The 9 unique habits people pick up after living in Hong Kong

There was once a time when you thought the aunties at your local eatery seemed stressed and would appreciate a little chit chat before taking your order. You now know better. Ain’t nobody got time for small talk in this busy city, so rattle off your order quickly, or risk being tsk-ed at for your tardiness.

Hongkongers love a good bargain, so if you come across a large queue randomly, someone’s probably giving away free stuff for marketing purposes. Free phone charging cable? Sure. A new flavour of fruit tea? Why not? Join the queue first, ask questions later.

Cantonese is a very evocative language and if you hang around Canto speakers enough, it’s hard not to notice how our unique noises and exclamations can emphasise the emotions we’re trying to convey so vividly. Once you start saying ‘aiya’ when something’s bothering you, using ‘la’ at the end of your sentences, or throwing in the random ‘DLLM’ here and there, you’ll know Hong Kong is truly a part of you.

Hongkongers are infamous for being picky with our food – and why would we not be picky when we live in a foodie paradise? Less ice, stronger tea, 25 percent sugar, more rice, less fatty meat, hotter soup, extra chilli, bigger portions… The list of our requirements when dining out goes on. There’s also a high chance that Hong Kong’s top-notch restaurants will have spoiled you so much that you’ll start comparing food overseas to our gourmet options. ‘Well, in Hong Kong, we have it like this…’

Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong will almost always provide each table with hot water or tea so guests can wash their own crockery and cutlery. Once you’re used to doing this, you’ll always peer at your bowls and forks with a suspicious eye, unless you’re dining somewhere super fancy. How are we supposed to scald the germs away before we put that spoon in our mouths?

This one is truly local level behaviour. Real ones will know to tap the table with two fingers or knuckles to thank when someone pours you tea during dim sum. This silent sign of gratitude supposedly stems from an emperor who was journeying through China incognito. Not wanting to stand out as the only person being served during meals, the emperor would pour tea for his attendants, and since they couldn’t kowtow in thanks as they usually would, the servants would instead tap the table with their knuckles in a miniature version of a kneeling bow. Plenty of Hongkongers still do this during yum cha.

In a bustling metropolis like Hong Kong, everyone has places to be, people to see, and a million things to do. This is why citizens walk fast, food is usually served quickly, and people are sometimes curt to the point of rudeness. We speed walk and zig-zag through crowds. Waiting for more than three minutes for the next MTR train is a personal affront. It’s not for everyone, but the hectic pace of life is how we get shit done, and fast. So whenever we’re abroad, the slower pace at which almost everyone else lives takes some getting used to.

With the plethora of shopping, groceries, and meal delivery apps at our fingertips, we’re very spoiled indeed in Hong Kong. Even wanting something to eat in the middle of the night is not an issue with 24-hour eateries. Did you find yourself suddenly needing some painkillers, a microwave meal, and a bottle of Korean banana milk at three in the morning? Never fear, 7-Eleven is near. We’re sorry to break the news, but you’ll never quite get used to shops closing by five in the afternoon ever again.

It might be because we don’t feel like sharing breathing space with someone who’s violently coughing. It might be because the lift has stopped at each floor on the way up to work and we’re already running late. Hell, it might even be because there’s no one else in the lift and we don’t feel like looking at another human being right now. Whatever the reason may be, Hongkongers love to smash the close button in lifts. Yeah, we know you do it too.