Language to Learn?

[melchit20]

Hi all. I'm sure everyone but me knows the answer to this question, but here goes.
I am a software engineering student in the US and am very interested in visiting/living/working in Hong Kong. However, I speak only English. To live and work in HK which dialect of Chinese would I need to learn? Can I get by with either Catonese or Mandarin? I know that English is rather common there but is so common that I could get a job without speaking the language, yet?

Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
melchit20

[bingo]

The commonly spoken language here is Cantonese. Yes, you should be able to get by with either Catonese or Mandarin, though Cantonese is more commonly spoken. The locals themselves are not terribly fluent in mandarin but majorities do understand. English is rather common? Depends on where you come from. But yes, I believe that you can get a job without speaking the language. I believe lots of people in this forum can testify to that.

[KnowItAll]

>> software engineering student in the US and am very interested in visiting/living/working in Hong Kong

Entry level code-monkey type jobs pay around HK$7-10K (if you have some specialist knowledge like AI or valuable higher degree -- MS/PhD etc).

NOT enough to survive on, unless you have your family supporting you.

[jayinhongkong]

wow, i'm glad i didn't do comp sci now