A
Accommodation (see also the list of Recommended Hotels, for more information, click here)
Hong Kong is home to some of the finest hotels in the world and most international chains have properties here. Service standards are generally high everywhere but rooms tend to be small except in the most expensive places. High- and mid-range hotels are all members of the Hong Kong Hotel Association (HKHA; www.hkha.org).
Advance reservations are essential for moderately priced hotels, and advisable for all others. For visitors arriving by air without reservations, there are two HKHA desks in arrivals that can arrange a room with any hotel associated with it. The service is provided free of charge and the desk is open from 6am–midnight.
Hong Kong’s high seasons are October to early December, and March and April – trade fairs or local events such as Rugby 7s may fill hotels, so always check ahead. In quiet weeks in summer, prices may drop, and bonuses such as upgrades, free airport transport and discounts may be offered. For the best rates, check online and ask travel agents about packages that offer hotel and airfare.
Posted rates cover the room price only; a 10 percent service charge is added to the bill at check-out time.
Airport
Arrival. International flights land at Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island, www.hkairport.com. Immigration and customs checks are efficient. Beyond the baggage inspection area you will find a bank, money changers, HKHA counters and two HKTB desks for tourist information. The Ground Transportation Centre is the place to go for information about transport into the city, or for taxis and limousine service.
Airport Express (AEL). (tel: 2881 8888; www.mtr.com.hk) This rail link is the best way to get into the city. Trains run every 12 minutes 5.54–12.48am daily to Kowloon (22 minutes) and Hong Kong station in Central (24 minutes). Tickets from automatic machines.
Airbuses. (tel: 2873 0818; www.nwstbus.com.hk) The buses serve all major hotels and most districts in Hong Kong. Take A21 to Kowloon, and A11 or A12 to Hong Kong Island. N21 and N11 operate the same routes after midnight. Travel time is about an hour. Buy tickets at the Commercial Service Counter or have exact fare ready.
Limousines and taxis. Major hotels operate their own limousine services; go to the HKHA desk, or look for hotel pick-up counters. If you take a taxi, you should be charged only what the meter reads, plus tolls and a charge for each piece of luggage placed in the boot.
Departure. All major airlines allow you to check in for your return flight at Hong Kong Central Station or Kowloon Station up to 24 hours before your departure. Boarding passes will be issued, and luggage transferred to the airport.
B
Budgeting for your trip
To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some average prices in Hong Kong dollars, but they should be regarded as approximate.
Airport transfer. Limousine from the airport to your hotel, about HK$500; taxis HK$250–400, plus tolls and luggage; Airport Express HK$90–100; Airbus HK$33–45.
Buses and trams. Buses HK$1.90–45, trams HK$2,3 for adults, HK$1,20 for children, minibuses and maxicabs HK$2–22.50, Peak Tram HK$28 (one way), HK$40 (return) for adults, HK$11 (one way), HK$18 (return) for children.
Car rental. A compact car costs around HK$750 a day. A car or limo with a driver costs around HK$160 an hour.
Ferries. Star Ferry HK$2.50; island ferries HK$10–31; Macau ferry HK$159–350.
Hotels. Luxury hotels range upwards from HK$2,500, top hotels from HK$1,800; medium range hotels begin at around HK$950, and inexpensive hotels less than HK$950.
MTR. Mass Transit Railway fares range from HK$3,5 to HK$55.
Meals and drinks. In a moderately priced restaurant: set lunch HK$80–150, dinner HK$150–350; buffets are generally good value.
Taxis. HK$17–22 for the first 2km (1.2 miles), HK$1.40–1,60 for each succeeding 200m, HK$20 for journeys via Cross Harbour Tunnel, HK$30 via the Eastern Harbour Crossing, or HK$40 via the Western Harbour Crossing (plus HK$15 to cover driver’s return toll), and HK$5 for each piece of baggage.
Trains. From Kowloon to Lo Wu on the border with mainland China, first class HK$77,5, standard class HK$41,5.
