Tourism.com.hk

As a tourist in Hong Kong, there are various things which you must be wary or cautious about because otherwise, it would be a lot of hassle if problems arise. First and foremost, you must be aware of the language used here. As 95% of the people in Hong Kong are Chinese, the Chinese language is the main conversational language here. Most people speak the Cantonese dialects while Mandarin too are often understood. English is one of the few languages although not everyone is well versed with that. The biggest minority group are Filipinos who work here and even they are pretty much well Cantonese spoken already, having acclimatized into the local community.

Look out for a policeman with a RED shoulder badge if you need to get assistance using English.

A majority of locals here are employed in the service sector which means that you will come across the locals in almost every aspect of your travel that include food, transport, accommodation and such.

Be aware of pickpockets. A lot of places around the city center are full of people. Even crossing the roads can be quite a daunting task at times as there seemed to be hundreds of people crossing at any one time. So you must be careful with your personal belongings when doing so. Some of the culprits here are known to be one of the fastest around and a minor bump will cause you to lose your wallet or mobile phone. Be extra cautious when you are bringing your passport around.

If you are planning to try out the local eateries here like the Chinese restaurant that serves dim sum and morning tea for breakfast, be ready to be greeted with a ‘rude’ attitude. Bear in mind that the people here are very ‘fast moving’ meaning that they are very quick in offering their service so for those who are not used to people practically ‘throwing’ plates and spoons on the table before you, then it might be quite an experience.

Bargaining when buying items are almost a de facto standard here, particularly if you are buying at night markets and stalls. Most of the sellers will try to sell you an item for way more than it is worth, so practice bargaining, then look for what you want. More so if you are a foreigner, they will push the price high up before slowly moving their way down.