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People Next
The city never sleeps; its streets constantly kept busy by 'nocturnal' beings. To the Hong Kong people, time is money, and a minute lost is a step away from fortune. Life here is addictive, and no matter how stressful and assiduous it may be, people will return to this small yet captivating island.
Rush hour is the time when you get to experience the real hustle and bustle of the city's lifestyle. Relentless crowds of people, both students and workers alike, crush themselves into trains and buses. At noon when it is time for lunch, thousands of working people will aggressively race to restaurants, noodle houses, and fast food joints to have their one-hour break. As a tourist, it is advisable not to venture out onto the main city area at this hour to avoid being dragged into the stampede.
Being a major trading port, and dubbed as one of Asia's leading Tigers, Hong Kong has attracted a myriad of immigrants who seek opportunities for a better life. Everyday, newcomers arrive from China and overseas hoping to make quick money and enjoy spending it. The massive immigration of new blood into the country continues to heighten Hong Kong's ado and vigor.
Ninety eight percent of Hong Kong's population consists of Chinese, mainly Cantonese from mainland China. Nevertheless, the younger generation prefer to view themselves as Hong Kong-born citizens, rather than Han Chinese. The Cantonese dialect, cuisine, and customs are more significant compared to other Chinese dialects. The Cantonese are reputed to be aggressive, rebellious and spontaneous, and will take action if offended. There have been numerous revolutions and rioting in Hong Kong for the past century, some instigated by famous leaders, such as Dr Sun Yatsen.
The next group of Chinese is the Hakka, Hong Kong's oldest landowners. These people emigrated from central and southern China aeons ago, defending villages around the island against piracy. The Hakka tradition does not permit women to inherit land, which are passed down through some sons only.
Hoklo and Tanka are 'boat people' who live in junks floating on the waters off Aberdeen, Yau Ma Tei, and other typhoon shelters. Although most of them have come ashore to dwell, there are still the older generations who continue to carry on their traditional way of life on their narrow junks. The Tanka are supposedly descendants of General Lu Tsun, who staged a revolt against the emperor, and upon the general's death, his people were persecuted and sent offshore. On the other hand, the Hoklo people are native to the Fuzhou Province and are primarily fishermen and manual laborers. These people celebrate the birthday of the sea goddess, Tin Hau, on the 23rd day of the third moon by decorating their boats with colorful ornaments and sailing to her temples to pray for protection at sea.
In the 1930s, many immigrants from various parts of China ended their journey on Hong Kong shores, the majority being Shanghainese and Chiu Chows (Fuzhou). These two groups of people formed a society of their own, and are known for their shrewd business skills. In fact, many of the country's top professionals come from these regions.
The diversity of people living in Hong Kong is beyond imagination. Although all Chinese may look alike, the different Chinese dialects adhere to different customs and traditions, as well as way of life.
Immigrants
All countries have problems with illegal immigrants. Hong Kong's dilemma on the issue generated between 1978 and 1980 when some 500,000 outsiders risked their lives in the shark-infested waters or when climbing dark cold mountains to reach the island. Unfortunately for them, they were greeted by troops of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Chinese coastal boats, which collaborated with the British and Gurkha troops, police, Royal Navy, and Air Force to put an end to the flow of these 'aliens'.
Despite the predicament, Chinese mainlanders can now enter Hong Kong legally on an entry permit. Many of them are now absorbed into the local culture after adapting to the lifestyles of the parochial population. Nonetheless, professionals of China, such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and the like are not able to practice their trained skills in Hong Kong as their credentials are not recognized. Hence, those who want to live here have to settle with menial jobs.
Besides being home to the various classes of Chinese, Hong Kong also has its own foreign population. Although only two percent of the entire population is not Chinese, these foreign nationals have brought their cultures, cuisine, arts, and religions into the country. The Chinese refer to them as 'kwailo', which means 'ghost person' or 'foreign devil' in Cantonese. These 'kwailo' includes Americans, Australians, Canadians, British, and other European expatriates who form the bulk of the foreign business community in Hong Kong.
