15 14 LIVING IN HONG KONG LANGUAGE Locals speak mainly Cantonese while English and Mandarin are widely spoken. All official signs, most commercial materials and menus are bilingual, while public transport announcements are in Cantonese, English and Mandarin. 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 in advance before traveling to Hong Kong if you really want to understand and live in the culture, interact with the locals and to get the most out while you are here. WEATHER Hong Kong is situated in a subtropical monsoon climate, and extreme weather conditions can occur in Hong Kong during the spring and summer months. These include tropical cyclones (known as typhoons in Asia) and severe rain/thunderstorms. Typhoons are categorized into five levels, with 10 being the most severe. Rainstorms are categorized by color, with Black being the most severe. Please refer to the section “Staying Safe” for more information on weather warnings and safety guidelines during severe weather conditions. WATER 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 HOLIDAYS Hong Kong has 17 general holidays a year. Most shops and restaurants, major attractions, theme parks and public transport will operate as usual on most of these days, but banks and offices will be closed. For the Lunar New Year, 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. Public Holidays Dates The First day of January January 1 Lunar New Year holiday First three days of the lunar year usually around late January to mid-February Easter holiday Four days from a Friday in March/ April Ching Ming Festival April 5 (sometimes April 4) Labour Day May 1 The Birthday of the Buddha One day in May Tuen Ng Festival One day in June HKSAR Establishment Day July 1 The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival One day in September/October National Day October 1 Chung Yeung Festival One day in October Christmas holiday December 25-26
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=