Etiquette of Hong Kong People

[KnowItAll]

>> i think expats in general are more rude than the locals.

Having seen some of the expats (both men and women) at our local supermarket, sometimes I get the desire to slap a few of them around...

It is very easy to get caught up in that "speak slowly and loudly" ritual when speaking to someone you assume does not speak english.

Some people forget .. if you were considered err ... trash back home, you're probably going to be considered ... err ... trash out here too.

[Mat]

From my point of view..the worst are the expat kids....

[fetchignshorts]

I've read this thread with a mixture of mirth, bemusement and, at times, anger. I'm an expat brat, born and raised in HK, and have made this place my home for over a quarter of a century. I find Hk people to be extremely friendly and helpful in all aspects of interaction whether in the office, on the street or in a social setting.

I was brought up to believe in the British values of holding doors open, allowing pregnant women and the elderly to have my seat if there were none available and attempting to move out of people's way where possible. That being said I don't qualify the behaviour of local chinese people 'rude'. Hong Kongers are not a 'rude' bunch just because they view politeness in other walks of live to be more important (like presenting your business card the correct way and observing proper dining etiquette).
I still adhere to the polite way of doing things but when you are living in what is someone else's country you have to make allowances for the differences in approach to life. HK is not part of the empire and is a largely chinese city - to that end it is the majority who get to dictate what is acceptable and what is not. A few expats who make their temporary home here should be grateful of the opportunity while trying to make HK a better place for everyone by exchanging positive ideas rather than criticising locals for a perceived rudeness.

Leaving that view to one side, I have noted over the last few years that orderly queues are more often than not used when waiting for buses and taxis. Believe me this did not happen in the 80s. Spitting on the street and in restaurants has all but vanished. Local people often hold doors open for me and say please and thank you in a genuine manner. I welcome these changes but I don't think any of them came about through the petty whinges of a few expats. Even though I was born here I still feel that my native culture must take a back seat when examining what is considered rude or polite. While I'm not a local in that sense I'm loathe to chastise local people for their behaviour merely because it conflicts with my own.

Hong Kong is a wonderful, friendly, safe city with diverse cultures. Anyone who can call it Hostile Kingdom with a straight face has clearly not made the effort to integrate in any way. Try living in the south-east of Glasgow for a few years and then compare levels of hostility! I love this city and I wish more expats would give it and it's people a chance before leaping to conclusions based on their own culture.

[echance]

What I rather hated in the U.S. was when people would hold the door open for me though I was 20-30 feet behind them. I would have to pick up speed so as not to waste their time. In addition when it came to getting off the elevator at work it was like a competition to see who would remember their manners and let the other party exit the elevator first. I would end up waiting in the elevator to see who would make the first move. So for me Hong Kong is not so bad, though I don't want a door slammed in my face I really don't want people to hold the door open for me either, really it's not that much trouble to open the door myself. Also, I don't want to, and don't need to hear, "excuse me" at every turn. There are so many people in Hong Kong I just get numb when I am in a crowd. I imagine the natives do as well.

[cardany]

Haha that's a funny msg, echance. I totally agree with you!!!! People hold doors here like crazy. I do that too, cos I feel mean if I don't. But then if someone doesn't hold the door for me, I find them rude. I think it's all cos of the culture.

[Onyx]

This thread is fantastic. A light hearted look into what constitutes rude behaviour and the observations of everyday life in HK. I have to agree - my perception of HK was one of rude people too. They seem not to allow space or others or acknowledge another's presence, except themselves and the people they're with. And people on the streets tend not to be able to walk straight.

The elevator close door button in every elevator would also have to be the most worn out button I would imagine - perhaps HKers don't understand that doors will close even if you don't press the "close door" button. Maybe the elevator companies know this and don't even bother to connect those buttons, cos doors don't close any faster whether you press it or not.

[tiny]

I rather experience HK "rudeness" any day than live in a lot of these so called "civilised" cities.

I'm living in london at the moment and the amount of attacks, murders and hooliganism that goes on has more than convinced myself and my husband to relocate back to "rude" HK!

I am happy to walk around HK late at night on my own even after a few too many but I would never do that in a million years in London.

Just a few weeks ago a young mother was stabbed in the neck at 4pm in the afternoon while pushing her baby in a buggy. Two teenage girls were shot and stabbed last night and the list of atrocities just continues. At least in "RUDE" HK, you don't feel like you will be mugged, attacked or raped.

I have experienced extreme rudeness in HK, London, Europe, Middle East (where I've lived for a year), New York, Tokyo, most of SE Asia - everywhere in fact!! In London, you can get shot or stabbed for "dissing" or looking the "wrong way" at someone!

[tiny]

living in central London right now, move to HK this July, people here text when they are waiting for a bus/train, queueing or sitting waiting for friends etc, while people walk here the only other thing they do is listen to there ipods. Ipods are what you do while walking in London right now!

Yeah, Londoners are a bit slow with technologies!!!

[KnowItAll]

>> Anyone who can call it Hostile Kingdom with a straight face has clearly not made the effort to integrate in any way.
>> Try living in the south-east of Glasgow for a few years and then compare levels of hostility! I love this city and I wish more expats would give it and it's people a chance before leaping to conclusions based on their own culture.

Amen!

[Chrisius]

The bumping , the bustle, the singlemindedness,

if you stopped someone who was spitting and "huiughhh"ing in the street, and said please don't do that, its abit rude thankyou, i'm sure they'd look at you with bewilderment. There's this stupid humidity coupled with the fact that they probably smoke and are currently choking on there own fleme, they don't care. (untill SARS gets them)

Is it rude to push a square foot trolly in the middle of the street (well actually all over the place, like someone having an epileptic fit at the wheel) containing the equivalent mass of scotlands chemical waste deposits on it, through red lights, oww and over the crowds pavement followers, and its our fault for getting in the way, everyone must have come across the tiny lady/man who seems to be struggling with this cullossal thing on matchbox wheels, untill they nealry hit you and they become the incredible hulk, pushing it with one hand faster than before while making windmills with the other and yelling prefusly. They don't care (untill they get sued)

And my favorite is the magic lift button, the one that has "close" on it, but actually there all connected to the outer islands power facilty, sod solar, theres millions of impatient people repeatidly (, the logic, of course, like when you turn your computer on, you bash the "power" button repeatedly to get through the pesky boring bios bit faster) bashing lift close buttons, even when people are still getting in! GREAT, i don't need some one giving me a hand at slimming down by crushing me with neumatic doors. Cheers! they don't care (untill they exit and i get them , its a vicious circle)

any way,

Hong kong is a race of racers, getting tied up in it means people have few manners that get blown to the way side, It wouldn't be the same if everyone was nice and propa.

I love hong kong.