Adapting to a new culture
As enthusiastic as he is about working on the mainland, Towngas head of corporate human resources K.S. Yeung is the first to admit Hong Kong residents will find working conditions there different.
'You need to readjust your expectations ... from standards of accommodation to hygiene factors to getting around in public transport,' he said.
And while Hong Kong residents may be fluent in Putonghua, they should constantly be aware that they may be saying the wrong thing by accident. Colloquial expressions and subtle cultural differences could lead to gross misunderstandings.
'People have to learn the very subtle, sensitive differences between the two cultures,' Mr Yeung said.
To prepare its staff, Towngas has training courses for Hong Kong residents to help them understand how to do business in China. 'The training covers a wide range of dos and don'ts, in particular dealing with government officials - how to address them, how to write Chinese commercial correspondence, even how to entertain.'
