what language do they speak in hong kong

Hong Kong mainly uses Cantonese in everyday life, and the official languages are Chinese (primarily Cantonese in practice) and English, with Mandarin also increasingly common.

Main languages

• Cantonese is the dominant spoken language used at home, in shops, on the streets, and in local media.

• Chinese and English are the two official languages for government, courts, and public signage, with Chinese usually appearing in Traditional characters.

• Mandarin (Putonghua) is growing in use, especially in schools, cross‑border business, and among newer migrants from mainland China.

When you visit

• For daily interactions (taxis, small restaurants, markets), Cantonese works best, though many people know some English.

• In hotels, larger shops, and business settings, English is widely understood and often used as a working language.

• Knowing a few simple Cantonese phrases is appreciated but not required, as signage and transport information are usually in both Chinese and English.

TL;DR: They mostly speak Cantonese, with Chinese and English as official languages, and Mandarin becoming more common.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.