Hong Kong is decent, but I would say everyone is after the almighty dollar there. In my experience, people are willing to speak English if you stick to the "big areas/touristy areas" like Lan Kwai Fong (the "drinking district"), Central/Mong Kok. Navigating Star Ferries is okay (there are like two routes to two different locations")...
I would say if you go to HK, there are several experiences you need. Pink/white dolphins on one of the islands (it's a long bus ride away, and on sunny days you can see gorgeous white dolphins) - and you can buy seafood products there (my bus ride was punctuated with locals deciding what to buy and how to use it, which made me laugh harder than I should have). The Peak is gorgeous as well - buy the ONE way ticket up the mountain (with the tram/transportation) AND take the bus down (it's an experience, since it's a double decker bus that takes narrow trails back down - you will be terrified!). There is a Madame T's Wax Museum up there - highly recommended as it's more interactive than any other version that I've seen. And there is a haunted house attraction in the Wax Museum - that uses live actors and a lot of jumpscares. Oh, and Ladies' Market is great - just be prepared to haggle and don't look like a tourist!