Our second Humanities unit is culture. We are asked to then write an essay about our culture, telling tourists about the rules and etiquettes an dos and don'ts. Here is my essay.
Cultural “Dos and Don’ts”- Hong Kong
Please remember: Hong Kong people here is Hong Kong Chinese; Chinese here is Hong Kong people; Hong Kong is part of China
Welcome to Hong Kong- the eighth most technologically advanced city that shines day and night with high internet speed! It has 294 completed skyscrapers, which is the city the most buildings in the world. It has the ninth largest port. It has the 30th highest population, with a population density of 6415 capita/km² . Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region in Southern China that is once ruled by the British, and Hong Kong speaks Cantonese. It is a really advanced city with many different religions and different people, and it has at least 50 tourist attractions to go- including an ocean park with real animals and exciting roller coasters, peak with the best views, beautiful sunsets on islands, antiquities and ancient buildings. All waiting for you! What a worth trip! To let you enjoy a successful trip in Hong Kong, let me tell you a several important cultural rules and cultural etiquette in Hong Kong.
MEETING AND GREETING
When you arrive at Hong Kong, no matter as a businessman or a relative or a guest, you may want to meet or visit someone first. Hong Kong people are usually friendly and do not talk about what you did wrong. However, to let both parties have a more relax, joyful and successful time, there are a few rules I am going to tell you about meeting and greeting.
Firstly, Hong Kong is a flourishing city with a lot of business to deal with, so they rush a lot. Therefore, being on time for an appointment is expected, early is usually acceptable but not too much. If you are late, apologise repeatedly even if it was not your fault. And if someone you are waiting for is late, give a courtesy time of thirty minutes.
Secondly, Hong Kong people may stand close when talking, but they are reserved and uncomfortable with body contact- Hugging, kissing or patting on others' back should be avoided. It is because public displays of emotions is especially embarrassing and uncomfortable for Chinese including Hong Kong people since old times.
Eye contact can be made of course, but avoid prolonged and direct eye contact. It is impolite to make prolonged or direct eye contact even if you are not staring because Hong Kong people feel awkward and uncomfortable with it. As said so, it is due to the tradition of no public displays of emotions. Lowering eyes with the head slightly tipped down, is a sign of respect because it is like bowing.
One reminder, Hong Kong people have their last name- surname said first in Chinese. Therefore, be careful you call them Mr. “first name”, for respect.
Last but not least, make sure you understand a party’s true feeling so there is no misunderstanding. In Hong Kong, saying “yes” may not mean an agreement, sometimes it actually means “I hear you” or “I get you”. And on the other side, Hong Kong people are non-confrontational and do not say “no” directly even if they disagree, they do so to not embarrass others. They sometimes sucks air through their teeth which means they are unhappy about your idea or opinion. They also say "it needs consideration" or "I am not sure about this". Make sure you understand their true feelings, and do it their way too.
GESTURES
When you meet others, make sure you are giving the correct gestures in Hong Kong so you don’t offend them. Here I am telling you a two more important ones.
Firstly, when you are dining and someone fills your teacup, you express your thank by tapping on the table with three fingers- index, middle, and fourth. One finger represents bowed head, while the other two represents prostate arms.
Lastly, avoid pointing or using a finger to beckon someone since that is used for dogs. Instead, extend your arm with your palm down, and move your finger towards yourself. However, this is still impolite and unsuitable for elders. The way you beckon anyone who needs more respect- including elders, someone older than you, and someone with higher position- is to make a fairly short eye contact with them and bow, or nod slightly. It is the most polite way to beckon someone in Hong Kong.
GIFTS
When you visit others in Hong Kong, a gift or two are expected, and presents from your own tradition or region is especially appreciated. However, there are a lot of rules for giving gifts in China including Hong Kong, about how it sounds and how it looks and what it symbolises. Here I will tell you a couple more important ones that has more serious consequences.
Clocks of any type should be avoided because giving a clock in Cantonese (and “some other Chinese language” will be what I mean afterwards) sounds like the funeral rituals. Clocks also symbolise time running out. Hence, the end of relationships and lives are the messages sent when a clock is given as a gift.
