General Information » Essential Info » What To Wear

You’ll see a very wide range of dress styles in Hong Kong. Admire the perfectly coiffured ladies out for afternoon tea and a spot of shopping, then see a delivery man cycle past wearing shorts, rubber boots, and nothing else. It’s probably best to leave your boots at home though, and think ‘smart-casual’ when planning what to wear. In general, the dress sense here is a little smarter – and a little more conservative – than is the norm in the western world.

If you are here for business, men should wear a suit and tie, and women a jacket and skirt. Even in summer it is best to bring these with you, though once you know who you are working with you can follow their lead and often leave the jacket in your hotel.

For leisure, daytime wear varies according to the season. In spring and autumn, wear light clothing in daytime, adding a sweater or light jacket in the evening. In summer, short sleeves, and shorts or skirts will be best, though if you’ll be sitting inside for some time, for example in a cinema, bring a sweater or light jacket to combat the air-conditioning. It’s worth picking up a light collapsible umbrella when you get here to protect you from summer’s many rainy spells – any type of raincoat would quickly get unpleasantly sweaty. In winter it can get cold enough to need an overcoat.

At the beach or swimming pool, bikinis are common, but many local ladies still prefer a more modest one-piece. Topless or nude sunbathing is a definite no-no. In the evening, it is rare to be expected to wear a tie, but it is still best to err on the smart side. Shoes, trousers (not jeans) and a shirt with a collar for men, and dresses for ladies, will get you into the majority of places, whereas sleeveless tops, flip-flops and shorts could see you turned away.