C
Car hire (See also Driving)
Driving in Hong Kong is not recommended. However, all international and many local hire firms operate in Hong Kong offering both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars. Japanese, European and American models are available. Major credit cards are accepted. Drivers must be over 25 years old and have held a valid licence from their home country or an international licence for two years.
Climate
The chart below gives an idea of average monthly temperatures in Hong Kong, and the number of rainy days per month. The best time to visit is October or November, when temperature and humidity drop and days are clear and sunny. From December until late February the air is moderately cool and humidity still low (around 73 percent). In spring humidity and temperature start rising. March and April can be very pleasant, but May to mid-September it’s extremely hot and often wet, with most of the annual rainfall recorded during these months.
Clothing
From May to September you need lightweight summer clothing, and a raincoat and umbrella might come in handy. In restaurants and hotels air-conditioning can be fierce. From late September to early December shirt-sleeves and sweaters are appropriate, while from late December to February a warm jacket or light coat is advisable.
Informality is generally the rule. For sightseeing and shopping, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable in most places, but shorts, vests and flip-flops (thongs) are out of place in up-market restaurants and temples. Bring comfortable shoes for the steep slopes.
Consulates
Consulates are generally open Monday–Friday, 9am–noon and 2–4 or 5pm. Various sections may open at different hours, so call first.
Australia: 23rdfloor, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2827 8881.
Canada: 9th floor, 25 Westlands Road, Quarry l, tel: 3719 4700.
New Zealand: 65th floor, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2525 5044.
UK: 1 Supreme Court Road, Central, tel: 2901 3000.
US: 26 Garden Road, Central, tel: 2523 9011.
Crime and safety (See also Emergencies)
Hong Kong is a safe city, night and day. The streets are usually full of people until late at night. Signs everywhere warn you to ‘beware of pickpockets’. Be especially careful in busy markets, and on rush-hour buses and MTR trains. Leave your valuables in a hotel safe.
Customs and entry requirements
For most nationalities, only a passport is required for entry into Hong Kong. Subjects of the UK can stay up to six months without a visa; Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders and US citizens can stay for three months. To enter Macau, only a passport is needed, and most visitors can stay up to 20 days without a visa.
Visas are required for the People’s Republic of China, so if you are taking any excursion over the border you will need a visa. Short-term tours to China may include visas; otherwise visas can be arranged at travel agents or China Travel Service (CTS), 78–83 Connaught Road Central.
You can bring into Hong Kong duty-free: 19 cigarettes or 1 cigar or 25 grams of other tobacco, and 1 litre spirits (with above 30 percent vol). Firearms are strictly controlled, and can only be brought in by special permit. There are no currency restrictions.
D
Driving (See also Car hire)
Anyone over 18 with a valid licence and third-party insurance can drive in Hong Kong for 12 months without having to pay for a local licence (but you must be over 25 to hire a car). Drivers must carry a valid driver’s licence and photo identification at all times.
Road conditions. Congestion is a serious problem in the city. Good highways connect to the New Territories and the airport.
Rules and regulations. Hong Kong traffic keeps to the left. All passengers are must wear seatbelts. Drivers may not use hand-held mobile phones. In China, cars keep to the right. The speed limit is 30mph (50kmh) in towns, elsewhere as marked.
Parking. This can be a headache, especially in the central areas, despite multistorey car parks. Most meters operate from 8am–midnight Monday–Saturday, and wardens are ever alert.
Breakdowns. Call the car hire firm. In an emergency, dial 999. Automobile Association: 391 Nathan Road, tel: 3583 3628.
Road signs. Most signs are standard international pictographs.
E
Electricity
Standard voltage is 220-volt, 50-cycle AC. Many hotels have razor fittings for all standard plugs and voltages. For other items, transformers and adapters are needed; you may need a plug for a laptop even if it is equipped to deal with both 220 and 110 volts. Most hotels supply hairdryers.
