Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Street food stall, Kowloon
Andrew Watson / Getty Images ©
Etiquette
Though informal in their day-to-day dealings, Hong Kong people do observe certain rules of
etiquette.
Greetings
Just wave and say 'hi' and 'bye' when meeting for the first time and when say-
ing goodbye.
Dining
At budget places, people think nothing of sticking their chopsticks into a com-
munal dish. Better restaurants provide separate serving spoons with each dish; if they're
provided use them. Don't be afraid to ask for a fork if you can't manage chopsticks.
Queues
Hong Kongers line up for everything. Attempts to 'jump the queue' are frowned
upon.
Bargaining
Haggling over the price of goods is not expected in shops. Do bargain when
buying from street vendors (but not in food markets).
Language
Most people in Hong Kong speak some level of English. Don't be afraid to ask for direc-
tions in English. Ninety percent of restaurants have English menus.
If you know Mandarin, you can try using it in Hong Kong. Most people understand the
dialect; some speak it reasonably well.
