Guide to Hong Kong in the Summer
I’ll be interning in Hong Kong this summer and was hoping to get some advice / input on a few things. For background, I’m a Canadian at a uni in Ontario. From my understanding there is one other intern.
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The office attire is dress shirt and pants and I know the weather is super humid in the summer so how many sets do you think I’ll need, and what would be the best brand / store to look at?
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Things to do / meeting other people? I’ve heard the races on Wednesday are a big place to go but I’m just wondering what your experiences / thoughts are.
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Cultural norms or anything else I should be aware of?
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Any other do’s and don’ts.
Thanks everyone in advance.
Ah, heading to Hong Kong for the summer, are we? That's quite the adventure! Let's dive into your queries with some wisdom from the jungle of Wall Street Oasis.
Office Attire in Humid Weather: Given Hong Kong's humidity, you're going to want dress shirts that breathe well and can handle the sweat without showing it too much. Based on the WSO Dataset, for dress shirts, you might want to consider brands like CT Shirts or Brooks Brothers. They're known for quality and have options that are suitable for hot and humid climates. As for how many sets you'll need, considering the weather and potential for sweating, having at least 5-10 sets would allow you to rotate without doing laundry constantly. Look for materials like lightweight cotton or linen blends that are more breathable.
Things to Do / Meeting Other People: While the races on Wednesday are indeed a popular social event, Hong Kong offers a plethora of activities ranging from hiking trails like Dragon's Back, exploring markets, to enjoying the vibrant nightlife in areas like Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai. For networking and meeting other interns or young professionals, consider joining expat groups on social media or platforms like Meetup, where you can find events or groups with similar interests.
Cultural Norms: Respect is a big part of Hong Kong culture. Simple gestures like handing over your business card with both hands can make a good impression. Be mindful of personal space and be prepared for a more indirect communication style compared to what you might be used to in Canada. Tipping isn't as common in Hong Kong as it is in North America, but it's appreciated in restaurants and for services like taxis.
Do's and Don'ts:
Remember, every experience is unique, so while it's great to go prepared, be open to the adventures and opportunities that come your way. Hong Kong is a vibrant city with a lot to offer. Enjoy your internship and make the most of your summer there!
Sources: New To Formal Fashion? Start Here. PT1, Summer 2016 Shopping Guide for a Business Wardrobe, New To Formal Fashion? Start Here. PT1, Bespoke Suits and Shirts in Bangkok or Hanoi, Best White Shirts?
Buy the best linen you can afford to. Linen everything, head to toe. Prob don’t need a blazer as an intern. Don’t skimp on this shit and wear polyester garbage. Your ass and ballsack can thank me later
I appreciate the advice, and definitely will take it. Are you in HK?
No. This is simply what you need to do in any humid environment where business or business casual attire is required. Any other solutions are misguided and only serve as bandaid options
Hong Kong is so shitty during the summer. It’s honestly worse than Singapore, which is literally on the equator. Be prepared for the sun to rise super early and set by the time you leave the office, HK is literally in the wrong time zone. Be prepared for insane humidity, and weather so sticky that you won’t want to go outside, even at night when it “cools” down, which it never does.
Many offices require walking up hill so that’s only going to make you sweat even more. Plus you’ll really enjoy all of those flash floods, typhoons, and black rain storms that will cause you to be completely drenched after a few seconds. HK is known for amazing hiking, but it will be too warm to do that. And be prepared for locals to cut in front of you everywhere you go.
If you only speak English, and not Cantonese you’ll genuinely struggle, as many local restaurants have menus exclusively in Chinese, service workers don’t always speak English, and taxi drivers don’t speak English (if they pretend to do they’ll take you the long way and ask for a premium - which is illegal). If you speak mandarin then you’ll be hated by locals. Oh and speaking of taxis, it’s cash only, and most taxis won’t take a bill larger than 100 HKD ($12 usd), but you’ll enjoy the zigzag race car taxi ride.
The food in HK also is expensive and probably the shitiest of most Asian cities (Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, KL, etc) unless you want to pay very high rates. Even the Chinese food sucks in HK.
Good luck. It will be an interesting life experience, but not for everyone.
Appreciate your response. Definitely looking forward to it after this 😂. Are you in HK now?
No. I moved away right before the start of covid. Dodged a bullet, the horror stories of living in HK during covid are absolutely terrifying. I went back to visit last year and people were still wearing masks.
Don't forget to test yourself after
LOL, understood.
So much to love about HK. It’s been home for many years. Really sad to leave. You will enjoy your summer for sure. Hiking, boat trips, etc. it’s humid, but otherwise just an incredible place for the summer
Where are your favourite spots to go in the summer?
Lan Kwai Fong
if ur ofc is in ICC or IFC, then no need to worry much about humidity . THey'll provide the hotel for you that's like only 1 minutes walk away from MTR. Well I agree that weather in SUmmer is complete shit. But hey you're just an intern. Just spend all your weekends in the ofc as well. Then you won't have to worry about the weather. Every building just turns on AC all year. Be worried about the weather after you get a return offer lol
There are a lot of cheap tailors in TST.
Don’t buy a ton of Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts before going (like I did). They turn into heat bags in HK summer weather and you will sweat like a beast. Get “breathable” shirts.
It’ll be arctic tundra indoors.
No brown shoes/belts. No shirts with pockets. No button down collars.
Just wear the tie and jacket. You’re trying to get a job.
Really appreciate this, thank you.
You should also take a good break after showering before you leave your home, otherwise you will start to sweat after literally 20 seconds. Also make sure to walk through as many malls or underground tunnels as possible when walking to your work. Do everything you can to not go outside whilst being dressed up. As others already told you. It is likely that you will not be able to see the sun during your time there due to the early sun set and long working hours, which really sucks. But on the week-end HK is a dream. Try to go to the neighbouring islands taking one of the cheap ferries. They have great beaches and hikes there.
Thank you I really appreciate this. Are you in HK?
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