Interesting Quirks in Hong Kong, some Tips and Tricks

Hey Folks,
I thought I'd share some Interesting Unique Habits and Quirks that I observed in the Eateries or just some Interesting Observations when I was in Hong Kong. 🇭🇰🤔 Just a few Tips and Tricks.

Hopefully this would be useful for anyone who may be planning a Trip there. Enjoy! 😄 If you haven't already, do also check out my 5 Days Solo Hong Kong Budget Breakdown (2024) to have an idea of how much to budget for your trip! 🧳

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 1
🗣️ Being able to converse in Cantonese is Not a Must, but Extremely Helpful.

While you will have mostly no issues when communicating in English or Chinese Mandarin, it would help TREMENDOUSLY if you are able to converse in Cantonese. I just felt that I got a Warmer and More Friendlier Reception. 🤔 This also applies to Macau as well. Where possible bring a Cantonese Speaking Friend with you. 👍

In addition, if you are like me, a Singaporean Cantonese but don't speak it very fluently or regularly in Singapore, you need not worry as Hong Kongers will mostly still be able to understand you as long as you can confidently hold a Casual Conversation in Cantonese. 🗣️

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 2
✈️ Be prepared to Walk Alot when you're in Hong Kong Airport. 🚶

Hong Kong Airport has only 2 Terminals but have about 530 Gates. 😅 So do give yourself some extra time to travel because reaching your Airport Gate within Hong Kong Airport itself will actually need some time. 🚶Don't be surprised if you can actually hit your 10K Steps Fitness! 😅

Hahaha Jokes aside, now I appreciate why our Singapore Changi Airport needs to build More and More Terminals. ✈️🤔 Otherwise we are going to face a Similar Situation seeing maybe 1000 Gates with only 2 Terminals. 😅

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 3

Hong Kong Dollar can be used in Macau, 👍 but Macau's Currency (Petaca) cannot be used in Hong Kong. 🙅‍♂️ If you are buying something in Macau, you can request for your Change to be given back to you in HKD if its possible. 💵

Also, the Hong Kong Octopus Card 香港八達通 is Very Useful. 💳👍 It acts like Singapore's EZ-Link Card not only for Public Transportations like their MTR Trains, 🚆 some Eateries and even Hawker Centres like Haiphong only accepts Octopus Card Payment. The Best Way to top up this Card is either at MTR Stations or Convenience Stores like 7-Eleven.

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 4

Hong Kong really does live up to its Name when it comes to Gastronomy 美食天堂. 😍😋 There seems to be Michelin Rated Eateries EVERYWHERE you look. These are also the places where the Queues are the Longest. 😅

Unless your purpose is to buy from them to post on your Social Media to gain Social Media Points, 😅 I would recommend don't bother to queue. 🤔 Hong Kong has Plenty of Other Good Foods for you to Explore and Discover. 😋 You can of course start by exploring this Food Blog! 😅

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 5
🪑 Everyone is supposed to Share Seats in an Eatery especially during Crowded Meal Hours. 
You are expected to share tables with people, you do not own the table yourself.

This was a Very Unique Eating Culture I observed. 🤔 Obviously there is no such thing as "Chope Culture" in Hong Kong. 😅 If you are having a Meal during Busy Meal Hours, do not be surprised if you have Complete Strangers share seats with you too. 🍽️

I absolutely love this because that means even during Busy Meal Hours, I have absolutely no issues finding a Seat to eat as long as I sit in an Empty Seat next to someone. 👍 This seems to be a Rule observed by Everyone in HK, and Eatery Owners will sometimes even help you look for an Empty Seat too as part of their Service if in a Hawker Centre. 👍

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 6

Most of the Eateries do not have Service Charges when you eat in Hong Kong, but there is a 茶芥 "Tea Charge". 🤔 

Basically Customers are expected to buy either a Pot or a Cup of Hot Tea in addition to their Meal which will sort of act as a "Service Charge" too.

I thought this was quite an Interesting Method to implement Service Charge because you're actually getting a Drink too. ☕




Hong Kong Interesting Observation 7

🫖 Tea Ceremony 茶道 "Washing of Cups and Utensils" is Not Something Every Hong Konger does, but some Elder Folks do observe it especially in Dim Sum Restaurants. 👴👵

If you are not familiar with how to "Wash your Cups and Utensils", you don't have to do it. 👍 I observed Younger Hong Kongers tend not to do it too. If you are interested to try though, you can refer to this Special Guide that I've written when I visited Malaysia Klang the other time. 😄 Video Credit: 露露軍軍



Hong Kong Interesting Observation 8

Going Keto is Rare in Hong Kong. If you don't order Rice, just order Ingredients by itself, (Eg: Ordering a Ala Carte Roast Goose Drummy with No Rice) you might get Strange Wierd Stares from the Staffs hahaha. 🍚😅

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 9

Unless its specifically stated, by Default the Classic Hong Kong Milk Tea 奶茶 comes with Zero Sugar. ☕ So remember, HK Milk Tea is by Default "Teh-C-Kosong" (Milk Tea without Sugar) Hahaha I had to learn about this the Hard Way when I got shouted at by an Eatery Staff. Ouch. 😅

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 10

On that note, yes. some Eatery Staffs I observed in Hong Kong can be Very Direct and won't hesitate to raise their voices or shout at you if you do something that they don't like. 🤬😅 Not all HK Eatery Staffs are like this though so don't be too offended if you get shouted at this way. 🤬😅 One way to mitigate this, is to be able to Converse in Cantonese which may help a little bit. 👍

Hong Kong Interesting Observation 11

🚻 Public Restrooms / Toilets seems to be Very Rare in Hong Kong. 🤔 Other than Shopping Malls, I don't think I ever saw a Public Restroom. 🤔 If you are bringing Kids along, you might want to take note of this. Macau is Very Different though, Public Restrooms are easily found.

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And Yes, if you're lucky you might just catch a Glimpse of a Famous HK Movie Star (or Two!) during your Hong Kong Holiday Trip! 🤩

As you can see, I was very lucky to meet 搞笑天后 Sandra Ng 吳君如 and Carina Lau 劉嘉玲 during my visit to the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars 香港星光大道. I think they were filming some Variety Show there. 🎥

Sometimes Magic really does Happen in Hong Kong! 🪄😄

And so these are some of the Interesting Quirks and Habits that I've observed when I was in Hong Kong. 🇭🇰
Of course these are only my Personal Observations.

Have you been to Hong Kong before? Feel free to share more Interesting Quirks and Habits that you noticed when you were there down in the Comments! Cheers! 😄