Emergencies
Dial 999 for Police, Fire, or Ambulance departments. St John’s Ambulance Brigade (www.stjohn.org.hk) is a free service, tel: 1878 000 on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon, and in the New Territories. Hospitals with 24-hour emergency services are: Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Island, tel: 2855 3838; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, tel: 2958 8888; and Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, 40 Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island, tel: 3651 8888. Many hotels have doctors on call.
In Macau, dial 999 or 112 in an emergency.
G
Gay and lesbian travellers
Hong Kong is still fairly conservative, but there’s a gay scene around Glenealy and Wyndham Street in Central. Club 97 (www.epicurean.com.hk), Lan Kwai Fong on a Friday night is a good start. For more gay nightlife in Hong Kong www.travelgayasia.com.
Getting there
From the UK. CathayPacific (tel: 020-8834 8888; www.cathaypacific.com), British Airways (tel: 0844-4930 787; www.britishairways.com), and Virgin Atlantic Airways (tel: 0844-209 7777; www.virgin-atlantic.com) offer daily nonstop services from London to Hong Kong.
From Australia and New Zealand. Qantas (tel: 131 313; www.qantas.com.au) and Cathay Pacific (tel: 131 747) fly nonstop from Sydney and Melbourne. Air New Zealand (www.airnewzeland.co.nz) and Cathay Pacific (tel: 0800-800 454) non-stop from Auckland.
Guides and tours
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB; www.discoverhongkong.com) organises a wide assortment of tours. Their ‘Living Culture’ and ‘Nature’ tours include a ride in Hong Kong’s last genuine sailing junk, classes in tai chi, pearl and jade shopping, feng shui, as well as a guided hikes, birdwatching and visits to more remote corners. During the ‘Wing Chu Experience’ tour it is possible to learn some basic moves of this ancient Chinese martial art adopted and practiced by the kung fu legend and international movie star, Bruce Lee. Alternatively, you may want to take a bike tour to discover the untouched New Territories. Theme tours by HKTB include the outstanding ‘Heritage Tour’, to historic sites in the New Territories. ‘Hong Kong Heritage Walk’ lets you explore the colonial architectural heritage of Hong Kong on foot.
Tour operators include Gray Line Tours of Hong Kong Ltd., 5/F 72 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2368 7111, www.grayline.com.hk; Watertours, at 1023A, 10/F Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2926 3868, www.watertours.com.hk, is the largest operator of boat and junk cruises; Splendid Tours and Travel Ltd, tel: 2316 2151, www.splendid.hk, has night cruises among its offerings; and China Travel Service of Hong Kong Ltd (CTS, www.ctshk.com) runs one- to three-day tours of Guangzhou and other South China destinations.
Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd., 1528 Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2984 1414; www.hkdolphinwatch.com, has a half-day eco-cruise to sight Hong Kong’s threatened pink dolphins.
To hire a personal guide or a guide for a group, contact HKTB in Hong Kong, or CTS for guides in other South China destinations.
Rickshaws are no longer used for passengers, but HK$50 ($25 children buys a day pass for the double-decker open top Rickshaw Bus and hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tours around Central, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay (www.rickshawbus.com).
H
Health and medical care (See also Emergencies)
No vaccinations or special health precautions are needed. Food is safe, even in road side stalls, and you can safely drink the water, though most people prefer bottled water. Avoid eating locally caught shellfish and oysters; most restaurants use imported or farmed varieties. Wear a hat and use sunscreen, and always carry a bottle of water.
Travelling into China requires a few extra precautions. Drink only bottled water and use bottled or boiled water to brush your teeth. Don’t eat raw food and choose fruit that can be peeled.
a bottle of drinking water yat tchun soi
I want to see a... Ngor yiu tai...
doctor yee sang
dentist nga yee
Holidays
Thanks to the convergence of British and Chinese traditions, Hong Kong celebrates 17 public holidays a year. Though banks and offices close, most shops and restaurants carry on as usual. At Lunar New Year, many small family-run businesses close. Chinese holidays are fixed by the lunar calendar, so exact dates cannot be given.
