"Welcome to Hong Kong, China" Hong Kong by Phildagr8

Well, the first thing I'd recommend, if this is your 1st time to China, is to go to the bookstore and buy a book on China from Lonely Planet.

It will help you with various "counties" depending on where you're going to go, as well as help you with cultural differences. In Hong Kong, Cantonese is the dominant dialect, versus Mandarin, which I found more dominant outside of Hong Kong, but still in Shenzen "county".

There are KFC's and McD's but they may have more than the typical hot apple pie. I tried their other flavors: green bean pie, pineapple pie, and other flavors depending on the season.

I heard that HK has the highest population of Mercedes.

The biggest thing, though, is to time your trip so it's not during the rainy season. Hong Kong is described as "sub-tropical", and when I was there in mid-Oct., it was in the mid 80's. If you go there after May/June or before Sept/Oct, be prepared for hot/hazy/humid weather. These pics show the haziness that is dominant through most of the "country" (There's no EPA, OSHA, so factories commonly vent gases that can show up as smog like it does around LA.) At night, you won't need a jacket, and it can get rather breezy near the water.

Downtown view of HK from Sheraton, & across bay

Welcome to Phil's Basic Chinese 101 Plus (I've made updates!)
Any of these might help. Cantonese is predominately spoken in Hong Kong, and Mandarin is predominately spoken in mainland China. I mixed up both, so I hope these are somewhat close.
I wrote this so you can at least (pronounce) and learn a little.:
Hi = Knee hah
How are you? = Knee hah mah
Dear (as in 'honey') = Qi ai deh
Hao xiang boa zhe knee = Really want to hug you.
Hao xiang boa zhe knee, qi ai de = really want to hug you, dear.
I like you = Woe seh-quan knee ( "Woe" = "I", and "Woe-men" = You and I, or We)( "ni" or "knee" = you )
I love you = Woe eye knee ("knee" = 'you')
too = yeh (but it goes before the verb so, "I love you, too" = "wo yeh ai ni")
I want you = Wo xiang ni
(so "I want you, too" is probably "Wo yeh xiang ni")
Right now = zian zai
Tonight = Jin Wan
(add these after the "ni" to the above if you like to express "more")

Yes = Suh (Mandarin)
Yes = Hi (Cantonese)
No = Busuh
What's up? = Dummy ya?
Wonderful = Tai hao le
Pretty / Beautiful = Piao Liang (Pyow lee-ang)
Pretty Girl = Piao Liang mei mei
Do you like? = Ni xi huang ma (knee chee who-wahng-mah)
Watermelon = she-gwah (spelled "xi gua". Note that the letter X is pronounced like "sh")
Cantelope - gwah
Banana = san-tee-yow* ("xiang jiao" in Mandarin)
Juice = Wat-suh
Plate = pan zi (zee)
*** This one is important : Too expensive = Tie Kway
Thank you = sheh-sheh (actually spelled "xie xie")
Good night = Wah ahn
Tonight = Jin wan
Good morning = Joe sun how (actually spelled 'zao shang hao')
Newspaper = bows (*rhymes with cow)
Boxes = Hud-suh
And = Ha-yoe
Blue = Lan
Yellow = whang (Huan)
Purple = zuh
Red = home
White = Bai (bye)
Black = Hey
Purple = phan-home
Come = Lye
Go = Chee
We have breakfast together =
Woe men yee (yi) qi (key) chi (chee) zao (zow*) chan
Can we go for a walk? (the typical phrase you'd say to a "new" woman to spend some time wth her is to ask her to go for a walk)
= Women kah-yee chu sampu
You have beautiful eyes = Knee duh yen jing hern pyaio liang.
May I buy you a coffee? =
Woe keh-yee chinee huh coffe mah?
I don't think so = woe buh juh duh (= "I don't think it", word for word)
What do you like? = Lee see-quan sumble?
Believe in yourself = Chiang Chin zi ji (zee gee)
Hello? (as if answering the phone) = Wei? (way)
Pervert = Ham sap low* (*sounds like cow)
This is all I could fit onto the coasters I took notes on :o)
I'll definitely add & learn more on my next trip!

• Pros:Seeing people from various countries is typical.
• Cons:Smog can limit pictures and view
• In a nutshell:I can't wait to go back!! Seven days is not enough ;o)