Page 16 - HKUST Student Guide 2022

LIVING IN HONG KONG

LANGUAGE HOLIDAYS

Locals speak mainly Cantonese while English and Mandarin are widely Hong Kong has 17 general holidays a year. Most shops and restaurants, major
spoken. All official signs, most commercial materials and menus are bilingual, attractions, theme parks and public transport will operate as usual on most
while public transport announcements are in Cantonese, English and of these days, but banks and offices will be closed. For the Lunar New Year,
Mandarin. commercial outlets will usually be closed for a couple of days and some
traditional or family-run businesses may stay closed for up to 2 weeks.
English is the language of instruction at HKUST, and you can expect
to encounter minimal problems communicating in English on campus.
Nonetheless, it is worthwhile to learn some Cantonese upon arrival or ideally Public Holidays Dates
in advance before traveling to Hong Kong if you really want to understand The First day of January January 1
and live in the culture, interact with the locals and to get the most out while Lunar New Year holiday First three days of the lunar year
you are here. usually around late January to
mid-February
WEATHER Easter holiday Four days from a Friday in March/
April
Hong Kong is situated in a subtropical monsoon climate, and extreme Ching Ming Festival April 5 (sometimes April 4)
weather conditions can occur in Hong Kong during the spring and summer Labour Day May 1
months. These include tropical cyclones (known as typhoons in Asia) and
severe rain/thunderstorms. The Birthday of the Buddha One day in May
Tuen Ng Festival One day in June
Typhoons are categorized into five levels, with 10 being the most severe.
Rainstorms are categorized by color, with Black being the most severe. HKSAR Establishment Day July 1
Please refer to the section “Staying Safe” for more information on weather The day following the Chinese One day in September/October
warnings and safety guidelines during severe weather conditions. Mid-Autumn Festival
National Day October 1
WATER Chung Yeung Festival One day in October
Christmas holiday December 25-26
The water supply in Hong Kong is amongst the safest in the world. But as
the quality and maintenance of water pipes varies from building to building,
it is suggested that you consume boiled or bottled water.
Drinking Water Quality in Hong Kong
https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/
water/water/drinkingwater.htm

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