January 1 New Year’s Day
January or February Lunar New Year (3 days)
March or April Easter (Good Friday, Easter Monday)
April Ching Ming Festival
May 1 Labour Day
May Buddha’s Birthday
May or June Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival
July 1 (or first weekday) Establishment Day of the Special Administrative Region
September Day following the mid-Autumn Festival
October 1 National Day
October Chung Yeung Festival
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 Boxing Day
I
Internet
Free Wireless Broadband (WiFi) access is becoming more widespread in hotels, and the government’s GovWiFi network provides free access via over 2000 hotspots at 400 locations, including public libraries, cultural and recreation centres, museums and parks.
L
Language
The official languages of Hong Kong are English and Chinese. While Chinese can be called the world’s most widely spoken language, it actually has innumerable dialects – people from Beijing can’t understand a word that people from Hong Kong say; in fact they can’t even understand what people from Shanghai say. What has bound the country together over thousands of years is the written language.
Each Chinese character represents an idea – a meaning, not a sound. There are about 50,000 characters, and some 5,000 of these are in common use. Chinese is traditionally written in columns, read from top to bottom and right to left, but today you often see printed Chinese characters presented much like a European language.
Putonghua, or Mandarin, is China’s official language. Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong and South China.
The following approximations of everyday Cantonese words and greetings may help:
Good morning Jo sahn
Good afternoon Ng on
Good evening Mang on
Good night Jo tow
Goodbye Joy geen
Please (for service) M goi
Please (invitation) Ching
Thank you (for service) M goi
Thank you (for a gift) Daw jeh
chop seal or stamp on a document
feng shui lucky siting of building or graves
gweilo Europeans, foreigners
hong big business firm
joss luck
yam seng ‘cheers’, ‘bottoms up’
Getting around is difficult when place names are pronounced differently in English and Cantonese. Kowloon (Nine Dragons) sounds similar in both languages; here are some that differ:
Aberdeen Heung Gong Jai
Causeway Bay Tung Lo Wan
Central District Jung Wan
Cross Harbour Tunnel Hoi Dai Sui Do
Happy Valley Pau Ma Dei
Ocean Park Hoi Yeung Gung Yuen
The Peak San Deng
Peak Tram Lam Che
Repulse Bay Chin Sui Wan
Stanley Chek Chue
Star Ferry Pier Tin Sing Ma Tau
M
Media
Newspapers and magazines. Local English-language dailies are the South China Morning Post and The Standard; the China Daily is a Hong Kong-published version of China’s national English-language daily. The International Herald Tribune, edited in Paris, is printed simultaneously in Hong Kong six days a week.
Radio and television. Hong Kong has two free-to-air TV channels in English and, since 2014, four in Chinese. Six English-language radio channels provide a broad range, from easy listening to news. The BBC World Service broadcasts 24 hours a day at 675 kHz.
Money
Currency. Hong Kong’s currency is freely convertible, and is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of around 7.8. The Hong Kong dollar is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes, in denominations of HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100, HK$500 and HK$1,000, are issued by three local banks, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Bank of China and the Standard Chartered Bank. Coins, however, are minted by the Hong Kong government; they come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents and HK$1, HK$2, HK$5 and HK$10. The image of the British queen has been replaced by the bauhinia tree flower, Hong Kong’s regional emblem.
Currency in China and Macau. China’s currency is renminbi (RMB) or yuan. In Shenzhen, Lo Wu stores will accept Hong Kong dollars and convert to RMB on the spot, but you may lose out. Taxis and other retailers want RMB so it may be worth changing money before crossing the border. In April 2014 HK$1 = RMB 0.79.
Macau’s currency is the pataca and is completely interchangeable with Hong Kong dollars in Macau only.
Currency exchange. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels, money changers and major shopping outlets. Banks have better exchange rates, but charge a commission. Licensed money changers charge no commission, but the rates are about equivalent to a 5 percent commission. Money changers are found in all tourist areas and are open on holidays and late into the evening.
ATMs. ATMs are found all over Hong Kong and Macau. There are ATMs in Shenzhen, but these are harder to find.
