The constant underlying worry about abduction portrayed in the mainland Chinese series (set 1979–92) reminds me of my first arrival in Hong Kong on 26 December 1974.
I'd booked the hotel (recommended by ex-classmate James from RI / Raffles Institution) through the travel agency (no DIY in those days, unlike now). Other than James saying it was a good hotel, i.e., not cheapo, used by backpackers, I didn't know anything else about it (again, no going online in those days to get a visual impression).
The driver was there at the airport with a cardboard displaying my name. When I followed him to the car, I found to my surprise that it was a limousine-looking vehicle (some American car -- Impala or Cadillac). I started to get a bit worried, because James had said the Peninsula Hotel would be out of my range, but not that my hotel would collect people in a limousine. What was more worrying was the driver then locking the doors after I'd settled down in the back seat. (Yes, I can hear you laughing, "What a country bumpkin!") I spent the journey from the airport (Kai Tak in those days) to my hotel with only one eye on the scenery outside.
(Hong Kong, 1974)
PS: Reader Valerio has asked about the worry about abduction referred to above. It is too much to add to this blog here, so I shall start a new one on it. See https://piccola-chinita.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-footnote-on-issue-of-abduction-in-old.html
