Follow the jump links to learn more about Hong Kong:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts Lifestyle and Family Living
Energetic and hard-working people have built Hong Kong into a major world trade center. The Confucian ethic of proper social and family relationships forms the foundation of Chinese society, which values modesty and patience over aggressive behavior. Chinese families are bound by strong traditions of loyalty, obedience, and respect.
It is not unusual for both parents to work. Parents tend to be protective and to prefer that students stay home as much as possible. Parents also expect to know when their children are going out and where they are going. Many families take part in social activities together, especially on Sunday.
Most families live in small urban apartments where personal space is minimal so tidiness is important. Tall students should note that beds are not much longer than 170 cm (5’8”).
Hong Kong host families, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.Teen Life
Movies and television are the most popular forms of entertainment. Beach outings and picnics are also common. Favorite sports include table tennis, soccer, skating, squash, badminton, tennis, swimming and basketball. Teenagers usually go out in groups to enjoy these activities. They also like to shop, sing karaoke and hang out in cafes. The efficient public transportation system makes it easy to move around and get to know Hong Kong.Dress and Appearance
All styles of clothing, from traditional to modern, are worn in Hong Kong. Bring lightweight clothing for summer. A jacket and warmer clothing are advisable for the winter months, as the climate is damp. In addition, be aware that usually there is no heating and air conditioners may be used for air circulation.
Students should be prepared to buy gym, winter and summer school uniforms (cost about US$350). Bring black leather shoes (boots and high heeled shoes are not acceptable at school). Participants are expected to have short, neat haircuts, no visible piercing, and girls are not allowed to wear make-up or nail polish.Diet and Meals
Rice is a staple and many dishes are prepared with chicken, pork, fish and vegetables. Fruit is a common dessert. Dairy products such as milk and cheese are expensive and are not a regular part of the diet. Educational System
School begins in early September and finishes at the end of June. The school system is challenging and participants should be academically motivated. School discipline and respect for teachers are very important.
AFS students are usually placed in government-run high schools in grades 10 or 12 (Forms 4 or 6). Schools offer two branches of study—arts and sciences. Placement will depend on your curriculum at home, but most placements are made in the arts.
There are many student activities such as sports clubs, debating societies, drama clubs, and history clubs. Students are encouraged to become involved in a community service activity in order to broaden their involvement in their host community and enrich their perspectives of life in Hong Kong.
All instruction, with the exception of foreign languages, is done in Cantonese or English. In the beginning, you may find it hard to follow, but as you learn more of the language, school will become less challenging, so be patient, work hard, and keep at it!
While it may be possible to obtain academic credit for the coursework you successfully complete abroad, AFS cannot guarantee this. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Geography and Climate
Hong Kong is located on the south coast of China and spreads over 424 square miles, including the Kowloon peninsula, the two principal islands of Hong Kong and Lantau as well as 234 outlying islands (many of which are little more than uninhabited rocks).
It has a mountainous landscape and one of the great natural harbors of the world. Hong Kong is located within the tropics, and its climate is monsoonal. Two seasons dominate the year. One is hot, wet and humid (26-32°C or 80-90°F), and the other is cool and dry (10-18°C or 50-65°F). Hong Kong can, however, experience great variations in the periods between successive monsoons, and the most dramatic variations occur during the typhoon season.
Population
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas of the world. It numbers about 7 million people. Ninety-eight percent of the population is Chinese.
Language
English and Cantonese are the official languages, but Cantonese is the principal language spoken by most people in their daily lives.
Government
After a century and a half of British administration, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China on July 1, 1997 under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The existing economic, legal and social systems are to be maintained for at least 50 years after 1997. Beijing has appointed Hong Kong’s chief executive and some members of the legislature.
Religion
The religions of Hong Kong include Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity.
Spending Money
The Hong Kong dollar is the official currency.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about US$100-US$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the earth’s most densely populated island is Ap Lei Chau, southwest of Hong Kong Island. Some 80,000 residents live there on an area measuring 1.3 sq. km. (0.5 sq. mi.), giving the island a density of 60,000 people per sq. km, or 160,000 per sq. mi.—10 times the density of crowded Hong Kong as a whole.
- In 2003, Hong Kong’s economy had the world’s fastest rate of deflation. The cost of living was estimated to have fallen 2.5%.
- Tiny Hong Kong has 53 daily newspapers, including some in Chinese, English, bilingual and a few in Japanese.
