Editorial Note: Athough this term is specific to Hong Kong, in Japan streetcars are sometimes called chin chin densha, meaning ‘ding ding trains.’ Etymological Note: Imitative of the sound of a bell.
Citations:
2001 Verna Yu Townsville Bulletin/Townsville Sun (Australia) (Jan. 27) “Ding dings face the chop” p. 55: The wooden double-decker “ding-ding,” so nicknamed for its clanging bell, is to make way for a new generation of streamlined aluminum models, which Hongkong Tramways Ltd says will be safer, faster and more comfortable. 2005 Bianca Tong @ Hong Kong Imprint (Univ. of Waterloo, Can.) (July 15) “Luxury, rain and ding-dings in Hong Kong”: Serviced by an amazingly efficient public transportation system, people have access to streetcars (affectionately called “ding-dings"), subways, trains, buses, and ferries.