1. Introduction

From the standpoint of cultural geography, space is a place with social customs and cultural significance in addition to being a physical location. This interaction is demonstrated by the monthly meetings of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong's Central District, whose cultural requirements turn public places into multipurpose hubs for connection and community. These events draw attention to a cultural tension: although Central represents the quick-paced, effective image of a major international financial central, its public areas also serve as essential gathering places for Filipino domestic workers to maintain their cultural identity and strengthen social ties. The ensuing conflicts and their consequences for managing urban space are examined in this essay.

2. Cultural Geographical Perspective in Use

Cultural geographical perspective is finding the local culture by learning the specific traces of geographical context in a particular place. The local culture involves the local resident’s or nation’s religion, holidays and conventions. It demonstrates their sense of value and worldview. And one place may consist of various cultures but the space of a place is limited. Thus, some conflict between different cultures will be produced because of the occupation of the place. Our project focuses on the conflict between the Philippine and local workers and residents about the usage of Central place. In cultural geography, “place” emphasizes the uniqueness and significance of specific locations. It is not just a geographical space but also carries cultural meanings and identities, influencing people's lifestyles and social interactions. According to Agnew and Duncan(1989), “place” has three parts: location, locale and sense of place. Central, usually regarded as the CBD of Hong Kong, has row upon row of skyscrapers and excellent modern infrastructure. It is a symbol of finance, modernization and prosperity. Generally, we think the sense of Central should be clean, tidy and modern. However, every Sunday hundreds of Filipinos come here and set numerous footholds occupying many public places in Central. It not only influences the traffic but also is contrary to the Central’s sense of place.

Relationship

Cultural Influences

Growing up in a collectivist society, Filipinos always prioritize family over themselves. In fact, the culture and characteristics, family-oriented and strong sense of belonging (AFS-USA, 2023), of Filipinos align with the result of our interview. A Filipino domestic helper working in Kai Tak mentioned, “I usually buy Philippines goods like snacks in Central. I also send necessities and part of my income to my family once a month. But without an HKID, I can only use my passport to do so, and Central banks are the most convenient places for us.”  Another Filipino domestic helper who works in Hung Hom reveals her reason for staying at Central, “ All of my friends are gathering in Central and I really see them as my family. Being together helps us feel less alone in a foreign place.”

Responses to our interview matched with and emphasized the culture and characteristics of Filipinos while addressing four main considerations of Filipino domestic helpers when choosing gathering spots on holidays, being the availability to buy products from their hometown, send necessities and money to their family, and meet their friends respectively.

There are a lot of Filipino-oriented stores run by Filipinos located in Central. For instance, the stores on the first three floors of the World Wide House offer a wide range of products, including traditional Filipino food, clothes, and household items. There is a postal services shipping spot underneath the footbridge of that building. Moreover, as the central business district (CBD) in Hong Kong, most banks and financial institutions are located there. Its location also allows people to access easily from every place in Hong Kong.

Besides, the urban infrastructure of these public spaces is designed to facilitate social interaction. For example, Chater Road (between Pedder Street and Jackson Road) is regulated as a part-time pedestrian street from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight on general holidays (Transport Department - Central, 2024). It creates a safe and welcoming environment for gatherings. Also, open areas and shaded spots in Central are sufficient to provide a comfortable gathering environment as well.  Therefore, public spaces such as Victoria Park, Charter Garden, and the areas around the Central MTR station turn into important spots for socializing and connecting.

Traces of the interaction of the geographical context and culture

The interaction of geographical context and cultural influences shows how Filipino domestic helpers utilize Central as a multifunctional space for social, economic, and cultural activities. Their choice to gather in this area is practical and deeply rooted in their cultural need for community and connection. Filipino-oriented stores(i.e. World Wide House) and financial institutions(i.e. multiple banks in Central), alongside the open spaces and public areas(i.e. Chater Road) there completely comply with the four main considerations and needs of Filipino domestic helpers. Given such a satisfactory location, Filipino domestic helpers will doubtlessly consider and choose Central as their gathering spot on holidays. Moreover, Central perfectly combines the cultural practices of domestic helpers with a vibrant urban environment that supports community interaction. Despite the challenges of living and working in a foreign city, Central shapes their day-to-day experiences and highlights the resilience of their cultural identity within the urban landscape in Hong Kong.

Conflict

Being a hustling and bustling commercial district, Central houses lots of skyscrapers and luxury boutiques. Most of the professionals in Hong Kong work in Central, where the pace of life is fast and aims for high efficiency. The public areas are primarily designed to enhance productivity and represent Hong Kong’s identity as an international financial center. These areas are mainly filled by office workers and tourists in Central. This evidence showcases the importance of this dynamic urban environment to its users.

In contrast to this image, every Sunday, the public areas in Central turn into gathering places for Filipino domestic helpers to socialize and connect with their communities. These gatherings often spill into streets and sidewalks, which creates a congested atmosphere that disrupts the usual flow of pedestrian traffic and road users. Furthermore, Filipino domestic helpers usually have various kinds of entertainment activities such as eating and singing karaoke during their gatherings which causes nuisance, be it noise or hygiene annoyance,  to pedestrians in and the environment of Central. A street cleaner we interviewed in Central noted the impact of these gatherings on her work, claiming “After the domestic helpers leave, I often find hair, food containers, and cardboard left on the streets, which increases my workload and causes hygiene problems.” Similarly, a tourist visiting Central for the first time expressed her frustration as well, saying “I expected a vibrant, organized space, but the crowd made me feel insecure and overwhelmed sometimes.”

In summary, by gathering every Sunday, Filipino domestic workers have transformed public spaces into gathering spots. Even though this kind of Sunday congregation encourages social interaction among the helpers, it also leads to issues like noise, littering, and crowding, which may also puts tourists' safety at danger. Consequently, Central loses some of its reputation as a busy but well-organized business hub. This necessitates balancing the preservation of the district's reputation with the management of urban space.

4. Conclusion

Central's commercial and landmark characteristics require efficiency, a fast production pace and cleanliness. The gathering of Filipino domestic helpers on Sundays affects these characteristics and creates a cultural clash. Filipino domestic workers bring their own culture to Central, including religion, festivals and customs. This affects the old values in Central. Agnew and Duncan say that 'place' has three parts: location, locale and sense of place. Tens of thousands of Filipinos live in Central. They use public spaces in Central, which creates a policing burden and damages the commercial image. But the urban design of these spaces allows for integration of these two values. It also allows for cultural meanings and identities to be expressed, influencing the lifestyles and social interactions of workers, tourists, residents and Filipinos in Central.

In conclusion, the interaction between cultural practices and urban space in Hong Kong's Central District has turned out to be complex. While Central is an epitome of a busy financial hub-isolated under the banners of efficiency and modernity is also utilized as a very important meeting point for the Filipino domestic workers who seek community and cultural contact. Their weekly congregations turn public areas into multifunctional spaces, which foster social cohesion but simultaneously create tensions over noise, litter, and pedestrian congestion. This is a cultural conflict that has brought up demands for management in urban space inclusive of varied community needs while preserving the image of the district as a prime business center. Balancing these competing interests is key to maintaining the identity and functionality of Central and ensuring a vibrant space for all its users.

Agnew, J. A., & Duncan, J. S. (1989). The Power of place : bringing together geographical and sociological imaginations. Unwin Hyman.

AFS-USA. (2023). The Philippines. AFS-USA. https://www.afsusa.org/countries/philippines/

Transport Department - Central. (2024, May 27). https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/pedestrians/pedestrianisation/central_/index.html