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Hongkong
 The
first thing that strikes most visitors to
Hong Kong are the very different cultures
and societies at work here. It would be
easy to dismiss Hong Kong simply as a fascinating
combination of East and West but it is much,
much more than this with a unique and distinctive
culture of its own.
Over the years, Hong Kong has
maintained and established a fascinating
and intriguing Chinese culture. Traditional
food, clothing, ceremonies and values existing
here are an almost idealized version of
Chinese culture as it is seen in the west.
From the active little Temples such as the
Man Mo on Hong Kong's winding streets, to
the bustling alleys in Mongkok, the existence
of a very genuine and real Chinese way of
life is evident here.
Sitting side by side with this
traditional culture, is a vibrant, efficient
and modern side to the city. Hong Kong is
incredibly productive and advanced. The
economy here, (while no longer booming as
it was in the 1980s) is still remarkably
buoyant despite the threat from Shanghai
on the mainland. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange
is the center of financial power in East
Asia and the thousands of well dressed workers
who pour in and out of Central's office
buildings and banks every day are a living
symbol of the wealth at work in the city.
In terms of commerce, the selection of shops
and the range of goods and clothing available
here is among the best in the world. The
subway, trams, train system and business
centers are remarkably efficient and among
the best in the world. Hong Kong's new architecture
too is a fabulous example of the fashionable
and contemporary importance of this territory.
The Bank of China and the Hong Kong Shanghai
Bank are design masterpieces recognized
throughout the world. The people living
this modern way of life are a unique bunch
too.
 And
yet there is still room for another unique
side to Hong Kong. Local Hong Kong people
are wrongly perceived as unfriendly and
lacking in culture and identity. In fact,
the Hong Kongers have established a very
individual culture of their own which contributes
to the wealth of arts, food, fashion and
sophistication already existing here. Hong
Kong is most famous for its film. There
is also some great film and art here and
the Hong Kong Cultural Center and Art Museum
is a great place to experience some of this
wealth.
The hand-over in 1997 brought
about some changes in Hong Kong. The colonial
influence is still obvious in the architecture
and the investment in the city, but the
emphasis is gradually being changed. Cantonese
is the official language of Hong Kong although
many people also speak English. Mandarin
is now being encouraged by the Chinese government
and Hong Kong has been renamed as a "Special
Administrative Region" run under Deng
Xiaoping's "One country, two systems"
policy. For the time being however, Beijing
seems to realize the economic might and
the international pull that this tiny area
exerts and is prepared to leave most aspects
of society relatively unchanged.
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