Giving a green hat as a gift is extremely serious. It implies that a man's wife is unfaithful to her husband. It means that the wife has a relationship with whoever gave the green hat. This is because turtles hide their heads in their green shells; while the wife puts her head under the green hat. A turtle hiding its head is like a coward they say. Therefore, this means the man's wife is a coward and is unfaithful to her husband.
When giving gifts, please pay attention to numbers, because they sound like different words and represents different things, as Chinese care quite a lot about how they pronounce words. Gifts in 3 are good because “three” in Cantonese sounds like “life” in Cantonese. Gifts in 9 are good because “nine” in Cantonese sounds like “eternity” in Cantonese. Gifts in 8 are good because “eight” in Cantonese sounds like “prosperity” in Cantonese. Gifts in 4 are bad because “four” in Cantonese sounds like “death” in Cantonese. Odd number represents bad luck because they say "doubles makes pairs" which means people become pairs- which is a good thing- when there are even numbers. Odd numbers are the opposite of even numbers, so it meaning is the opposite, which is bad luck, and not good.
Last but not least, colours represents different things too, so be careful. White or black are often used in funerals as Chinese think they are too pure and has a boring, dull and depress atmosphere. Therefore, wrapping paper and envelopes in white or black should be avoided. Gold are lucky colours because Chinese like gold and gold is very rare, so if they get gold things, it represents they are very lucky and have a good fortune. Therefore, gold gifts and gold wrapping paper are good.
DINING
In Hong Kong, there is a whole lot of delicious food waiting for you to try- including fish-balls, siu mais, dim sums, pineapple buns, white radish cake, char siu rice, sticky rice and rice rolls. All these food that makes you drip! Still, there are a few etiquettes that you may want to know about dining.
Let me start with planting chopsticks in the food. To do so reminds people of the incense sticks standing up in the sand at Buddhist funerals. It is extremely impolite and should always be avoided.
Secondly, passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another is also impolite should always be prevented. It is because it resembles the way that bones are handled by families after the cremation of relation. If you want to pass some of your food to others, pick it up, place it on a separate plate, and let the other person pick it up with their own chopsticks.
Thirdly, turning a fish over while dining is inappropriate. Before then, people are mostly fishermans, they think when you flip the fish over, it looks like a boat capsizing, and it would be a really bad luck and bad incident to have a boat capsizing. Hence, they believe that turning a fish over brings really really bad luck and serious consequences.
Moreover, always leave some food in the serving plate, otherwise it is impolite. Also, leave some food in the plate when you are full to let the host know. If you do not do so and they do not know you are full, they will serve you more, and more, and more, because they always like people to be full!
Lastly, when you finish your food, and if you loved it and enjoyed it and think it is delicious, give a burp. Don’t be afraid, it is a compliment for the host and the cook, it means the food is delicious and you are full, as long as it’s not a long, disgusting one!
REFUSING AND DISAGREEING
You may hear Hong Kong refusing or saying “no” a lot even when it is about something good. Do not be worried, they do so because traditionally Hong Kong people are brought up to show humility always. Do not be scared, but go along with it and follow them.
Do refuse a gift or food or drink or anything that is offered, refuse a few times before accepting, otherwise it's considered greedy. Say “no” when you get a compliment to show humbleness and politeness, it just means “Oh, it is nothing really”. Do not agree others to pay the bill but fight to pay the bill. Hong Kong people consider it is good manner to attempt to pay the bill loudly and strenuously. If you do not do so, others may think that you do not want to pay for the bill and you are being greedy.
Follow the rules, make yourself a good impression to other Hong Kong people, and have a successful trip. Wish you a great trip in Hong Kong!
I will give a seven out of eight for my essay. My essay actually gives out a lot of information and explanation about the cultural rules in Hong Kong. I am not off-track, I justified. The essay is useful as it contains a lot of rules and explanation, it is attractive with the photos, and it's clear. I also took time in my research and did the bibliography properly. However, there is always improvement and I don't think it is 100% perfect, so I would give myself a seven out of eight which is pretty good.
