Hong Kong's population is very diverse and multicultural as there is a balanced mixture of Chinese culture and Western culture. This is due to Hong Kong's colonial history where it was once colonised by the United Kingdom. Currently, the population is filled with Cantonese, British and Indians mainly with the Cantonese culture being the most dominant. With such a diverse population, there are also a wide range of religious beliefs which include Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism and Islam. Ultimately, by exploring Hong Kong and simply walking around the streets you will find a variation of Chinese culture through night markets and the celebration of traditional Chinese events to a Westernised culture through major retail shopping stores and casinos which were originally opened by the British.
The language like its population has its fair share of variety. The main language that the locals speak is Cantonese however English, Mandarin and Teochiu are also common languages that are spoken. In schools, students who are usually fluent in Cantonese are taught in English and some students can undertake classes to learn Mandarin in addition. By walking around and talking to locals you can usually find people who are able to speak both Mandarin and Cantonese. While those who are more educated will be able to communicate in English
When you explore Hong Kong you are able to experience many great tasting street food that Hong Kong has to offer. From chicken satay sticks, fried squid, tofu and fried egg pancake as shown above, all these snacks and treats can be purchased for very cheap prices in terms of Australian dollars so don't be shy to help yourself to a lot of street food! There are also foods from other cultures such as Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soups, Spaghetti and Pizzas and plenty of fast food outlets if you are not too keen on trying traditional Chinese dishes. But there are also a lot of restaurants where you can have seafood and Yum Cha!
Overall, Hong Kong is truly a unique place where you can truly experience Chinese culture just by surrounding yourself and interacting with locals in the suburbs. Many Chinese concepts such as 'family solidarity', 'family glory', 'saving face' and 'modesty' still carry significant weight in Hong Kong's culture. However, the Chinese culture in Hong Kong is not demanding and overwhelming. In fact, many locals have adopted a Western lifestyle and in general society in Hong Kong is much more relaxed and tolerant in regards to the lifestyle that people adopt.
Travellers who want to go to Hong Kong will find it a place where they can walk around freely and with prices being relatively cheap, you can spend a decent amount of money to enjoy yourself through attending special events, eating or free exploration as the nightlife is fairly lively.
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