Batgung

I feel really sorry for hearing all these complaint(?). I am a Hong Kong citizen. I think it's part of my duties to explain why these happens in HK.
Firstly, I would say, it is because there is a very keen competition in HK. In some way, HK seems to be good as an international city. But behind the scene, it also face an international competition and it is, in recent years, mostly from mainland China. As you had all in HK before, scarce resources (limited seats available on the train, MTR, buses and even a long quene to public hospital services, etc) made HK people are always in a state of competition (actually what I've seen in Korea, they also fight for their seats when in peak hour). Competition do exists in the working environments and between companies, too. Hong Kong people had to work, mostly, ten to twelve hours a day. I heard a foreigner said that he had to accomplish three tasks a day while in other country, he had only completed a task per day. If you are fall behind this competition, you will be eliminated very easily. Epecially, after 1997, a lot of immigrant from mainland China, they are willing to take a job at a lower pay (competitor, this is part of the reason Hong Konger did not like them much). So it's very logic that a tired people after work, want to have a seats desperately.

By the way, take a look at the post above made by a Hong Konger. His/her friendly explanation is very down to earth.

I think comments from Gwai Lo is very positive but naive of how Hong Kongers think. Yes, they are trying to impress English speaking foreigners with their English, and they are NOT doing it to get close to you. Yes, they're doing it to show off...period. For the Hong Kong native, your comments about the Chinese competition causing rude behavior is an excuse. The last time I was there, which was in 1990, the Hong Kongers were just as rude, if not more, so your excuse about stiff competition with mainland Chinese causing Hong Kongers to be rude is a cop out.

"I have seen people in trains, buses, and other public places change from speaking Cantonese and attempt to speak English when they see a foreigner. It seems like an attempt to impress somebody? Why is that???"

Just how many Caucasians speak cantonese? Do you know how tough it is to listen to somebody speak your own language slowly when you can speak to them faster in their language? Especially as HK is a place with a fast pace of life. If you think HKers are proud of their ability to speak english, you should see Singapore! There are families there who are proud that they speak english at home to the point they cannot speak chinese (and don't care). On travels, I've also heard people from other countries claim english is an international language so why doesn't everybody speak english??

"Why do many ads in public places use Caucasians instead of Chinese? About 96% of the population is Chinese. Why is that???"

Haven't a clue. I personally don't notice if a person is caucasian or chinese in and advert. Does it really matter to you unless you personally have a problem with being prejudiced?

"It seems people aren't proud of who they are and they want are trying to be someone they're really not."

If that is their choice, what's wrong with that? In many societies, role models exist. ;-)

"Why do people die for a seat in KCR OR MTR? "

Haven't seen this in HK yet. London surpasses HK many times over in this respect.

"Why do most people not give up their seats for the elderly and children. Of course this is changing. It seems like public broadcasts are doing the trick. "

Change is always good.

"Why is it when you go shopping the salespeople are always on your tail pushing you to buy something? Ever hear about checking out the product first, before you buy it? "

Hate to point out the obvious but it's their job to make a sell. Hmm. From another perspective, an attentative salesperson is actually providing good customer service.

"Why do many people cut you off in public places?"

Yes, this is pretty senseless. Have to agree with you. When I open a door and someboyd tries to dive through in the opposite direction, it doesn't make sense to try when my body is already blocking the way.

"Why is there no sense of common courtesy amongst most people?"

It might be a difference in style. Many local people just don't realise their actions can be interpereted as a lack of manners.
Then again, the reverse can be true as well.

"Why are most people here so prejudice/racist? Why do most Hong Kong Chinese people look down upon the mainland Chinese. They are Chinese too. When China wins a gold medal in the olympics many people in Hong Kong are very proud to be Chinese, but in other matters they are the exact opposite. Why is that??? "

Why are there so many jokes about the Irish and Scottish made up by the English? Why would the english support a scotsman in the Olympics or vice versa? WHy do the french look down on non-french speakers

"These WHY questions may have no answer, but it would be nice to see these things change in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is trying to be an international city. This will never be the case unless these things change. It is a little sad because there are some great people in Hong Kong, but they just get lost in the crowd of the million others."

