Amanda Pinto
Hong Kong Pre-Trip Paper
Dr. Eric Hong and Shunzhu Wang
January 3, 2008


What I Expect to Find in Hong Kong


Hong Kong is located on the south coast of China on the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south and consists of 426 square miles of land. As of 2008 Hong Kong is inhabited by close to 7 million people, making it the 98th most populated region in the world. Hong Kong also happens to be the fourth most densely populated region of the world, averaging 6,352 people per km2. The gross average income of the inhabitants of Hong Kong is about $42,000 per person per year, which happens to be the tenth highest in the world. In Hong Kong the currency used in the Hong Kong Dollar and in relation to the US dollar, it costs about $0.13 U.S. dollar for $1 Hong Kong dollar.
On July 1, 1997 the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China occurred. This is commonly referred to as the Handover, which ended the 156 years of British rule of Hong Kong and relinquished the sovereignty of Hong Kong back to Chinese rule. Before Hong Kong was taken captured by the British, who happened to be looking for new trading ports, it was a quiet fishing village. The handover ceremony displayed the changing Hong Kong culture. These changes have made Hong Kong a combination of Western style and traditional Chinese style.
Even though Hong Kong was under the control Britain control Hong Kong maintained much of its Chinese charm. Today, one can experience a blend of Eastern and Western culture, along with British colonial influence, and Chinese tradition. Influence from the Chinese and British cultures make for make for a very interesting combination.
While in Hong Kong I expect to experience the rich Cantonese culture with a hint of British influence. The Cantonese culture can be seen in the much of the food and the day-to-day life if its inhabitants.
While the British influence can still be observed in places such as the High Court where, lawyers and judges still wear wigs, which is the typical British style. I think one of the most obvious influences the British left behind in Hong Kong is the name of the regions most important trading center, Victoria Harbor. Also, the fact that the Chinese drive on the left side of the road like they do in Britain Furthermore, an elegant Hong Kong tradition includes having afternoon tea, which could be a tradition adopted from the British.
I expect Hong Kong to be a combination of city life with sprinklings of colonial buildings mixed in. From what I have read, I think I walking the streets of Hong Kong would be some what like what I would find walking the streets of New York City: A busy city that offers great diversity when it comes to its culture, occupants, shopping and cuisine.
When it comes to the culture in Hong Kong I expect it to be a fairly modern society but still see many important traditional customs shine through. Along with the city life, I also expect to see a more traditional, less modern, side of china that is reminiscent of the small fishing village that Hong Kong once used to be. I expect to see this more around the Victoria Harbor and on the out skirts of the city.
The occupants of Hong Kong I think will range from middle class to upper class. Also, I expect to encounter a wide variety of people of many different areas of China because I have read that Honk Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
I think the shopping in Hong Kong is going to be very interesting. For what I have read the shopping centers and market places are always bustling with avid patrons, “who find every object of their imagination in the shopping paradise.”
As for the food I expect to find in Hong Kong, I know there will be a plethora restaurants offering delicious authentic Cantonese cuisine, but also I expect to find many restaurants that will offer a multitude of meals originating form many other regions. Mixed in I expect to find some American fast food chains scattered among Hong Kong’s higher end restaurants. Actually, I am very interested in experiencing authentic Cantonese cuisine because up until now the only Chinese food I have had has come form some of the very many chain Chinese food restaurants here in America.
All in all, I expect that my trip to Hong Kong will be an unforgettable experience!

Hong Kong women more confident in a decade." People's Daily Online--Hong Kong women more confident in a decade. 2 June 2007. 3 Jan. 2009.

Wong, Yuk-Lin Renita. "Nation, Colony, and Hong Kong Women's Subjectivities in Gender and China Development." JSTOR 2nd ser. 30 (2004): 259-92. Apr. 2004. 3 Jan. 2009 .