Hong Kong can especially thank its colonial history and its international port to the rich mix of cultures that have given their singular character. While most of the city's population speaks Chinese, a simple stroll through the streets of the city will expose you to a mix of Asian and European languages.
Chinese
88% of the population of Hong Kong speaks Cantonese, a minority dialect of mainland China. However, they also present other Chinese dialects such as Hakka, and taishanés Teochiu and of course Mandarin, the official dialect of China, which has been spoken more in Hong Kong since reunification in 1997.
English
Since Hong Kong became a colonial port, through his time as manufacturing center and to its current role as an international financial center, the city's population has always looked out of their borders. As a result, English is widely spoken. Currently is the most used language in government, business and tourism. All official signs and signals of public transport, as well as most of the menus are bilingual. As a visitor, you will usually have no problems communicating in English, since most taxi drivers, vendors, employees in the tourism sector and the police have a good command of English. In fact, many of the locals often include words or phrases in English when spoken in Chinese.
Multiculturalism
The ease with which these languages and dialects coexist reflects the high level of cultural tolerance of Hong Kong, where Christian churches of multiple denominations share space with popular Chinese temples; Buddhist, Taoist and Sikh temples, mosques and synagogues. Furthermore, the presence of ancient and enduring cultures in a society that has had to constantly adapt to change has resulted in a unique contemporary culture that is a true blend of tradition and innovation. Hong Kong is the place where you will see old people play old Chinese board games and digital tablets, where Christmas is celebrated with the same fervor as the Chinese New Year and where the skyscrapers of the latest generation are designed consulting the masters of feng shui .
