Culture and Tradition of Hong Kong

The culture of Hong Kong is an exclusive blend of the East and the West. Due to demography, Chinese is the majority group which takes up 94% of the population. The rest are the small minority from foreign countries. As a result, the country cultures are usually influenced by the Chinese practice when it mainly focuses on the values of family solidarity, courtesy, and dignity. Also, their traditions are also slightly influenced by other nearby provinces like Guangdong, Fujian, and Teochiu.


Due to its belief from China, people in Hong Kong are inclined to ancient superstitious beliefs despite the world's constant modernization. Their beliefs were influenced through Feng Shui. Everything they do, there will surely be some elements of Feng Shui. One of the example, the Bank of China Tower was officially opened on 8 August 1988 (8/8/88), a rare union of prosperous numbers. Also, august is always a busy month for weddings. Also, Hong Kong people make great use of what little free time their hectic life. Usually they spent quality time on leisure, activities such as eating, shopping for fashion and sports.Infusion between lifestyle with superstition

Religion in Hong Kong

Hong Kong population is 6.787 million, with an annual growth rate of about 1.25%. It religion group are mainly the Buddhism and Taoism. The number of active Buddhist in Hong Kong estimated at around 700,000, through the figure probably includes a good number of Taoists as well. Hong Kong has about 600 temples, monasteries and shrines, most of which are Buddhist or Taoists. One of the famous temple attractions is the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, Giant Buddha.

My thoughts : I personally visited the place myself. It was a very cool site. In order to reach the site itself, I have to take the cable car up to the Po Lin Monastery to see the Giant Buddha itself. Below the ticket I purchase during the trip which stated 27 March 2009.

Other religion

Many other faiths are practiced in Hong Kong apart from traditional Chinese ones. There are an estimated 536,000 Christians, about 55 % of whom are protestant and 45 % catholic. Hong Kong is also home to approximately 80,000 Muslims. More than half are Chinese with the rest either locally born non-chinese or believers from Pakistan. The oldest Jamia Masjid on Shelley Street, over in Kowloon Stands the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre, a white marble structure that has become a Tsim Sha Tsui landmark since opening in 1984.

Lastly, there are approximately 15,000 Hindus and 8000 Sikhs in Hong Kong. The Jewish communities, which can trace its roots back to the time of the British arrival, about year 1500.

Food culture

Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cuisine. In regard on food culture, they have the best Chinese cuisine in the world. However, due to their multi culture in Hong Kong. Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singapore/Malaysian and Thai country cuisine which also known as international cuisine, can also be found in Hong Kong, which makes it unique.

However, due to the major population of Chinese, their main focus regional variations influences on food include Cantonese, Northern Chinese, Chiu Chow ,Shanghai, Sichuan and Hakka cuisine which are consisted the Chinese cuisine that really interest me a lot.

Cantonese cuisine

It comes from Guangdong Province in southern China.The cooking style is based on parboiling, steaming and quick stir-frying to retain natural juices and flavours. One of the “must try” dishes when you talks about Cantonese cuisine, it is Dim Sum. Dim Sum includes dishes based on meat, seafood, vegetables, as well as desserts and fruit.                  

                                                           

Dim Sum

Also, one of the cruelest cuisines goes to Cantonese cuisine when they consume dog and cat. However, this influence cooking method was not allowed in Hong Kong, whereas in china, this animal consumption is very common.                     

  Animal Consumption

Northern Chinese Cuisine

Cuisine from Beijing and the north –central provinces hails from the wheat basket in the chilly north of China. Steamed bread, dumpling and noodles figure more frequently than rice. The food in north in China can be identified by the extensive use of oils coupled with ingredient such as vinegar, garlic, spring onions, bean pastes and dark soy sauces. One of the famous cuisines that thought of Northern Chinese is the Peking duck, served with pancakes, plum sauce and shreds of spring onions.

Peking Duck

Chui Chow Cuisine

The Chui Chow people hail from the area around the seaport of Shantou in northwest Guangdong province. Although part of that province, Chui Chow cuisine is distinctive enough to be identified as a regional form of cooking all its own. Shark Fin Soup is one of the premium dishes that can be found in Chiu Chow cuisine.

Shark Fin Soup

Shanghainese Cuisine

Hairy Crab

The cuisine of the shanghai area contains more oils and is generally richer, sweeter and more strongly flavoured than other Chinese styles of cooking. Stewing, frying and braising are the principal cooking techniques. A specialty is the dishes of cold meats served with various sauces.  Hairy crab which is an autumn dish that can be found in shanghainese cuisine.






Si Chuan Cuisine

China’s west-central provinces of Sichuan and Hunan are known for their fiery food but, in reality, the heat is nothing compared with that of, say, Thai food. Chilies are widely used in this style of cooking. Si chuan food aims for a perfect blend of five key flavours: sweet, sour, salt, pepper and also hot. Two famous dishes that I want to recommend is the “stewed bean curd with minced pork and chili” and “fried fish in sweet-and-sour sauce”.


Stewed Beancurd with minced pork

Fried Fish in sweet-and-sour sauce

Hakka Cuisine

Hakka cuisine, this form of cooking style from the Hakka people originally came from Guangdong and Fujian in southeastern China. The style uses dried and preserved ingredients. Pork is by far the most common meat in the style. One of the famous dishes is the salted baked chicken.


Salted Baked Chicken 

Traditions of Hong Kong

Etiquette of Table manner

Do	Don’t
Usually very noisy and social	Keeping quiet was not advice
Best to wait for some signal from the host before digging in	Not allowed to say only when host say so
Separate chopsticks or even spoons with each dish is encouraged	Leaving chopsticks sticking vertically into the bowl is not allowed, sign of death
Pour everyone a drink, and even if the person's cup is filled, pour a few drops in.	Do not pour your own drink first. Instead, make a toast about business or friendship.
Cover your mouth with one hand while using the toothpick with the other	Never use your toothpick with covering your mouth
Toasting are usually encourage with the words” yun seng”	Long-winded speeches and less than-amusing anecdotes are not advice as usually befall Western banquets

Eating meals and working hours

They usually have five times a day for meals: Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a late-night snack. Usually afternoon tea and late night snacks are not considered meals, though; that is just filling up space. A proper meal must comprise rich and other dishes as garnishes.

Government Office working hours are normally 08:30 to 17:30, bank hours are from 09:00 to 17:00. Staggered hours are not common but this depends on the company. Retail shops are open until 18:30 in business districts and until 21:00 in other commercial areas.