These attitudes aren't unique to HK. As for you moving, life is a balance of one's individual values. Obviously, these have affected you and you are not able to adapt. Some people can adapt and survive. Best of luck for your future.

I'd like to add one more point for consideration. Please note that HK is now packed with uncivilised classless barbaric chav mainlanders and those who think that HKers are rude might have come across one of those rather than a true HKer. Unfortunately this is not something we have control over. Re-education is going to take a generation or two.

You can't coat everything with candy my friend. Hong Kong is what it is. Sure their are some great folks, but of course the majority of folks really are rude to say the least.

I left Hong Kong in the early 1990s after a two year stay partly because I did not like the rudeness of the locals. I thought it might be a Cantonese trait until I later worked in Guangzhou and found my colleagues to be pleasant, friendly and civilised. Most Hong Kong locals seem be perversely proud of their city's rudeness (look at Bus Uncle - in any other city he would be seen for what he is, an obnoxious, anti-social loudmouth) - the feeling seems to be, if you aren't tough enough, get out.

What makes me laugh is when HK people look down on mainland Chinese for their alleged bad manners. HK people are blind to their own crude and philistine ways.

Glad to hear you're excited about moving to HK.

We've written about cars and driving in HK here and here.

You can drive cars cross-border, but I'd never recommend it. The mainland drives on the other side of the road and, although its road system is improving, it's still pretty crazy in many places.

As for part of town to live in: the topic is very subjective. I really like where I am now (Tseung Kwan O), but Sai Kung is my favorite part of town. But there's a wide variety of choices, and our standard recommendation is that you get here and stay in a serviced apartment for a month or two, and have a serious look around. There's more on housing options here.

The expat community here is big enough, and HK is sufficiently varied as a city, that you'll likely be able to live the kind of lifestyle you want here -- and find expats with the full range of different attitudes to the place. You'll have an advantage in adjusting in that you're coming here by choice, instead of being stationed here.

Good luck, and let us know how things go if you get the chance.

I have been here almost 3 years too long. I have the same reasons for leaving. I have seen and heard many good things about mainlanders. The good things I've heard have never come from any Chinese born and bred in Hong Kong. I have had talked to many young people who are taught by their parents that mainlanders are very bad, rude, etc. But they never seem to understand or acknowledge their mannerisms and thinking is of primitive origins.

Good morning guys. I came across your web & have been browsing it for a while. May I say a few words about the rudeness in Hong Kong.

I found the fellow Hongkongers rudeness.

There are always good guys and bad guys. Unfortunately, there are more bad guys in Hong Kong. It does not matter with the level of education received, regardless mainland Chinese or local Hongkonger. My colleagues, in their late forties recalled their time in the 1960’s. Formal schooling was hard to reach. Their parents were from the lower class of the society but my colleagues were taught with good personal behaviour, be polite and be considerate. None of them received higher education. During that time, families usually had many children so the elder brothers / sisters started to earn the living as early as thirteen years old. But it is not uncommon to have these people climbed up the ladder, and still behave well.

"Unlike most modern recruits I had hardly finished my primary education when I was forced to earn my own living at the age of thirteen. Nevertheless, I continued my studies in the evening and was finally enlisted as recruit of Intake 43 in August 1963" extracted from www.hkesa.com, “depot HKMSC” page.

There are eight universities in Hong Kong nowadays and chance to receive higher education is more. But this does not lead to proper manner. Families and educational institutes fail to teach the youngsters beyond the realm of textbooks. Indeed, the youngsters are spoiled. On the public transport, youngsters are dying for a seat, encouraged by their parents. At a restaurant, people are fighting for table with benched seat even other tables are available. May be, their parents teach them to do things these ways.

A Hongkonger in his thirties.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I have travelled around the world for many years. I completely agree most Hong Kong people are rude and insensitive. However Hong Kong people appear to be the most generous people when it comes to forking out donations to the poor and needy. Do bear with them! I would appeal to those who cannot stand the local people to educate them by setting an example to them e.g. keeping the door open for the one next to you and smiling and showing courtesy and tolerance. It is changing albeit slowly!

