HONG KONG

HONG KONG
Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港, see Name section), alternatively known by its initials H.K., is a
former British Colony and is currently a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of
China, enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea. Hong Kong is known for its
expansive skyline and deep natural harbor, and with a land mass of 1,104 km
2
(426 sq mi) and a
population of over seven million people, is one of the most densely populated areas in the
world.
[9]
Hong Kong's population is 93.6% ethnic Chinese and 6.4% from other groups.
[4]
Hong
Kong's Cantonese-speaking majority originate mainly from the neighboring Canton
(now Guangdong) province, from which many of them fled to escape wars and Communist rule in
China from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Hong Kong
Island was first ceded to the UK in perpetuity, followed by Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then
the New Territories was put under lease in 1898. It was occupied during the Pacific War (1941–45),
after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China resumed sovereignty. The region
espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism during
the colonial era. The time period greatly influenced the current culture of Hong Kong, often described
as "East meets West" and the educational system, which used to loosely follow the system in
England until reforms implemented in 2009.
On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became the first Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic
of China, under the principle of "one country, two systems" (the other, Macau, attained that status in
December 1999). It has a different political system from mainland. Hong Kong's independent
judiciary functions under the common law framework. The Hong Kong Basic Law (its constitutional
document) governs its political system, and stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a high degree of
autonomy in all matters except foreign relations and military defense. Although it has a
burgeoning multi-party system, a small-circle electorate controls half of its legislature, which led to it
being classified a semi-authoritarian regime with highly suppressed political rights. The head of the
government, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, is chosen by an Election Committee of 400 to 1,200
members, a situation that will be in effect during the first 20 years of Chinese rule.
Hong Kong is a world city. It is one of the Alpha+ cities. As Hong Kong ranks the third most
important leading international financial centre, after London and New York City, Hong Kong has a
major capitalist service economy characterized by low taxation and free trade, and the
currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the eighth most traded currency in the world.
[30]
The lack of space
caused demand for denser constructions, which developed the city to a center for
modern architecture and the world's most vertical city. Hong Kong has one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world but also the highest income inequality among advanced economies. The dense
space has also led to a highly developed transportation network with the public transport travelling
rate exceeding 90 percent, the highest in the world. Hong Kong has numerous high international
rankings in various aspects, such as its economic freedom, financial and economic
competitiveness, quality of life, corruption perception, Human Development Index are all ranked
highly. According to estimates from both UN and WHO, Hong Kong had the longest life
expectancy of any region in the world in 2012. However, air pollution and smog is a serious
problem with loose emission standards compared to other advanced economies.


CULTURE OF HONG KONG
The culture of Hong Kong can best be described as a foundation that began with China, and
became more influenced by British colonialism. After the 1997 transfer of sovereignty to the People's
Republic of China, Hong Kong continues to develop an identity of its own.
CULTURAL IDENTITY
150 years of rule as a separate British colony, as well as political separation from the rest of
mainland China have resulted in a unique local identity. Elements of Traditional Chinese culture
combining British western influences have shaped Hong Kong in every facet of the city spanning
from law, politics, education, language, food, and the way of thought. It is for this reason that many
people in Hong Kong are proud of their culture and generally refer themselves as "Hong Konger" or
"Hong Kong Chinese", to distinguish them from the Chinese in mainland China (which developed
independently).
SOCIAL
Structurally, one of the first laws to define people's relationships was the Hong Kong Matrimonial
Ordinance passed in 1972. The law set the precedence to ban concubinage and same sex
marriages with a strict declaration for heterosexual relationships with one partner only.
[2]

Other economic changes include families in need of assistance due to both working parents. In
particular, foreign domestic helpershave become an integral part of the household since the late
1980s.
Traditional Chinese values such as "family solidarity", "courtesy" and "saving face" carries significant
weight in the minds of the people. Hong Kong's mainstream culture derives from, or is heavily
influenced by, the Cantonese from the neigh bouring province of Guangdong, China. There are also
substantial communities of Hakka, Fukien, Teochew and Shanghainese people.






