system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What are the cultural differences between China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan?

I understand most of the political history, but aren't the cultures of these three remarkably similar? Is it just the governments keeping these peoples separate?
gpt
This is a huge question. The "major" difference is that Hong Kong and Taiwan are more traditionally Chinese (pre-Cultural Revolution), but with a tiny bit of Japanese influence from WWII occupation. (Hong Kongers and Taiwanese are, at least, less likely to viscerally hate Japanese.) In fact, Hong Kong and Taiwan have more in common with some overseas (i.e. American) Chinese communities than with the Mainland Chinese. Naturally, Hong Kong has a lot of British influence (people queue up), while Taiwan has some Native Taiwanese (essentially Polynesian) influence. Also, check out Macau -- the former colony of Portugal.