Editor's Note: Charles Foster is an undergraduate student of History and Politics at Edinburgh University. Born in Hong Kong and raised there until the age of nine, the author wants to share his story as a "Hong Konger" and bring a positive voice to the current tensions in Hong Kong. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.编者按：查尔斯·福斯特（Charles Foster）是爱丁堡大学历史和政治专业的本科生。他在香港出生，9岁前也一直生活在香港。作者希望分享他作为一个“香港人”的故事，为香港目前的紧张局势带来一些积极的声音。本文仅代表作者观点，不代表CGTN的观点。
As a child living in Hong Kong (1999-2008), I clearly remember that there was a strong sense among my classmates and many older acquaintances that as "Hong Kongers" we were fundamentally better than the "(Chinese) mainlanders across the border."我小时候生活在香港（1999-2008）。我清楚地记得，那时我的同学和许多我认识的大人都有一种明显的优越感，认为我们“香港人”要比“内地人”好得多。 My mother was originally from Chengdu in Sichuan Province, so when I started becoming more conscious of such sentiments within my environment, I felt ashamed and unworthy about my heritage.我母亲不是本地人，而是来自四川成都，所以当我开始意识到周围人的那种优越感时，我对自己的背景感到羞愧和不自信。 I did not want to be a target at school or mocked by my peers, so I did the cowardly thing of partaking in this negativity, hiding my true Chinese (mainland) heritage and pretending that I was a "Hong Konger" as well. I knew as a child that what I was doing was weak and pathetic, however, one should never underestimate the power of peer pressure.我不想在学校成为被嘲笑的对象，所以我做了一件懦弱的决定，就是选择和他们一样抱着那种负面的优越感，隐藏了我自己的内地背景，假装自己也是一个“香港人”。虽然当时我还小，但我很清楚那么做是非常懦弱和可悲的，可是同学中间那种相互攀比的压力实在太大了。 After years of pretending to be someone else, it is usually the case that you no longer need to pretend, you become that person. In my mind, I was truly a "Hong Konger," knowing next to nothing about the people, culture and way of life in the Chinese mainland, and it was easy for me to paint any negative picture in my imagination of the Chinese mainland to justify my sense of superiority in being a "Hong Konger."如果一个人一直假装自己是别人，那时间长了他也就不需要装了，因为事实上他已经成为了别人。所以，在我的观念中，我也是一个真正的“香港人”，而对内地的人民、文化和生活方式几乎一无所知，很容易凭想象描绘出任何关于内地的负面画面，来证明我作为“香港人”的优越感。 With hindsight, it definitely seemed at that stage, my personal development was heading down a very wrong path. Having surrounded myself in this cycle of negativity, it came to the point that I honestly thought moving to the Chinese mainland would be on the list of the worst things that can happen to my life. 现在回头看，在那个阶段，我的个人发展真是走上了一条非常错误的道路。我心甘情愿让自己抱着那种负面的情绪，打心眼里觉得搬到内地去生活会是我生活中最糟糕的事情之一。 When the 2008 financial crisis sank the global markets, I was told by my mother that we had to move our home to Shenzhen. With hindsight, it was the best course of direction that my life has taken thus far. So, thank you, Wall Street, for that.2008年，金融危机席卷全球市场，我母亲说我们得举家搬去深圳生活。现在看来，当时的决定是到目前为止我的生活中最好的一个转折点。我真要为此感谢华尔街呢。
So why was moving to Shenzhen the best thing that happened to me? Quite simply, I started to learn. I learned about the inspiring stories of my local barber, who came from the countryside to Shenzhen at the age of 15 to raise money in order to provide for the studies of his little sister. 为什么说搬到深圳是我经历过的最好的事情呢？很简单，因为我从那时起开始真正明白一些事情。我们附近的一个理发师身上就有着很励志的故事，他15岁时从农村来到深圳，挣钱供妹妹上学。 I learned about the beauty of the Chinese countryside when conversing with a local noodle shop owner during a heart-warming midnight snack, learning about his generosity when he excluded me the bill for "listening to an old man's rumble."有次我去一家面馆吃夜宵，面馆老板跟我聊了很多，我从他口中知道了中国农村有多美丽。吃完后他很大方地为我免了单，说是感谢我肯“听一个老人的唠叨”。真是暖心的一顿饭。 I learned the value of experience, through reflecting on what it took for myself to replace what was once a contempt for the mainland into a love for it and its people.我也懂得了经验的价值。正是有了在内地生活的经验，我之前对内地的蔑视已经变成了对内地和内地人的深厚感情。 I am sure that all these stories that I listened to in Shenzhen and the feelings of admiration and love that it inspired in me towards my country are feelings not unfamiliar amongst the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.我相信，我在深圳听到的所有这些故事以及它们在我心中激发出的爱国情感，对香港人和内地人也并不陌生。 The events that have occurred and that are still occurring in Hong Kong are undoubtedly harming the notion of fellowship within Hong Kong society and in its relationship with the wider population in the Chinese mainland. 香港已经发生和仍在发生的事件，无疑正在损害香港社会内部的团结和香港人与内地人之间的关系。 I hope those taking what could be seen as anti-social, violent or extreme stances in Hong Kong can reflect upon my story and think of how it can make their life more positive.我希望香港那些站在暴力、极端或反社会立场的人们看看我的故事，想想如何让自己有一个积极的生活态度。 There is an old saying that goes "To understand all is to forgive all." I hope this philosophy will be the guiding principle in determining the course of action between the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland in the future.西方有句谚语说，“理解一切便是原谅一切”。我希望未来香港人和内地人在相处的过程中都能有这样的理念。