LANGUAGE
Cantonese is the most widely spoken language in Hong Kong. Since the 1997 handover, the
government has adopted the "biliterate and trilingual" (兩文三語 liǎng-wén sān-yǔ) policy. Under the
principle, Chinese and English must both be acknowledged as official languages, with Cantonese
being acknowledged as the de facto official Chinese language in Hong Kong, while also accepting
the use of Mandarin.

RELIGION AND BELIEFS
Religion in Hong Kong is variegated, although most of the Hong Kong people of Chinese descent
practice the Chinese folk religion
.
—which comprehends also Confucian doctrines and Taoist ritual
traditions—or Buddhism, mostly of the Chinese variety.
According to official statistics for the year 2010, about 50% of the utter population belongs to
organised religions, specifically there are: 1.5 million Hong Kong Buddhists, 1 million Taoists,
480,000 Protestants, 353,000 Catholics, 220,000 Muslims, 40,000 Hindus, 10,000 Sikhs, and other
smaller communities.

A significant amount of the adherents of non-indigenous Chinese religions, in
some cases the majority, are Hong Kong people of non-Chinese descent.
The other half of the population mostly takes part in Chinese folk religions, which comprehend the
worship of local gods and ancestors, in many cases not declaring this practice as a religious
affiliation in surveys. The traditional Chinese religiosity, including Chinese Buddhism, was generally
discouraged during the British rule over Hong Kong, which favoured Christianity.
[4]
With the end of
the British rule and the handover of the sovereignty of the city-state to China, there has been a
renewal of Buddhist and Chinese folk religions.








HOLIDAYS
There are some distinctive holidays that are celebrated in Hong Kong as a part of eastern culture,
and not generally in western countries, except among certain overseas Chinese communities. The
most well known is Chinese New Year, which occurs approximately a month after Gregorian New
Year, variably in late January or early February. Other events include the Dragon Boat Festival,
where Zongzi is made by millions at home as part of the tradition. Dragon boats also compete for
regional awards. Mid-Autumn Festival is another highly celebrated event, involving the massive
purchase of Mooncakes from Chinese bakery shops.

CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS
For participation or viewing, Hong Kong has available different kinds of performing arts, including
drama, dance, music and theatre. Hong Kong is also home to the first full-timecomedy club in
Asia, The Take Out Comedy Club Hong Kong.
[6]

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is a teaching and performing institution with venues
and campuses in Wanchai and Pokfulam
The Hong Kong Arts Centre, across the road in Wanchai, offers a variety of performance venues
and galleries, and is supportive of other arts organizations.
Also, amid the city's intense economic activity are creative oases such as the Cattle Depot Artist
Village and the Fo Tan artistic community.
Oi! arts center, in the historic Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, aims to promote visual arts in Hong
Kong by providing a platform for art exhibitions, forums and other art-related activities.
Along with many governments supported theatre companies. Hong Kong has also recently had a
boom independent art groups.
[7]

In 2014, Hong Kong had its first outdoor Shakespeare festival. Shakespeare in the Port performed at
Cyber port

CANTONESE OPERA
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern
China's Cantonese culture. The art carries a national identity that goes as far back as the first wave
of immigrants to arrive from Shanghai in the 1950s. Sunbeam Theatre is one of the places that hold
the tradition. Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a Chinese art form involving music, singing,
martial arts, acrobatics, and acting.



