Tipping Etiquette is a great challenge for international travelers as its practice is different across the border.

In most Hong Kong restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually added to the bill. However, the tips may not reach the waiter, depending on the policy of individual restaurant as sometimes the service charge is just a mean to make the menu looks more affordable.

It is not common for waiters in Hong Kong to serve particular tables. Therefore, sharing of tips among pool of waiters is not unusual. To avoid the tips going to the management, leave the tips on the tray together with the bill amount or credit card is more practical. Remember that leaving the tips on the table is not a common practice in Hong Kong.

No matter in the case of dining or taking a taxi, the general rule of tipping is rounding up the total or “keep the change”. One point has to be noticed is that there is a compulsory baggage charge of HK$ 5 per item put in the trunk and HK$ 5 for each of your pets when taking a taxi.

In hotels, tips usually go to the bellman but not the housekeepers. For other services, there is no universal tipping practice, totally up to personal decision.

Traditionally there are some particular gifts Chinese would present during special occasions while there are something should never be given out as gifts. Knowing the following tips would help you figure out what to buy for your Chinese friends.

Birthday celebrations are particularly important for new born babies and the elderly. A banquet would be held after a month the baby is born. Gift certificates, clothes, toys or bracelets for the baby are common gifts. For the elderly, it is a special occasion every ten years after reaching the age of 60. Usually Chinese would invite close friends and relatives to a banquet celebrating for the birthday, particularly at the age of 60. Ornaments like gold necklace, bracelet, or gift certificates are commonly presented, depending on the preference of the recipient.

If you are visiting person who is sick, you may choose to buy some foods which help recovery. Chicken essences, nests of swallow, or fresh fruits are the most common ones.

Something you have to bear in mind in all occasions is that you should never give out a clock as a present. It is because delivering a clock to others sounds like farewell to a dying person in Cantonese. Shoes are not appropriate as present either, especially during the Chinese Lunar New Year as the pronunciation of shoes in Cantonese is like sighing and it is believed that it would bring bad luck throughout the year.

Some Chinese people are quite superstitious and this can be reflected in the way how some of the numbers are interpreted. Which number is lucky or unlucky is largely based on the Cantonese pronunciation of the number. Chinese would tend to use those lucky numbers and avoid those unlucky ones.

8 is the overwhelming favorite number. The pronunciation of 8 in Cantonese is similar to a Chinese word “faat”, meaning wealth and fortune. Some combinations of numbers including 8, like 168, 28 are also considered lucky, whereas 168, “yat lou faat”, has the meaning of continuously making a fortune and 28,”yi faat”, has the meaning of becoming wealthy easily.   Another lucky number is 3,”saam”. The pronunciation of it resembles to that of another word with the meaning of robust. And 9,”gau” means everlasting.

For unlucky number, 4,”sei”, is the first one that comes up to Chinese people’s mind. It sounds like the word with meaning of death. Therefore, use of 4 is avoided whenever possible. This is the reason why you may notice 4th and 14th floors are sometimes skipped in some buildings. 7 is considered unlucky not because of its pronunciation, but the believe holding behind. It is believed that the soul of a dead people to return on the 7th day after the death. And it is a tradition to have a series of 49-day rituals (seven 7-day rituals). Also, a feast for ghosts contains 7 dishes. You can see this tradition in your daily life in Hong Kong from time to time. For example, you may notice that many menus with prizes ending with 8 or 80, like HK$168 for a set dinner or HK$3988 for a set banquet.

Chinese wedding generally includes two parts, the marriage ceremony and the wedding banquet. The bridal couple would invite close relatives, friends and colleagues to join the banquet while acquaintances may be included in the ceremony.

Traditionally, Chinese wedding cards and envelopes are red. However, in Hong Kong, some may be in pink, gold or beige, but rare in white. If you receive an invitation card for ceremony, it is customary to send the couple a small gift, whether or not you would attend. It is courteous to inform the bridal couple your intentions beforehand no matter you are invited to the ceremony or the banquet or both.

Sometimes, a cake coupon would come along with the invitation card. With which, you can exchange for a dozen of assorted cakes at the relevant bakery.

New cash notes, gift certificate from bank, or an actual present are the common choices as a wedding gift. Gift certificates are very popular nowadays. The amount varies from HK$500 to HK$ 800 depending on your relationship with the couple.

During the banquet, the couple and family members would usually walk around tables to drink a toast to all the guests after the shark’s fin soup has been served. When they approach your table, standing up and holding your drink to greet them a cheer along with the others of your table is a normal practice.

Gifts certificates are very popular nowadays.  The amount varies from HK$500 to HK$800 depending on your relationship with the couple.