This rule is one of many that make Hong Kong better for visiting mainlanders and worse for the actual locals living there. For decades the escalators ran perfec

This rule is one of many that make Hong Kong better for visiting mainlanders and worse for the actual locals living there. For decades the escalators ran perfectly. Nowadays, it just takes one yokel with a suitcase to block an entire escalator, oblivious to the fact that there is no one on front during rush hour. Unfortunately, the HK population is quite shy and timid in general, and these things go unpunished. The rule is a sad attempt to make this situation the status quo. When this isn't happening, people walk on the escalators all the time. London is silly to take an example from this.