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When night falls, take a stroll in Hong KongMong KokofPortland StreetYou can always see mainland female workers (commonly known as "Northern Girls") rushing to and fro, and their figures add a lively scene to the streets. Although this scene is quite attractive, it always reminds people of Portland Street many years ago, the one that belonged toMalaysiaKuala LumpurThe glorious era of female workers (commonly known as "pomei").
Malan is Hong KongCantoneseA unique slang term in Hong Kong, often used to describe a specific type of illegal brothel or place related to sex trade, especially popular in Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s. This term not only reflects the social phenomena of the time, but also carries the historical memory of Hong Kong's street culture and subculture. The following will explore in detail the meaning, origin, operation mode and cultural significance of "Ma Lan" in Hong Kong society, and conduct an in-depth analysis in combination with the historical background.
Definition and meaning of "Malan"
In Hong Kong, "Ma Lam" mainly refers to an illegal sex transaction venue, which is usually located in a tenement building (an old residential building) or an apartment unit. The interior is divided into several small rooms for sex workers and customers to conduct transactions. These places are usually jointly run by "stable grooms" and "bell houses".
There were no prostitutes stationed at Malan. When a customer came, they would summon call girls to serve the customer according to the customer's request.
A "groom" is a middleman who connects sex workers and customers, similar to a "broker", while a "bell room" is someone who manages the venue, receives customers and arranges transactions. After entering Malan, customers usually select sex workers under the arrangement of the "clock room", which is called "entering the gate". If customers are not satisfied with the sex workers on site, they can ask the "Ma Fu" to bring more options from other places. This flexible operating model is one of the characteristics of "Ma Lan".
Furthermore, "Malan" is not limited to providing sexual services. Some "Ma Lam" also provided short-term or hourly rental rooms for couples, cheating people or married couples, because the living environment in Hong Kong at that time was cramped and many people lacked privacy. This "pure rental" model is particularly popular in Causeway Bay.
A study on the etymology of the word "Malan"
The exact origin of the word "Malan" has not been determined, but scholars and folklore have provided several possible explanations. Firstly, from a phonetic point of view, "Malan" may be related to the homonym of Cantonese or a foreign word. Some speculate that "马兰" may be derived from the transliteration of the English word "madam" (female landlord or brothel operator), because "madam" in Cantonese may be simplified to a pronunciation similar to "马", and then combined with "兰" (a less common word, possibly used as a supplementary syllable) to form "马兰". This kind of phonetic transformation is not uncommon in Hong Kong Cantonese.
Another theory is that "Malan" may be related to "Horseman" is related to the word ". 「Horseman"Lan" in Cantonese refers to the middleman of sex transactions, who is responsible for "soliciting customers" or making connections, and "Lan" may be added for phonetic harmony or as some kind of obscure synonym. This naming method is quite common in Hong Kong's slang culture, using homophones or metaphors to cover up sensitive content to avoid directly mentioning illegal activities.
Another way of saying it is that in the context of prostitution and sex trade, the horse represents prostitutes, so some popular or high-quality prostitutes are called horse kings.
In 1992, an erotic film set in a red-light district was released in Hong Kong.Mong Kok Racecourse(English title: Sex for Sale), the film presents the marginalized society of the time through dramatic plots. The word "马" is also used to refer to the olive. When the client saw the girl, he would ride into the gate and ride her.
The operation mode and social background of "Malan"
Malan's operating model is highly dependent on its secrecy and flexibility. These places are usually located in areas such as Yau Tsim Mong, Kwun Tong, Yuen Long, Wan Chai and North Point because these places are densely populated, have convenient transportation and relatively low rents, making them suitable for illegal operations. Generally speaking, "Ma Lan" is located on the upper floors or hidden units of tenement buildings. The entrance is inconspicuous, and the interior is converted into multiple compartments. Each room is equipped with simple furniture such as beds and basic sanitary facilities. After the customer enters, he/she will be received by the "clock room" and sex workers or rooms will be arranged for rental according to the customer's needs.