Hey. I just came back from Hong Kong like 3 months ago and I have to tell you that all this crap about people in HK being ruder then other people of other places is silly. I live in Canada and people here are more or less the same as people in Hong Kong... you bump into someone and they either give you the evil eye or in a few cases they freak out at you. And the buses here arent so great either. Iv constantly seen pregnant mother, mothers with kids ect. have to stand untill I give her my seat. Iv also discovered that people in Hong Kong have better washroom manners than people over here. What I mean is that the'll flush the toilet, they wont litter the floors with tissue paper and they wont write all over the walls of the washrooms. During my trip I stayed in Tai Po with some friends. I acctually thought that they had better manners than people in Canada. Also its Hong Kong, Cultural difference... what seems rude to you might not mean its rude to them. Western culture says its rude to burp, but in Japan its acctually a compliment to the chef. Stop seeing everything in a western view and open up a bit... your in friggen Hong Kong not London. lol. get what I mean?

Success here depends on one's ability to adapt and accept local culture. I think that the level of tolerance I have for rudeness has increased substantially since living in Japan and HK. For those of us who are analytical by nature, we tend to over-think these acts of rudeness. For example, when someone cuts in front of me in the MTR line, I used to think; "Why is that necessary, that person looks perfectly healthy, how is cutting in front of me and 10 others who have queued in an orderly fashion, and then jumping into an empty seat going to benefit this person enough for them to actually brave cutting in front of me? How is their day significantly improved by this act of rudeness?".. Now I just don't care anymore.

These acts of rudeness are often committed knowing that HK culture (among other regional cultures) protects the offender from the victim in that; losing face is considered worse than committing an act of rudeness. For example, if someone cuts in front of you in line, and then you make a scene about it, you are the one who appears rude, not the offender. It's more or less the same in Japan.

None of my Cantonese friends have ever exhibited this type of rudeness in my presence, so I think it must be a certain type of HK person that commits these acts, though I won't completely generalize and say exactly what type of person I feel it is. It does seem as though the brazenness of the offender is directly proportionate to their age and inversely related to their ability to speak English…..

Back in the West, where there is no concept of ‘face’, cutting in front of someone in line could likely lead to someone beating the life out of you, or at the bare minimum, comments exchanged in a heated manor. Since this is unlikely to happen in HK, the rudeness offenders simply live out their lives in this fashion without fear of retribution.

That's a tough one Mr. Tall. This guy sounds like a stinking mainlander. He should fuck off back to his own country, and stay the fuck out of ours! haha..No.. just kidding.

Perhaps this guy really thought that he was being polite for giving up his seat albiet late, or perhaps he was just a prick. Who cares? What matters is your perception of your own reality. Don't waste your time analysing the psyche of the HKers. I've been reading your site for years and you seem to be weighing up the pros and cons about this place. It's only going to be as good as YOU choose to perceive it to be. If you focus on the good, I guarantee that you will attract positive like minded people and situations into your life and Hong Kong will be the best place in the world. But if you look for, think about, analyse, or try to understand why negative things happen the way they do, then you will wind up attracting negative people, situations and consequences. And you will feel frustrated, angry and confused. And this, my friend, would hold true no matter where you are in the world.

Just look at at all the comments in response to your post. They are 90% negative written by bitter negative people. You can't fly with the eagles if you scratch with the turkeys... Negativity only breeds low self esteem. So quit yer pondering on this topic before I come over there and slap you out of it.

Hong Kong is like many big cities in the world. IMHO, HKgers do not behave much differently than their counterparts from other metropolis. I have lived near New York City - the giant melting pot - for almost 25 years, and during my daily commute into the City, I witness plenty of seat grabbing, elbow rooming and other untoward activities. Thus, race or ethnicity has little to do with rudeness. Instead, I believe rudeness may be a product of the environment in which people live in. For example, in the rural subsurbs, people tend to be more polite, less cut throat and more laid back than the city dwellers. But when suburbanites commute into the City, their behavior will change such that they will become part of the rat race. Peace out!