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Business and Social
Etiqutte
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Getting to Know People and Doing
Business in Hong Kong
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- The pace of life in Hong Kong is
frenetic. Its residents are
entrepreneurial, hard-working, highly competitive, and have strong
commercial instincts.
- Families are an integral part of life in Hong
Kong and family members
are committed to upholding family honor through loyalty, respect, and
obligation.
- Hong Kong Chinese are very conscious of a
person's social and economic
status. Education is highly valued, for it provides one of the
best
means for social and economic mobility.
- Introductions and connections, or quanxi,
helps to establish
credibility for your business, but they are not essential in Hong
Kong.
- To have a local representative to develop
initial business is
advisable.
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>Business
Meeting and Negotiation
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- If possible, do not schedule meetings during
or near the
Chinese New Year (January or February). Many Chinese treat this
holiday as an annual vacation period much the same as Westerners treat
Christmas.
- Meeting should be scheduled prior to your
arrival in Hong
Kong and it is important to be punctual. It is best to confirm
appointments in Hong Kong near or on the scheduled day.
- The pace of business in Hong Kong is fast and
hectic. Early interactions should be formal and
professional. Hong Kong
professionals are more business-oriented and are more conscious ot time
(theirs and yours) than other Asians.
- Businesspeople greet one another with a
handshake and
business cards should be exchanged. It is a good idea to have
your business cards printed in Chinese on the reverse side to create a
positive impression on your Chinese counterparts.
- Chinese names are listed with the family name
first,
followed by a given name and then the second name (equivalent of the
first name in the Western). Many Chinese also adopt Western first
names.
- In any meeting, refrain from mentioning any
political
topics.
- Although English is a common business
language, be
sensitive to your counterpart's knowledge of the language and speak
clearly and slowly if necessary.
- For family-owned and family-operated
businesses, senior
family members are usually the final decision makers.
- Your counterparts may try to monopolize your
time with
meetings and social events. They are tough negotiators. Be
firm in your position and do not waiver easily.
- Feng Shui, or geomancy rituals, can influence
Hong Kong
business decisions, particularly in determining the suitability of
locations of offices or other sites.
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>Business Hours
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- Generally, business hours are weekdays
9:00am-5:00pm, and Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm.
- Major banks are open weekdays
9:00am-4:30pm, and
Saturdays 9:00am-12:30pm; all close on Sundays and public holidays.
- Most shops open every day from
10:00am-7:00pm. But
be aware of exceptions: stores in busy retail areas like Causeway Bay
and Tsim Sha Tsui may stay open later.
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