultural allure to the world. The poorly executed tour not only left the streamer visibly stressed and his audience underwhelmed, it accentuated Hong Kong’s eroding competitive edge in the tourism industry.

The government takes pride in Hong Kong’s unmatched energy and rich cultural heritage. Yet since the pandemic, it seems as if the city has struggled to recover its lost vibrancy, with visitor numbers still falling short of expectations despite efforts like the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign to rejuvenate the tourism industry. Speed’s visit was a chance to reverse that and to show the world that Hong Kong remains a must-visit destination, but the poorly organised trip only reinforced how underwhelming and unexciting our city is.

The government’s failure to capitalise on a promotional opportunity that required little more than basic planning and crowd control is truly regrettable. I suggest the government form dedicated teams to actively coordinate with influencers to craft better itineraries that can truly represent Hong Kong.