Hong Kong
Hong Kong · Asia/Hong_Kong · UTC+8
Hong Kong is a global financial center with a unique blend of Chinese and Western business culture.
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 09:00–18:00, financial services often longer
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- Hong Kong blends Western directness with Chinese deference to seniority. Meetings are usually efficient and English is widely used in international business.
- Meeting tips
- Hong Kong observes both Western and Chinese holidays, including Lunar New Year, Ching Ming, Buddha's Birthday, and Mid-Autumn Festival. Calendar density peaks in spring.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
Climate
Typhoon season can disrupt travel without warning; signal warnings issued by HKO.
Currency
Cards universally accepted; Octopus card useful for transit.
Language
English is co-official and widely used in business.
🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Handshake combined with a slight bow; English/Cantonese both work.
- Cards
- Two hands; English on one side, Chinese on the other if possible.
- Gifts
- Modest gifts at relationship-building stage; same Chinese taboos (clocks, four).
- Tipping
- 10% service charge usually included; small extra for exceptional service.
- Dress
- Smart, often international corporate.
- Dining
- Banquet style common; tap two fingers on the table to thank the tea-pourer.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | +1h |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | -2h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | -4h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -7h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -12h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +2h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -15h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | Same time |
Public holidays in Hong Kong, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-02-17
- 2026-02-18
- 2026-02-19
- 2026-04-03
- 2026-04-04
- 2026-04-06
- 2026-05-01
- 2026-05-25
- 2026-06-19
- 2026-07-01
- 2026-09-26
- 2026-10-01
- 2026-10-19
- 2026-12-25
- 2026-12-26
Plan a meeting with Hong Kong
Use the meeting planner to compare times across multiple cities, with weekend and holiday awareness.
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