Credit cards. Credit cards and charge cards are accepted everywhere you go in Hong Kong. Major hotels, restaurants and shops in China also accept the well-known credit cards.
Traveller’s cheques. Can be exchanged at banks and most hotels. You must show your passport when you cash a cheque.
O
Opening hours
Government offices open 9am–1pm and 2–5pm Monday–Friday.
Banking hours are usually 9am–4.30pm Monday–Friday. Some branches open 9am–12.30pm Saturday.
Business offices are normally open 9am–6pm Monday–Friday, lunch is 1–2pm. Most post offices open 9.30am–5.30pm Monday–Friday. Central GPO and the post office at 10 Middle Road are open all day Saturday.
Most shops are open seven days a week. Shops on Hong Kong Island are open 10am–7pm in Central, 10am–9.30pm in Wan Chai, and 10am–10pm or later in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Museums open at 10 or 11am–6pm. Most close one day a week.
P
Post offices
Post offices in Hong Kong deal with mailing letters, packages and provide a local and international courier service called Speedpost.
The main post office is on Hong Kong Island at 2 Connaught Place, near IFC, Monday–Saturday, 8am–6pm. In Kowloon, post offices are at 405 Nathan Road, between the Jordan and Yau Ma Tei underground stations, and at 10 Middle Road, one block north of Salisbury Road. For information, tel: 2921 2222, www.hongkongpost.com.
Public transport
Hong Kong’s public transport system is efficient and easy to use and remarkably inexpensive. Buses, ferries, and trams require the exact fare; the best option is an Octopus card (www.octopus.com.hk), purchased at MTR stations, 7–11 and Circle K stores and accepted on most buses and ferries, trams and the MTR system (including trains in the New Territories and the Airport Express Line). It costs HK$150 (including an HK$50 refundable deposit), and can be reloaded in units of HK$50 or HK$100 at MTR stations or convenience stores.
MTR. Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway is one of the world’s most modern, attractive, and easy-to-use undergrounds. It operates daily 6am–1am, and connects Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and Lantau. The lines (including the dedicated Disneyland Resort line) are colour-coded; signs and announcements are in English and Cantonese. Tickets for single fares, ranging from HK$4–26, can be purchased from vending machines. Take your ticket when it pops up on the turnstile, you will need it to exit at your destination.
Ferries. The Star Ferry (www.starferry.com.hk) is not just a means of transportation, but a not-to-be missed experience. It crosses Victoria Harbour, connecting Tsim Sha Tsui with Hong Kong Island at Central. It runs daily 6.30am–11.30pm every six to 12 minutes, and a token for the ferry costs HK$2 (HK$2,50 upper deck); passengers aged 65 or above (upon production of HKID or senior citizen card) go free.
Other ferries connecting sections of the city include: one from Central to Hung Hom; from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui and Sai Wan Ho to Kwun Tong.
Ferries to outlying islands are operated by New World First Ferry (for Lantau, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau, tel: 2131 8181) and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (www.hkkf.com.hk; for Lamma, tel: 2815 6063). All depart from the Outlying Island Ferry Piers in front of the IFC buildings in Central. Fares vary, the highest being HK$31. Jetfoils and catamarans to Macau leave from the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan every 15 minutes 7am–1am, every hour 1am–7am; one-way fares start at HK$138, and increase at night and at weekends.
Buses. The bus service in Hong Kong is good and relatively cheap. All bus stops have English route maps. Double-decker buses run 24 hours (night bus numbers are prefixed by an ‘N’) and cover even remote parts of Hong Kong. Fares range from HK$1.90–45, and the exact fare must be put in the box next to the driver (all buses accept Octopus cards). There are three companies: New World First Bus (tel: 2136 8888), Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB, tel: 2745 4466) and Citybus (tel: 2873 0818). Major terminals are on both sides of the Star Ferry, and on Hong Kong Island at Exchange Square.
