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Addresses
Hong Kong continues to use the address system inherited from the British and addresses are easily understood by tourists. Roads all have corresponding Chinese and English names, though the way in which they correspond may not always be obvious. Some are Chinese names rendered in Romanized script; many roads on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were originally named after historic British figures and the Chinese version is an attempt at transliteration in Cantonese; others still reference the same landmark or building, though the Chinese word may sound completely unlike the English. When using taxis, it often pays to have your address written down in Chinese script.
In mainland China, addresses are ordered in the opposite way, with the largest unit – the city, or district – appearing at the top of addresses. In contrast to Hong Kong, the ground-level of any given building is known as the first floor (1/F). English road names are always the pinyin (Romanized) version of the original Chinese name. Large roads are often divided into geographic sections, and it’s common to see the words Dong, Xi, Bei, Nan and Zhong feature before the word Lu (road). These refer, respectively, to east, west, north, south and central sections.
Admission charges
Government-owned museum and gallery admissions are good value in Hong Kong. Average charges are around HK$10 for adults and HK$5 for seniors and students. Children under three are free, and many museums are free to all on Wednesdays. To make your money go further, the HK$30 Museum Pass gives one week’s unlimited access to seven of the city’s most popular museums.
Privately owned venues are more expensive. Adults pay HK$225 at Madame Tussaud’s, while children aged 3 to 11 years cost HK$155. A day of fun at Ocean Park is HK$160 for children and HK$320 for adults. Both offer small discounts for booking online. At cinemas, tickets average HK$80 for adults with a small reduction for children. Admission to all parks and beaches is free.
Age restrictions
The legal age of consent for sexual activity in Hong Kong is 16. Licenced bars, restaurants and clubs cannot serve alcohol to anyone below the age of 18, though there is no age restriction on drinking outside these premises. Drivers must be over the age of 18.
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Budgeting for your trip
Having stayed steady for most of the past decade, prices are slowly starting to rise. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, so how far your money goes will always be relative to the strength and weakness of the greenback.
Hotel prices can vary throughout the year. The busiest times at Hong Kong hotels are during the main public holidays in China and the large trade fairs in April and October. Outside these times prices can drop considerably though room tariffs are always higher on weekends. Researching your options will pay off, as many hotels have regular promotions on their websites, and travel agents and online hotel-booking sites negotiate special rates (for more information, click here).
Once in Hong Kong, transportation is a bargain. For HK$15 (US$2) you can travel up to 10 stops on the MTR or cross Hong Kong Island by public bus. It costs HK$2 to ride the length of the island by tram and on Hong Kong’s other iconic transportation, the Star Ferry, you will spend next to nothing crossing the harbour.
Discovering the range of food in Hong Kong is part of the experience, and prices can vary dramatically. You can expect to pay US$15 or less per person at a very reasonable Chinese restaurant. A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant can cost upwards of US$100 with wine. At the best restaurants diners expect to pay US$250 plus for two.
To stretch the budget further, look out for special menus and budget set menus at cafés and restaurants. “Business lunch” set menus are great value.
There are bargains to be had at the best hotels. The hotel buffet is an institution and a great way to sample a huge variety of cuisine, or satisfy different tastes within a group for a reasonable price. It’s an event in itself and a treat for gastronomes.
Standard drinks in Hong Kong cost around US$8 and can be double in luxury hotel bars and the trendiest venues. Look out for Happy Hours.
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Climate
Hong Kong has a humid, subtropical climate. There are, however, four distinct seasons. The ideal time for travelling to Hong Kong is from the end of September to early December, when the weather is warm, the air is relatively dry and it seldom rains. The average daytime temperature is around 24°C (75°F), with humidity around 70 percent.
What to wear
Despite the latitude, winter (late December to early March) temperatures can be slightly chilly, especially in the rural areas, so it is advisable to bring light woollens and sometimes a coat. The average daytime temperature is 17°C (63°F), with humidity around 75 percent.
Temperatures and humidity rise abruptly in spring, when daytime temperatures shoot up from 20°C (68°F) in March to 28°C (82°F) in May. In summer, which lasts until early September, temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) and humidity is consistently above 70 percent. Even at night it is rare for the temperature to dip below 26°C (79°F), and even when it doesn’t rain you will quickly be dripping with sweat. Wear light clothes, but bring something with long sleeves for the summer – because many restaurants and shops have very effective air-conditioning.