POP CUTURE
Music: Canto pop had dominated and become synonymous with local music culture since its birth in
Hong Kong, but the gradual demise of Canto pop gives rise to other forms of pop culture, mainly
Korean, mainland, Japanese and western music. Still, Canto pop enjoys popularity. However, the
global influence of Mandarin has influenced the style. Mando pop from Taiwan is fast gaining
ground. Most artists are essentially multilingual, singing in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Hong
Kong English pop, Japanese, Korean and western music are too popular among Hong Kongers.
Television dramas: Locally produced television dramas by the two free-to-air networks
of TVB and ATV were highly popular and had contributed to a unique cultural identity among the
Hong Kong population and serve as a cultural resource for the Cantonese-speaking community
worldwide. However, the gradual demise of ATV and eventually, TVB, because of their poor quality
TV shows and dramas made rise from other Asian nations, namely South Korea, Japan and
Taiwanese TV shows dominate the latest TV trends in Hong Kong.
Celebrity: Hong Kong can be described as "gossip mad". The personal lives of singers, actors and
celebrities in general are popular conversation topics and tabloid material. Hong Kong's thirst for
gossip is not limited to local celebrities, but extends to celebrities from Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
Many gossip magazines are also in circulation, and one of the most notable (or notorious) sections is
the "HD Reality" section. Introduced after the implementation of HD broadcasting, the highly popular
section shows HD photos of celebrities and analyses their attractiveness or unattractiveness.
CUISINE
Food holds an important place in Hong Kong culture. From dim sum, hot pot (|da been lo), fast food,
to the most rare of delicacies, Hong Kong carries the reputable label of "Gourmet
Paradise" and "World's Fair of Food".
Hong Kong cuisine, which is influenced by western and eastern countries, is very diverse. Hong
Kong also has its own style. An example would be Dai pai dong, Chinese style casual outdoor dining
restaurant. Cha chaan teng came from bing sutt ("ice chamber"). Various set meals are served
throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Meals include Hong Kong-style
French toast, Hong Kong invented drinks, yuanyang, and lemon iced tea.
There are many special foods and drinks in Hong Kong. Hong Kong-style Chinese pastries are
carried by most bakeries in Hong Kong, like egg tarts, pineapple buns, wife cake, jin deui and cream
bun. Even pastel de nata, a Portuguese egg tart, is being sold in KFC, the fast-food chain restaurant.





SHOPPING
Hong Kong, nicknamed "shopping paradise", is well known for its shopping district with multiple
department stores. Many imported goods transported to Hong Kong have lower tax duties than the
international standard, making most items affordable for the general public.
[10]
Hong Kong is
identified by its materialistic culture and high levels of consumerism. Shops from the lowest end to
the most upscale pack the streets in close proximity. Some popular shopping destinations
include Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay
CINEMA
The cinema industry has been one of the most successful worldwide, especially during the second
half of the 20th century. It remains prominent despite a severe slump starting in the mid-
1990s. Martial artists and stars such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are known globally, especially
in Chinese settlements overseas. Many have transitioned over to Hollywood, including Chow Yun-
fat and John Woo. Hong Kong cinema has received international recognition for directors such
as Wong Kar-wai.
MASS MEDIA AND PUBLISHING
Hong Kong has two main broadcast television stations, ATV and TVB. The latter, launched in 1967,
was the territory's first free-to-air commercial station, and is currently the predominant TV station in
the territory. Paid cable and satellite television have also been widespread. The production of Hong
Kong's soap drama, comedy series and variety shows have reached mass audiences throughout the
Chinese-speaking world. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in Hong Kong,
including News Corporation's STAR TV. Hong Kong's terrestrial commercial TV networks, TVB and
ATV, can also be seen in neighboring Guangdong province and Macau (via cable).
Magazine and newspaper publishers distribute and print in numerous languages like Chinese and
English. The printed media, especially tabloids but also broadsheet newspapers, lean heavily
on sensationalism and celebrity gossips. While the practice is criticised, it continues to sell
papers. The media is relatively free from government interference compared to that of mainland
China, and newspapers are often politicised; some show scepticism toward the Chinese
government in Beijing.



COMICS
Manhua are Hong Kong based comic books that have provided an avenue of expression long before
the arrival of television. While readership has fluctuated throughout different decades, the art is one
of the most consistent in terms of providing highly affordable entertainment. Manhuas are regularly
available at news stands in most street corners. Characteristics of Old Master Q, Chinese hero and
many others have undoubtedly showcased Chinese artwork and stories. Japanese manga have also
been translated and fused into local manhua libraries.

