E: Examiner

S: Student

E: We've been talking about the type of clothing you like to wear. And I'd like to discuss one or two more general questions with you now. Let's consider designer clothing. Are designer clothes popular in your country? 

S: I’m sure designer clothes are quite popular … popular around there ... around here because people are quite, as I mentioned, people are quite well-off around here and, you know, a lot of ... there're a lot of business conventions and a lot of time, people need to look quite presentable to others, so designer clothes are quite pop … common around here. 

E: Why do you think people are willing to spend the extra money for designer clothes? 

 S: That is actually a question I think ... I thought about a, a, a little bit ago because I think that designer clothes not only … it has the brand that represents the high status of the person, like they ... because they can afford them … they are more expensive; I also think that these designer brands actually have a better fashion design as it will be significantly different in the cuttings of the clothes and that sort of thing, which are more fitting and makes a person look more appealing. So that would be the reasons why de, designer clothes are actually worth putting more money into it. 

E: Do you think they are worth the extra money? 

S: Me ... personally ... myself? Not that … not really, because I think that … actually a lot of the ... although the cuttings may actually be better, I think that there’re quite a lot of similar products ... we can find quite a lot of similar products with a rela ... much cheaper price, so I don't think it's worth it. 

E: Let's turn now to the kind of clothes people wear to work. Do you think people at work make judgments about their colleagues based on the clothes they wear to work? 

S: Sure. They often make ... because first impressions are very important so that … when we first saw a person, then a lot of the times we judge them by how they look. And other than their faces, the first thing you would notice about a person is their clothing, so it is very important for a person to look presentable in … at work and also because it shows professionalism and how seriously you take your job, so it is very important for a person to dress well before they go to work. 

E: Do you think that people should be forced to wear certain types of clothes by their employers? 

S: I think it depends, because, like … for example, I'm going to be a teacher. I think that there’re … obviously, there should be certain rules that we should follow, but as for ... like, like certain guidelines for us to follow. But as for like … should we be in the uniform? For ... as a teacher, I don't think so. But, however, for like the fast-food chain … fast-food shops’ waitresses and waiters, that would be quite important for them to wear something, like a uniform because people need to recognize them from the customers so that they know who to find to ask for help. So I think sometimes a uniform is important. Yeah. 

E: Apart from uniforms, do you think that the way people dress for work in Hong Kong has changed in recent times? 

S: That's an interesting question. I never really thought about that. But I think perhaps maybe because, because people used to wear a lot more formally like suits ... like proper suits with like … with different strap … strap or that sort of thing. But now people are tend to go a little … tend to go a little bit more casual, like … they don't … sometimes going to work … doesn't even require a tie for like business investors. So, it has become more casual. 

E: Thank you. That's the end of the test. 

S: Sure, traveling abroad is quite popular in Hong Kong because Hong Kong people are rather well-off so basically, they can afford to travel to other places. So … and also Hong Kong people led quite a high stress life, so if we've got a chance to travel, we usually tend to travel somewhere else.