Expert: Tom Carter ~ Travel China Expert - 8/14/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  Can you tell me if it is difficult to get around Hong Kong without being fluent in Chinese?  Is it best to just learn a few basic words/phrases before going on the trip?  Thanks

ANSWER: Hi, it is not necessary to speak any Chinese in Hong Kong; a majority of the services industry are fluent in English, as are the police, etc. If you wish to interact with the locals in HK, you might want to pick up some Cantonese phrases. However, if you venture into Mainland China, you will need to learn some Putonghua (Mandarin) for sure. Have fun!
Sincerely,
Tom Carter

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When you say services industry, are you referring to people at the hotels?  I mean, if I go into a restaurant or to one of the tourist attractions, would I need to know some Cantonese phrases?  Also, I've heard about food safety in China.  Does that apply to a place like Hong Kong, or is that only an issue in smaller provinces?

Answer
Yes, that is correct: Most Hong Kong hotels, restaurants, transportation, tourism, etc. are all capable in English. Of course, if you venture off the tourist trail and want to eat at some small local noodle shops, for example, then a Cantonese phrasebook might be useful. As for food safety, the general rule of thumb in China (or any developing country for that matter) is to only eat where you see lots of other people eating. High turnover of customers means fresh food; empty restaurant are suspect.
Best,
Tom Carter