‘Public Light Buses’ seat 16 passengers. You can hail them at designated stops but get off almost anywhere along their route. Tell the driver when you want to get off and pay as you leave. Minibuses are red and yellow, and you pay cash when you get off. Maxicabs are distinctive green-and-yellow vans that run set routes and you pay as you get on (they also take Octopus cards). The fares for both range from HK$2–22.50. Destinations are marked in English and Chinese on the front, but the English is often smaller and hard to read. Both ply routes around Hong Kong Island, and in Kowloon.
Trams. Hong Kong’s picturesque double-decker trams are also a tourist attraction and provide a pleasant way to see the sights. They traverse the north coast of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan. Pick one up on Des Voeux, Queensway, or Hennessy roads. Enter at the rear and exit at the front, dropping HK$2.30 into the fare box as you leave. It’s a flat rate regardless of the distance travelled. The service operates from 6am until midnight.
Trains. Hong Kong’s rail link with China (formerly known as the Kowloon–Canton Railway, now part of the MTR system) runs 34km (21 miles) from Kowloon to the border. The local trains that serve commuters in the New Territories are an excellent way of visiting the area’s towns and villages. Trains run daily every 3–10 minutes. Fares are very reasonable, costing HK$13 for standard class from Tsim Sha Tsui East to Sheung Shui and HK$26 for first class.
The MTR’s Light Rail Transit system (LRT) operate in the western New Territories linking the towns of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Trains run Mon–Sat 5.30am–0.41am, 6am–midnight on Sunday.
Taxis. Hong Kong’s metered taxis can be hailed on the street. Taxis on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are red. Fares start at HK$17 for the first 2km (1.2 miles), and go up around HK$1.50 for every 200m; there are extra charges for luggage (HK$5 per piece) and trips through tunnels (see Budgeting for your Trip).
It’s a good idea to have your destination and the name of your hotel written in Chinese. Many hotels print a list of well-known places in Chinese characters and English you can carry with you.
Funicular. The Peak Tram furnicular links Garden Road with Victoria Peak, daily 7am–midnight every 10 minutes. The climb to the Peak Tower takes eight minutes; from the top there’s a panoramic view. The fare is HK$40 return for adults, HK$18 for children.
R
Religion
Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism or a mixture thereof are the major religions in Hong Kong. There are also Christian churches of every denomination, Islamic mosques, Hindu temples and Jewish and Baha’i houses of worship. Anglican/Episcopal services are held at St John’s Cathedral in Central, Hong Kong Island, and St Andrew’s Church on Nathan Road, Kowloon. Catholic Mass is held at Rosary Chapel on South Chatham Road, Kowloon. For information, see the Saturday issue of the South China Morning Post.
Kowloon Mosque (Jamia Masjid), catering to Hong Kong’s sizable Muslim population, is beside Kowloon Park, on Nathan Road.
T
Telephone
Hong Kong’s country code is 852; Macau’s is 853. Both have 8-digit numbers. For overseas calls dial 001 (10011 for collect/reverse charge calls). For English-speaking information dial 1081; if you have difficulty in getting a number, dial 109. You can use a mobile if it is GSM900, PCS1800, CDMA or WCDMA; operators include Smartone-Vodaphone, 3, CSL and PCCW. All sell temporary SIM cards with reasonable rates for local calls and SMS. For IDD it’s better to buy a calling card. International direct-dial calls can be made from any public phone, which require a HK$1, 2, 5 or 10 coins or a phone card. Hotels add a surcharge on both local and international calls.
Time zones
The hours in the following chart refer to the months when many countries in the northern hemisphere move their clocks one hour ahead (Daylight Savings). Hong Kong stays the same year-round, at GMT + 8.
New York London Hong Kong Sydney Auckland
7am noon 7pm 9pm 11pm
Tipping
Tipping in Hong Kong is confusing; who should be tipped and when is not always clear. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10 percent service charge, but whether it goes to staff is debatable, In inexpensive places, round up the bill or leave 5–10 percent.
Tourist guides do not indicate that they expect a tip, but they should receive about 10 percent of the cost of the tour. A hotel porter expects HK$5–10 per bag. Lavatory attendants deserve HK$2–5, depending on the establishment. For taxi drivers you can simply round up the fare to the nearest dollar or two.
