Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
On a Friday afternoon in December, Kevin* hid nine cards around Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O. The game host left clues on Instagram to lead players to the hidden cards.
Within minutes, about 50 participants showed up. Many of them were pupils in school uniforms. They were eager to start playing Kevin’s scavenger hunt game. Those who found the cards exchanged them for gifts, such as keychains and the grand prize of HK$100.
“In recent years, Hong Kong has not felt like a happy place. So, I thought of hosting this game,” said Kevin, who is in his 30s. “I want everyone to be happy.”
He has been running this game every day since November. It is bringing creative energy to the city’s public spaces. The game’s Instagram account has become very popular with more than 78,000 followers.
Kevin, who works full-time in marketing, has no regrets about spending his money and time on the game. He said: “If you could make even one person happy, it’s worth the money.”
How it all started
After seeing a similar game in Singapore, Kevin knew he wanted to bring it to Hong Kong. On the first day, he hid a HK$100 note on a bench in Causeway Bay and posted about it on Instagram.
“Many people started asking if it was fake or if anyone actually found the money. So I suggested they stay and see,” he said.
On the fifth day, Kevin stayed behind to watch. Seven minutes after revealing the location, he received a call from the winner.
“I saw students, couples and others were even sweating from running around,” he said. “Even when they could not find anything, they still expressed how much fun they had.”
These games seem simple, but the host said attention to detail was important. For example, he reminds players not to do anything dangerous.
Need to relax
Kevin’s weekend scavenger hunts see more families taking part, but secondary school students make up most players on weekdays.
Many young people on social media say that his game has helped relieve their stress from school. The game host has even organised a career workshop for students.
Form Three student Lego Wong first joined the game to win the HK$100 prize. But now, she said the game “is a much-needed break”.
“Otherwise, I stay home and study,” she shared. “It feels different when you make an effort to earn a reward in real life compared to playing on the screen.”
Kevin hopes his scavenger hunt can serve as a break from life’s duties, bringing Hongkongers moments of joy, one card at a time.
*Full name has been withheld at the interviewee’s request.
Use the crossword below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.
Sample answers
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Before you read: It encourages them to explore different areas of the city. It also gives them a sense of satisfaction when they successfully solve puzzles.
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Stop and think: They can exchange the cards for gifts.
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Consider: It helps brings people from different backgrounds together as they worked to solve the puzzles. It also gives people a break from studies and chores to add a sense of fun.
