Hong Kong business culture is a rare balance of Western capitalist thinking and the East’s belief system. Chinese people are particularly conscious of punctuality. Superstitious Chinese practices like putting bagua mirrors to deflect evil spirits are important among business establishments. The eastern concept of energy flow like the Feng Shui are definitely taken seriously because businesses spend a lot of money consulting experts just to ensure that construction projects are positively oriented towards that which attracts most luck. Do not be surprised also if floor numbers in buildings lack the number 4 because in the Chinese language, it is similar to the word “die” which has negative connotation for them. As a busy business center, Hong Kong cuisine is also a mixture of eastern and western characteristics. Fast food chains blend with restaurants that serve the traditional Hong Kong dishes.

It is important to learn the Hong Kong business culture before doing any business in the country because it will definitely affect your relations with them. Know that Chinese culture is the dominant business and social influence in the environment. The pace of life in the country is hectic and its residents are highly entrepreneurial with strong commercial instincts. Chinese are also hardworking and very competitive. They are also very conscious of their face or image that is why they highly value their education which according to them will ensure one’s social and economic mobility. Families are hierarchical and members are committed to upholding the family’s honor through loyalty, respect and obligations. Introductions and connections are not essential in Hong Kong although they help in establishing credibility for business. Hiring a local representative to initially develop the business is advisable.

It is good to learn how to do the proper Chinese way of greeting so as to show respect for the culture and establish a good impression on them. Bowing is their way of greeting and when a handshake is made be gentle because they are not used to close and intimate interactions with foreigners or strangers for that matter. Because they recognize seniority, be conscious of greeting the most senior member first.

Hong Kong Business Culture may also be described as results or role-oriented rather than that of the Western values of personal and social growth. Avoid confrontation and aggression. Remember to use language diplomatically. Refrain from directly refusing anyone by saying “I will try” or “I will see.” Be modest in all you behavior and also keep you calm.

Gift giving is also a part of doing business in Hong Kong. It helps establish or maintain relationships. Avoid giving clocks, books, green hats and anything unwrapped or wrapped in blue. Gift money in a red envelope is known as hong boa. Accept gifts with both hands and remember that gifts are to be reciprocated. A meal could also be a form of gift for the Chinese.

Tags : Asia News, Asia Travel, Hong Kong Business

As people begin to realize the opportunities that exist within the Asian business today, more and more people want to learn business Chinese. Fluency not only in Mandarin Chinese, but in the language of business allows speakers an almost immediate entry into a lucrative and exciting world that is closed off to so many.

It’s important to remember that business Chinese is really just an extension of Mandarin Chinese. There is no secret code that allows you to access the business language of Mandarin while bypassing the basic grammar and vocabulary. Although you might prefer to learn the words for “company” and “merger”, you don’t want to get lost when a Mandarin speaker asks you if you have already had lunch today.

Make sure that you learn conversational Chinese first. Place an emphasis on the more formal words that others might pass over. You will want to be able to address people using as formal form as possible. Try to build a balanced vocabulary that is comprehensive enough to cover any variety of the simple topics that might come up. Also, make sure that you have the language to express who you are and what you do. Include vocabulary that concerns your hobbies and interests, especially if they are something that might be valuable for business, like golf.

There are a number of ways to learn the Chinese language, but by emphasizing conversational Chinese you will be able to improve your accent and sentence structure. Even if you have no immediate intention to learn business Chinese, having good conversational Chinese skills will impress people and make them feel more comfortable around you. When Chinese speakers are not constantly struggling to understand your accident and phrasing, you are already fluent in their books.

Once you have mastered basic conversational Chinese opportunities open up to you to expand your vocabulary into business Chinese. Again, try to find programs or tutorials that will help you emphasize the conversational. Although at a later time might find great benefit in reading books about business Chinese, don’t rush to that point. It is more valuable to you to learn business Chinese that you can use in a conversation. Just as English has its own words for specific business concepts, Chinese has a lexicon of business terminology that will take you more than enough time to learn.

The opportunities are great for those who decide to learn business Chinese. It takes a little time and helps if you already have a business background, but it is possible for anyone. All you need to do is keep a solid focus you can on your goals, said a learning schedule that you can keep, and find opportunities to speak to native speakers. In less time than you think you will be able to speak business Chinese.

Tags : Business Travel, China Business, Convenience