Macau’s climate is the same as Hong Kong’s. Temperatures in Guangzhou are slightly higher in summer, slightly lower in winter, and there is rather more rain through the year.
Typhoons
From June to early September, it is not uncommon for Hong Kong to experience tropical storms or typhoons (the name derives from dai fung – big wind). If you are in Hong Kong when a typhoon hits, you will find that virtually everything comes to a complete standstill.
The Hong Kong Observatory has standard typhoon warnings that vary according to how close a typhoon is to Hong Kong. Usually, this begins with a typhoon number one (T1) signal, which may shortly escalate to a number three. When the number eight signal is raised, it means Hong Kong may suffer a direct hit. Schools, offices and shops close immediately and everyone goes home. A rare typhoon number ten is almost certain to mean serious damage, as the storm sweeps through the territory causing floods and sometimes deaths. Watching typhoon news bulletins can be dramatic and exciting, but when everything closes you will be stuck for anything to do. Hotels, however, do continue to operate. In fact, locals often go to hotel restaurants as they are the only places likely to be open during a typhoon. Stay inside during a typhoon, as fatalities have been known to occur in both urban and rural areas, mainly due to objects and structures that fall in the strong winds.
The frequency of direct hits is erratic: of the thirteen since 1946, only one (Typhoon York in 1999) has occurred in the past 30 years. In April 2008, typhoon Neoguri passed close to Hong Kong, the earliest storm for over 50 years.
Crime and safety
One of the great joys of Hong Kong is the low level of crime and the resultant freedom from fear of crime. In the main commercial and entertainment areas you are safe to walk alone at any hour of the day, and most of the night. Tourists are more obvious targets for pickpockets in the busiest areas, but normal precautions should suffice.
Both Guangzhou and Macau are considered safe destinations for tourists. Avoid touts, and do not be tempted to pursue goods and services offered to you on the street.
More caution is required in Shenzhen. Hong Kong residents have reported muggings. Dress down for a visit to Shenzhen and leave your jewellery behind. Stick to busy public areas. When shopping, do not let the lure of a bargain make you forget your common sense.
Customs regulations
Hong Kong is a free port, so you can bring as many gifts as you like in and out of the territory. Wine and beer are also duty-free, though passengers are restricted to 1 litre of liquor with an alcohol content of 30% or more. Firearms must be declared and handed into custody until departure. Duty-free tobacco allowances for visitors are 19 cigarettes, a single cigar or 25g tobacco.
Departure tax
Hong Kong imposes a HK$120 Air Passenger Departure Tax on all passengers aged 12 years and above departing Hong Kong International Airport or by helicopter at the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal. This will be included in the price of the airline ticket and no money is payable at the airport.
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Disabled travellers
The Hong Kong Council of Social Services has compiled a useful accessibility guide for buildings and tourist attractions, www.hkcss.org.hk.
Taxis are often the best way to get about in Hong Kong, and reasonably priced. The train networks have a very inconsistent level of access. Station announcements are in Cantonese, Mandarin (Putonghua) and English.
Easy-Access Travel is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, and has a fleet of specially adapted buses so it can cater for visitors with limited mobility. Day trips, full itineraries and advice are available. Email: eat@rehabsociety.org.hk, tel: 2772 7301, www.rehabsociety.org.hk/e.
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Embassies & consulates
Australia, Harbour Centre, 23–4/F, 25 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Tel: 2827 8881.
Canada, One Exchange Square, 12–14/F, 8 Connaught Place, Central. Tel: 3719 4700.
France, Admiralty Centre, Tower II, 26/F, 18 Harcourt Rd, Admiralty. Tel: 3752 9900.
Germany, 21/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty. Tel: 2105 8788.
Japan, 46–47/F, One Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central. Tel: 2522 1184.
New Zealand, Rm 6501, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Tel: 2511 7218.
Singapore, Unit 901, 9/F, Tower 1, Admiralty Centre, 18 Harcourt Rd, Admiralty. Tel: 2527 2212.
South Africa, 27/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Tel: 2577 3279.
United Kingdom, 1 Supreme Court Rd, Admiralty. Tel: 2901 3000.
United States, 26 Garden Rd, Central. Tel: 2523 9011.
Emergency Numbers
For police, fire and ambulance services in Hong Kong and China, dial 999. In Macau call 999 for emergencies, or 919 for police.
