China Travel Forum

[lee]

I want to post a warning about crime and hospitals in Hong Kong. I been to Hong Kong many times with no problems but this time I
was hit hard on my head, robbed, and I stayed in a hospital in Hong Kong for one month in August. My bag, money belt, ID, passport, shorts,
phone cards, clothes, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, socks, shampoo,
shirt, photos, coins, deodorant, bank book, US $400, ATM card, brush,
three notebooks, and wallet were all stolen. I was hit so hard that the
right side of my head was broken in six places and the doctors removed
part of my right side of my skull and a blood clot. They said my brain
was bruised, but not damaged. In about six months I need a have plastic
plate put in my head to protect my brain. I am lucky that I wasn’t
killed, paralyzed, or put in coma. I don’t remember what happened, but
only remember waking up in the hospital. I couldn’t speak after the
injury or remember words but now I am much better. I still drool a
little and am dizzy if I get I up too fast. I should get better, though.

Staying in the Hong Kong hospitals was terrible because I am healthy and I haven’t spent a lot of time in hospitals. I also don’t understand the Hong Kong system, either. They tied my arms and legs to the bed for some reason, injected me with liquid for weeks, didn’t give food or water for six
days, didn’t allow me to shower, wash my face, brush my teeth, exercise,
told me go to the bathroom in my bed for three weeks, and didn’t allow
me to make phone calls or use the Internet. I had communication problems with some workers because I don't speak Cantonese. The
nurses and doctors told me I could leave in a few days or in a week, but
they were usually wrong. Almost everyday for three weeks I was given
oatmeal to eat three times a day although I hate it. I finally refused
to eat it and they gave me better food like rice and chicken. The
hospital also didn’t seem very well supplied due a seeming shortage of
sleeping pills and painkillers. The hospital was public, very crowded,
and had many very old sick men who snored loudly and seemed near death. I saw things I never saw before and didn’t sleep well because of the noise and was often interrupted for blood pressure checks and exams. The doctors and nurses said I caught pneumonia and slept a lot the first week, but I don’t remember that. Buildings in Hong Kong use too much air conditioning, too. I was quite bored because they were only TV shows in Cantonese to watch that I couldn’t understand. After three weeks, I transferred to a rehabilitation hospital. I had no clothes, money,
identification, soap, passport, friends, or family in Hong Kong. Some
nice people from church groups visited me later and brought things I
needed like fruit and soap and my consulate brought me English
books, helped me find my passport, and contacted my family in America, and told them how to send money to me.

I admit some of my big problems were my fault because I went to Hong Kong to get a new Chinese visa at a visa agency and didn’t pay first because I didn’t think I would lose my money, I also took my bank book to Hong Kong although it doesn’t work there, and I may not remember being attacked since I may have fallen asleep outside on a bench at night
because I didn’t want to pay for hotel.

I also didn’t have a Hong Kong ID card since I am not a resident and didn’t have medical insurance because I am healthy and never thought something like this would happen to me. I thought Hong Kong was safe. The doctors wanted me to stay longer in the hospital, but I felt better, wanted to return to go home, and couldn’t afford the hospital stay. The hospital said it cost HKD 3000 per day to stay and I was there for a month. If I was a Hong Kong resident, the fee is only HKD 100 per day. The hospital wanted their money, but since I don’t have it, they can’t get it. I don’t know how I can repay them. I also may need to pay for replacement plate surgery in six months.

I hope my misfortune will convince people to be aware about crime and bad hospitals in Hong Kong, be careful with their valuables and passports while traveling, and be sure to have medical travel insurance. I personally wouldn't recommend anyone visit Hong Kong. It was truly a nightmare.

[kamal]

thanks for your reference lee, it is pity to happen some thing like you,I hope you will get better soon and get your work, another thing I belive that the devlis who rubbed you willl get their punishment sooner or later.
when you get better i hope you to give us more experience about tour ,thanks
kamal

[Cathi]

It's not the fault of Hong Kong or the hospitals. It was stupid to sleep on a bench with all of your valuables on you. You took a chance and you lost. If you did the same in any large city I suspect you would have had the same outcome. The only difference in the US would have been that they wouldn't have let you stay in the hospital for 3 weeks with no insurance!

[guard]

Staying in an expensive hotel in Hong Kong is not safe
either:

http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=HK