Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where East meets
West, a meeting reflected in its economic infrastructure, education
and street culture. On one street corner, there may be traditional
Chinese shops selling Chinese herbal medicine, Buddhist
paraphernalia or bowls of synthetic shark fin soup. But around the
next, one may find theatres showing the latest Hollywood
blockbuster, an English-style pub, a Catholic Church or a
McDonald's. The region's official languages are Chinese and
English; signs in both languages are omnipresent throughout Hong
Kong. The government, police and most workplaces and stores conduct
business bilingually. British rule may have ended in 1997 but
Western culture is deeply ingrained in Hong Kong and coexists
seamlessly with traditional philosophy and practices of the
Orient.
The city's cosmopolitan flavour can also be seen in the wide
variety of cuisines available. While different varieties of Chinese
selections, especially seafood, are most popular, there are also
many European, American, Japanese, Korean, and other restaurants.
Ethnic dishes served in cha chaan teng's and dai pai dong's are
also popular. The people of Hong Kong take their food seriously and
many top chefs make their way to the city to show off their talents
to these discerning diners.
While Hong Kong is a global centre of trade, perhaps one of the
city's most famous exports is its entertainment industry,
particularly in the martial arts genre. Several Hollywood
performers originate from Hong Kong cinema—Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat,
Jackie Chan to name a few. Behind the camera, Hong Kong filmmakers
have also struck fortune in Hollywood such as John Woo, Wong
Kar-wai, Tsui Hark and martial arts choreographers who have
designed fight scenes in the Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill and
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Back in Hong Kong, several
homegrown films have also gained international recognition such as
Chungking Express, Infernal Affairs, Shaolin Soccer, Rumble in the
Bronx and In the Mood for Love. Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin
Tarantino has said he's strongly influenced by Hong Kong action
cinema. Hong Kong is also the world's main hub for Cantopop music.
While the territory has been home to many stars, karaoke culture is
also part of Hong Kong's nightlife.
The Hong Kong government also supports cultural institutions
such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, the
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the Hong Kong
Philharmonic Orchestra. Furthermore, the government's Leisure and
Cultural Services Department also subsidise and sponsors
international performers brought to Hong Kong.
(wikipedia.org)