ANIMATION
While Hong Kong has had an endless supply from Japanese anime and US Disney animations,
China has been trying hard to revitalise the industry. Hong Kong has made contributions in recent
years with productions like A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation and Dragon Blade.
Most notably, companies like Imagi Animation Studios located directly in the territory are now
pushing 3D-CG animations into the market. Most anime are broadcast early on weekend mornings.
SPORTS
With limited land resource available, Hong Kong continues to offer recreational and competitive
sports. Locally sports in Hong Kong is described as "Club Life". Internationally, Hong Kong has
participated in Olympic Games, and numerous other Asian Games events. Major multipurpose
venues like Hong Kong Coliseum are found. Others include regular citizen facilities like Macpherson
Stadium.
MARTIAL ARTS
Martial arts in Hong Kong is accepted as a form of entertainment or exercise. T'ai chi is one of the
most popular, especially among the elderly. Groups of people practise the motions in every park at
dawn. Many forms of martial arts were also passed down from different generations of Chinese
ancestry. Styles like praying mantis, snake fist and Craneare some of the more recognised. The
atmosphere is also distinct as people practise outdoor in peaks next to ultra modern high rise
buildings.


LEISURE
When not at work, Hong kongers devote much time to leisure. Mahjong is a popular social activity,
and family and friends may play for hours at festivals and on public holidays in homes and mahjong
parlors. The sight of elderly men playing Chinese chess in public parks, surrounded by watching
crowds, is common. Other board games such as Chinese checkers are also enjoyed by people of all
ages. Among teenagers, shopping, eating out, karaoke and video games are common, with Japan
being a major source of digital entertainment for cultural and proximity reasons; there are also
popular local inventions such as Little Fighter Online.
In the past, Hong Kong had some of the most up-to-date arcades games available outside of Japan.
Negative associations were drawn between triads and video game arcades. Nowadays, soaring
popularity of home video game consoles have somewhat diminished arcade culture.
Outdoor activities such as hiking, barbecues and watersports are also popular due to the local
geography.
Chess is run by the Hong Kong Chess Federation.

GAMBLING
Gambling is popular in Chinese culture and Hong Kong is no different. Gambling is legal only at
three established and licensed institutions approved and supervised by the government of Hong
Kong: horse racing (in Happy Valley and Sha Tin), the Mark Sixlottery, and recently, football
(soccer) betting.
Games such as mahjong and many types of card games can be played for pleasure or with money
at stake, with many mahjong parlours available. However, mahjong parlours are slowly decreasing
as licences are no longer obtainable and as a result many old mahjong parlours have been forced to
close. Movies such as the 1980s God of Gamblers have given a rather glamorous image to
gambling in Hong Kong.
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB
The Hong Kong Jockey Club provides a major avenue for horse racing and gambling to locals,
mostly the middle-aged. The club was established in 1844 by the British colonial government, with
the first racecourse being built in Happy Valley. The club closed for a few years during World War
II due to the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. In 1975, lottery Mark Six was introduced. And in
2002, the Club offered wagerings for football world championship games including the English FA
Premier League and the World Cup.

HONG KONG DEATH TRADITION
The art of asking the dead has long been a tradition in Hong Kong. It is often common for those who
are currently in the living to ask people who are in the dead about their lives. People bring about
paper garments such as clothing, money and paper food to burn to those who have already
deceased, in the belief that they will be able to receive them have a better and more comfortable
afterlife.
This tradition had started since the Spring-Autumn Warring Period in China, since 476 years BCE.
This practice is a common ancient and traditional practice in China and Hong Kong. However the
number of shops supporting this practice has since been on the decline as people are starting to
believe less in luck and fortune nowadays.
When one performs the asking water practice, one pays a small fee to have someone to place
several drops of water on a table. The table is then served as the altar and portal into which the non-
living beings go, and as such living people have a way in which Chinese believe a way in which to
approach the dead. Paper food, clothing and money is often tore into tiny bits, then burned and
dissolved into the water, as though to give the money to those who have already deceased.
However, this practice is a very ancient practice that is no longer common in Hong Kong. Before, in
the olden days where people were much more conservative, it was much more common to see
people have "asking water" habits as people then were more religious and spiritual.
Another interpretation suggests that "Holy water" means money as the slang for money in
Cantonese is "Holy water". Asking water is a symbolic meaning for the care in which one places
towards one's ancestors and those who have deceased.