Food & Drink
Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cooking. Apart from
Chinese food, which is superb, there are also many Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino,
Singapore/Malaysian and Thai restaurants. It is the home of authentic Chinese
food from all the regions of China, which may be sampled on a sampan in Causeway
Bay, on a floating restaurant at Aberdeen, in a Kowloon restaurant, in a street
market or at a deluxe hotel. Hotels serve European and Chinese food but there
are also restaurants serving every type of local cuisine.
Chinese regional variations on food include Cantonese, Northern (Peking),
Chiu Chow (Swatow), Shanghai, Sichuan and Hakka. Cantonese is based on parboiling,
steaming and quick stir-frying to retain natural juices and flavours.
The food is not salty or greasy and seafoods are prepared especially well,
usually served with steamed rice. Specialities include Dim Sum (savoury snacks,
usually steamed and served in bamboo baskets on trolleys). These include Cha
siu bao (barbecue pork bun), Har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings) and Shiu mai
(steamed and minced pork with shrimp). The emphasis in Northern food is on
bread and noodles, deep-frying and spicy sauces.
Specialities include Peking duck and hotpot dishes. Shanghainese food is diced
or shredded, stewed in soya or fried in sesame oil with pots of peppers and
garlic. Chiu Chow is served with rich sauces and Hakka food is generally simple
in style with baked chicken in salt among the best dishes.
Sichuan food is hot and spicy with plenty of chillies. A speciality is barbecued
meat. Drink: The Chinese do not usually order a drink before dinner.
Popular Chinese wines and spirits are Zhian Jing (a rice wine served hot like
sake), Liang hua pei (potent plum brandy), Kaolian (a whisky) and Mao toi.
Popular beers are the locally brewed San Miguel and Tsingtao (from China) with
imported beverages widely available.
Nightlife
There are many nightclubs, discotheques, hostess clubs, theatres and cinemas.
Cultural concerts, plays and exhibitions can be seen at Hong Kong's City Hall
which also has a dining room, ballroom and cocktail lounge.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, including a 2100-seat Concert Hall, 1750-seat
Grand Theatre, a studio theatre with 300-500 seats and restaurants, bars and
other facilities, has become the major venue for cultural concerts, plays and
operas.
Hong Kong Art Centre in Wan Chai supplements the City Hall's entertainment
with culture in the form of Chinese opera, puppet shows, recitals and concerts.
American, European, Chinese and Japanese films with subtitles are shown at
a number of good air-conditioned cinemas.
Two daily papers, the Hong Kong Standard and the South China Morning Post,
contain details of entertainment. An unusual event to watch is night horse-racing
held Wednesday nights from September to May. For further details, contact the
Hong Kong Tourist Association.
Shopping
Whether one is shopping in modern air-conditioned arcades or more traditional
street markets, the range of goods available in Hong Kong is vast. Many famous-name
shops have opened in Hong Kong, bringing the latest styles in great variety.
Places that display the HKTA sign (Hong Kong Tourist Association) are the best
guarantee of satisfaction. Bargaining is practised in the smaller shops and
side stalls only.
There are excellent markets in Stanley on Hong Kong Island, which is in a
beautiful setting in a small village on the coast, and in Temple Street, Kowloon,
which is a night market. Tailoring is first class. Except for a few items such
as liquor and perfume, Hong Kong is a duty-free port.
Shopping hours:
- Hong Kong Island (Central & Western): 1000-1800 (1000-2000 along Queen's
Road).
- Hong Kong Island (Causeway Bay & Wan Chai): 1000-2130.
- Kowloon (Tsimshatsui & Yau Ma Tei): 1000-2200.
- Kowloon (Mongkok): 1000-2200. Many shops are open Sunday.
Special Events
For a complete list of special events contact the Hong Kong Tourist Association.
The following is a selection of the major festivals and special events celebrated
in Hong Kong during 2001:
- Jan 5-28 City Festival (see www.hkfringe.com.hk).
- Jan 24-26 Chinese New Year; Parade of Dragons; New Year Fireworks Display.
- Jan 26 Birthday of Che Kung. Jan 28 Hong Kong Power Boat Grand Prix.
- Feb 7 Spring Lantern Festival. Feb/Mar Hong Kong Arts Festival.
- Mar 30-Apr 1 Hong Kong Sevens. Apr 5 Ching Ming Festival. Apr Tin Hau
(Goddess of the Sea) Festival.
- May 7 Birthday of Lord Buddha.
- Jun 25 Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival. Jun Birthday of Kwan Tai. Sep 1
Hungry Ghosts Festival. Sep Monkey God Festival. Sep/Oct Birthday of Confucius.
- Oct 2 Mid-Autumn Festival. Oct 25 Chung Yeung Festival.
- Dec 31 New Year's Eve Family Fun Carnival.
Note: A festival in Hong Kong is a major event on a scale hardly understood
in the West. During Chinese New Year festivities, there is total disruption
of everyday life.
Social Conventions
Handshaking is the common form of greeting. In Hong Kong the family name
comes first, so Wong Man Ying would be addressed as Mr Wong. Most entertaining
takes place in restaurants rather than in private homes.
Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home. During
a meal a toast is often drunk saying Yum Sing at each course.
There may be up to 12 courses served in a meal, and although it is not considered
an insult to eat sparingly, a good appetite is always appreciated and it is
considered cordial to taste every dish. It is customary to invite the host
to a return dinner. Informal wear is acceptable.
Some restaurants and social functions often warrant formal attire. Smoking
is widely acceptable and only prohibited where specified.
Tipping: Most hotels and restaurants add 10% service charge and an additional
5% gratuity is also expected. Small tips are expected by taxi-drivers, doormen
and washroom attendants.
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