As an illegal venue, "Malan" has received high attention from the police. At that time, uniformed patrol teams of the Hong Kong Police would regularly patrol "Ma Lam", especially during the morning and evening shifts, because these places were not only involved in sex transactions, but could also become hiding places for fugitives. When the police conduct inspections, they will check the occupancy records to confirm the number of people in the room and their identities in order to detect suspicious circumstances, such as the presence of underage girls or crimes such as drug possession. This high-risk business environment forces "Malan" operators to adopt various hidden means, such as using the telephone system to quickly notify tenants of the police's arrival to avoid being caught.
The cultural significance of "Malan"
As a product of Hong Kong subculture, "Ma Lam" is not only an economic phenomenon, but also reflects the diverse aspects of society at that time. It is not only part of the sex industry, but also reveals the living conditions of the lower-class people and marginalized groups in Hong Kong during its rapid urbanization. Many sex workers enter this industry due to economic pressure or family background, and the existence of "Malan" provides them with a relatively secretive working environment. At the same time, "Ma Lan" has also become a part of street culture, giving rise to slang such as "flying chicken", reflecting Hong Kong people's humorous and mocking attitude towards these phenomena.
The heyday of the "Malan"
In the early 1990s, fish ball stalls declined after a swift crackdown, and Makan emerged as a dark horse thanks to the concealment of its suites. Different from the resident model of acupressure center, Makan is like a romantic call center, where beauties are summoned to attend the meeting as soon as guests arrive. At that time, northern girls had not yet become popular, Tudi girls were perfunctory, and Thai girls were coldly treated. On the contrary, Kuala Lumpur girls (commonly known as "Po girls" in the industry) were popular with their unique charm.analingusConquered the whole street.
When the lights come on on Portland Street, you can always see heavily made-up women in high heels hurrying past the neon lights. Although such a fragrant and beautiful scene makes people stop,
At that time, the prince daily posted a topless goldfish bowl to watch girls, Tiancheng Building is a classic, and the pretty girl in a top is HKD$360. Pomei HKD$350.
The decline of the Malayan
along withHongkongDue to economic transformation and strengthening of legal supervision, "Malaysia Olive Oil" gradually declined after the millennium. The rise of modern hotels, legal entertainment venues and online platforms has made traditional "Malan" uncompetitive.
In addition, the service experience was poor. D girl just rinsed with water after taking a shower, and then he took full control and asked her to rub her nipples twice and suck his penis with a condom twice before he started to have sex.
He never let me actively kiss him during the whole process, and there was zero interaction between us. He was like a dead fish and didn't even make a sound. As soon as he was done, he jumped up and rushed away, without even bothering to look at each other. The only advantage is that I am young, but there is no communication. Is there any difference between using the same masturbation cup?
In addition, the police's increased crackdown on illegal sex trade has forced these venues to turn to a more secretive way of operating or disappear completely. Today, "Ma Lam" is more of a historical term, appearing in the memories of the older generation of Hong Kong people or in popular culture, such as movies, books or street legends.
Another major reason is that there are no high-quality girls entering the industry, so "Ma Lan" has naturally declined.
The connection between "Fei Ji" and "Ma Lan"
It is worth mentioning thatFlying Chicken" is actually related to "Malan". "Flying Chicken" isNissan Silvia S13The nickname comes from the story of street car driver "Kuai Shou Hua". He drove an S13 to pick up sex workers at various "malans". Because of his high speed (although legend has it that he never won a race), his friends nicknamed him "the chicken truck", which eventually evolved into the title "flying chicken". This nickname not only reflects the humor of Hong Kong's car culture, but also echoes the background of "Ma Lan" as a place for sex transactions, showing the unique style of street culture at that time.
Conclusion
Malan isHong Kong in the 1970s and 1980sA microcosm of society, it carries the economic, housing and cultural characteristics of the time. As a synonym for illegal sex trade venues, it is not only an economic phenomenon but also a cultural symbol, reflecting the living conditions and subcultural characteristics of the lower classes of Hong Kong society. Although "Ma Lam" has faded with the changing times, its position in Hong Kong slang, street culture and historical memory remains distinct. By understanding the meaning and background of "Ma Lam", we can get a glimpse of the social changes and cultural diversity in Hong Kong over the past few decades.
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