Besides the Caucasians, there are the descendants of early merchant traders and soldiers who came from the Indian subcontinent to Hong Kong. They are the more established non-Chinese communities on the island, many of whom speak fluent Cantonese and hold Hong Kong passports. The Indians, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sikhs, and Parsees belong to this category. Although they were born here in Hong Kong, they were previously not recognized as Chinese nationals. However, most of them have now been granted British citizenship.
Other nationalities, such as the Filipinos, Gurkhas, and Vietnamese also share the resources of the island together with the rest of the community. These people are less affluent as compared to other foreigners, but even then, their distinct cultures and traditions leave a mark on their existence.
Population
Hong Kong's population is estimated to be about 6.6 million people. Being a small island-country and with that many citizens, some of its districts are considered to be the world's most densely populated areas. Only 30 percent of the total land area (300 sq. km/116 sq. miles) are inhabitable. The remaining areas are mostly undeveloped. In 1997, the density of the overall population was 5,780 people per square kilometer, while Kwun Tong District in eastern Kowloon had 53,610 people per square kilometer.
Family Values
More often than not, the Chinese people emphasize the importance of family values. It is customary for families, whether large or small, to live together under the same roofs to maintain close-knit ties.
Unlike the Western practice where those after the age of 18 years are considered to be independent and thus capable of living on their own, the Chinese prefer to live in their parents' homes, some even after marriage. Another reason that also contributes to this way of life is the excessive cost of housing in Hong Kong.
Sunday mornings are usually spent with the entire family having dim sum breakfast at one of the many crowded restaurants. The Chinese refer to this as 'yum cha'. Restaurants are packed and noisy, with trolleys of steamed-hot dumplings and other dim sum delicacies moving from table to table, and families sharing news and gossips while enjoying their first meal of the day.
Chinese businesspeople are often suspicious of strangers, and if possible, they prefer doing business with a next of kin or someone they are very familiar with. It is therefore not surprising that many of Hong Kong's most wealthy business empires are family-oriented and handed down the generation line. The eldest son is usually the heir to the throne, and has the responsibility of ensuring the success and honor of his father's feat.
Respect should always be given where it is due, and in the Chinese culture, the older people are the ones who are richly paid. It is the duty of the children to take care of their parents once they are capable of it. You can hardly find an elderly being sent to the old folks' home.
It is common for someone to address another by his or her levels in a family. For example, a man who is older is often called 'uncle', whereas one who is over 60 years of age is referred to as 'grandpa'. This also applies equally to the females.
Names
Ordinarily, Chinese names are of three characters, with the family name being the first, followed by the given names. However, the younger generations have now adopted Western names, as it is easier to recognize and pronounce.
Language
Both English and Cantonese are the official languages in Hong Kong. The majority of the populations are native Cantonese speakers. The language has a rather harsh and sepulchral tone, which cannot be easily picked up by visitors with no prior knowledge of it. Since English is a universal language, it is also widely spoken, especially in businesses and commercial centers. English textbooks are used in most schools in Hong Kong, and thus the younger generation is more apt with the language as compared to the older generation.
It is the norm to pick out English words from Cantonese conversations, especially those of the younger generation. As they have been raised in a bilingual society, they tend to leap from one language to another, sometimes without realizing it. At times, it is easier to just incorporate English words in the language rather than to translate complicated words into Cantonese.
Mandarin is now becoming more common in Hong Kong. It is not to say that whomever speaks Cantonese can automatically speak Mandarin as well. However, some of them may understand the language but not be able to speak it well. Nevertheless, in Hong Kong, locals still prefer to converse in their native language and by knowing the basics of that will be a plus for visitors.
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狗仔卡
发表于 2010-7-27 17:04:06
变色卡
抢沙发