Hong Kong's dining bill can contain more than the dishes you remember ordering. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge, while some cafes and diners do not. Tea, condiments, snacks or a wet towel placed on the table can also be chargeable. The calm approach is to read the bill before reaching for another percentage.
Separate price, service and choice
Read the table before adding a tip
Ten percent is common, not universal
Hong Kong Tourism Board says most restaurants add a 10% service charge, while some cafes and diners do not. Read the menu and bill at the actual venue. A service charge is part of that business's pricing, not a citywide instruction that every meal must end ten percent higher.
The small dishes may not be gifts
Tea, nuts, pickles, condiments, snacks or wet towels can appear before the main order and later appear on the bill. That does not necessarily make the charge improper, but it can surprise a visitor. Ask early if you do not want an item or want to know whether it is complimentary.
A second percentage is not automatic
When service is already included, paying the stated total is a complete transaction. An additional tip can recognise exceptional attention, but it should not feel like a hidden second service charge. When no service is included, a small voluntary gesture can be kind without importing another country's fixed percentages.
Taxis now have more payment choices, not a new tipping rule
The 2026 electronic-payment requirement makes taxi payment easier, but it does not create a compulsory gratuity. Pay the metered fare and legitimate surcharges. Rounding up for smooth service is optional, and a digital screen should not turn that choice into an obligation.
Keep the card terminal in Hong Kong dollars
A restaurant can calculate its service correctly and the payment terminal can still offer an unfavourable home-currency conversion. Confirm the final restaurant total first, then keep the card transaction in HKD unless you have compared and deliberately chosen another conversion.