The best rule is to tip according to how you feel; not everybody tips in Hong Kong and anything you give will be graciously received.
Toilets
Public toilets are well dispersed and there are usually plenty of options. Shopping malls usually have good facilities and places frequented by tourists and up-market establishments will have Western toilets. You may encounter Chinese squat toilets in non-tourist areas or even in restaurants with a largely Chinese clientele; most of these in Hong Kong are clean and well-maintained.
Where are the toilets? Chi saw haih been do a?
Tourist information
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) operates information and gift centres at key areas. There is one in the arrivals hall at Chek Lap Kok, open daily 8am–9pm. The Hong Kong Island office is at The Peak Piazza (between The Peak Tower and The Peak Galleria), daily 11am–8pm. On the Kowloon side in Tsim Sha Tsui, there’s an office on the Star Ferry Concourse, daily 8am–8pm. The HKTB Visitor Hotline, tel: 2508 1234, operates daily 9am–6pm, www.discoverhongkong.com.
The HKTB publishes free brochures and literature; the Official Hong Kong Guide is a monthly information booklet with an overview of attractions, shopping tips and current events and exhibitions. Free maps are available. There are several weekly and monthly publications, free at restaurants, bars and other outlets, including Hong Kong Diary, BC magazine (www.bcmagazine.net) and the HK magazine (http://hk-magazine.com) The South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com) has daily listings. A new arrival on the scene is the fortnightly Time Out Hong Kong (www.timeout.com.hk).
The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO; hotline tel: 2833 3000, www.macautourism.gov.mo) is at Chek Lap Kok, daily 9.30am–13pm, 14–17.45pm. MGTO offices are at both ends of the Macau ferry terminal: Room 336, 3/F, on the departure floor in Hong Kong, and in the arrivals hall at the Macau Ferry Terminal. Maps of Macau are available as well as Macau Travel Talk and the pamphlet Macau Walking Tours. Some brochures are available online.
Overseas HKTB branch offices: Australia: Hong Kong House, Level 4, 80 Druitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, tel: 02-9283 3083. UK: 6 Grafton Street. London WIX 3LB, tel: 020-7533 7100.
Travellers with disabilities
Hong Kong is not an easy place for travellers with disabilities. Hong Kong’s frequent steps and many steep streets, narrow crowded footpaths and the pedestrian overpasses are not easily negotiated. Some hotels have special facilities for the disabled, most buildings have lifts, escalators are common, and taxis are inexpensive and easy to find. Contact HKTB (www.wheelawaydisabledtravel.com) for more information and advice.
W
Websites
www.discoverhongkong.com – HKTB’s website.
www.lcsd.gov.hk – Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government
www.macautourism.gov.mo – Macau’s tourist information.
www.travelocity.com – air fares and bookings and accommodation.
www.bestfares.com – for airfares
Weights and measures
The international metric system is in official use. However, Imperial and Chinese measurements are still commonly used. Food products are generally sold by the kg, lb or catty (1.3lbs/600g). Market stalls and stores will give you a tape measure if needed. Clothes and shoes are in a mix of Asian, European, American and British sizes.
Y
Youth hostels
Youth hostels are located in remote scenic areas, but easily accessible by public transport. Main hostels are Jockey Club Mount Davis Youth Hostel, Mt Davis Path, Mt Davis, Western District, tel: 2817 5715; and Bradbury Jockey Club, 66 Ting Kok Road, Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po, New Territories, tel: 2662 5123. For information, contact the Youth Hostels Association, tel: 2788 1638, www.yha.org.hk.
Centrally located budget establishments with simple or bunk-bed rooms include HK Star World Guest House, Unit J, 9/F, Wing Lee Building, 27-33 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2368 5509; www.hkstarworldguesthouse.com; and the YWCA’s Garden View International House, overlooking the botanical gardens at 1 MacDonnell Road, Central, tel: 2877 3737; http://hotel.ywca.org.hk, describes itself as a 4-star hotel and the prices are similar.