Etiquette
Hong Kong’s incredible density means residents have learned to cope with minimal personal space. However, for such a crowded city, Hong Kong is relatively fastidious when it comes to public etiquette. Food and drink is forbidden on the orderly MTR, queues are well observed, and jaywalking is frowned upon. Bad habits are pointed out in infomercials broadcast across the media landscape. It is the polar opposite on the other side of the mainland border where elbows fly on subway trains, queues rarely exist, and jaywalking is often a necessity if you wish to cross the road.
Electricity
The voltage in Hong Kong is 200/220 volts, 50 cycles. For a place of such international standing, it is surprising that Hong Kong still does not seem to have standardised plug fittings. However, hotels will certainly have adaptors to make any appliance work.
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Gay and lesbian travellers
Hong Kong’s gay scene may not yet have come of age, but it had its long-overdue coming-out party with its first Pink Parade in October 2004, and the city’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has become part of the alternative arts calendar. For information on events and happenings, look for HK Magazine. For nightlife for more information, click here.
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Health and medical care
No vaccinations are required for Hong Kong, but it is advisable to consider inoculations against Hepatitis A. Tap water is safe in Hong Kong, but you may find bottled water more palatable. The most important thing is to keep well hydrated in the heat and humidity. Food from street stalls is usually just as safe as that served in licensed cafés and restaurants. Asia’s most prominent pharmacy brand, Watson’s, is headquartered in Hong Kong and there are stores across the territory, including many MTR stations and shopping malls.
Medical services
Hong Kong
Adventist Hospital, 40 Stubbs Rd, Happy Valley. Tel: 3651 8888.
Central Medical Practice, 3/F, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Central. Tel: 2824 0822.
Prince of Wales Hospital, 30–32 Ngan Shing St, Sha Tin, New Territories. Tel: 2632 2211.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
30 Gascoigne Rd, Kowloon. Tel: 2958 8888.
Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong. Tel: 2255 3838.
Macau
Kiang Wu Hospital, Estr. Coelho do Amaral. Tel: 2837 1333.
S. Januário Hospital, Estr. do Visconde de S. Januário. Tel: 2831 3731.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen People’s Hospital, 1017 Dongmen Bei Lu. Tel: 2553 3018.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Can Am International Medical Centre, 5/F, Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu. Tel: 8386 6988.
Guangzhou No. 1 People’s Hospital, 602 Renmin Bei Lu. Tel: 8399 2090.
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Most hotels offer broadband connections in their rooms, and many offer wireless internet in public areas. Internet cafés are not common in Hong Kong, but free Internet access is available at all public libraries, as well as many coffee shops around the SAR. Branches of chains Pacific Coffee, Starbucks and Mix offer two or three computers for free use by their customers – although you may have to wait at busy times. Free Government Wi-fi hotspots are springing up around the city.
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Left luggage
Facilities are available at Hong Kong Airport, and in Kowloon at Hung Hom Station and the Hong Kong China City Building.
Lost property
To report lost or stolen property, contact the Hong Kong Police. Call 2860 2000 to find out the location of the nearest police station. If you are think you left your property in a taxi, it may be worth contacting the taxi lost property line which will – in theory at least, and for a charge – inform all taxi drivers. Tel: 1872 920.
To report a lost credit card, call American Express on 2811 6122, MasterCard on 800-966-677 and Visa on 800-900-782.
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Maps
There are numerous maps available in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourist Board provides welcome packs (which include maps) at airport, seaport and border crossings from mainland China. The laminated Insight Fleximaps to Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are durable, detailed and easy to use, and each has a full street index. If you are travelling into China, maps with place names in both English and Chinese are useful. If you can point at a place name written in Chinese with a friendly smile, many a misunderstanding can be avoided.
Media
Newspapers and magazines
Hong Kong has a large number of newspapers and magazines, most of which are published in Chinese. Hong Kong continues to enjoy a free press despite being part of China, and the territory is noted as a media centre for the region.
By far the most influential newspaper in Hong Kong is the daily English-language South China Morning Post. A second English daily, The Standard, is handed out free on the streets, Monday to Friday. Two of the most popular Chinese-language dailies are the rather sensationalist Oriental Daily News and the Apple Daily News.
Listings magazines worth looking out for are the weekly English-language HK Magazine (www.hk-magazine.com), which is published every Friday and distributed free at most popular bars, restaurants and bookshops in the territory, and Time Out Hong Kong magazine, published every fortnight. Tourists who want an opinionated insider’s view will find the restaurant, club and entertainment reviews worth a read. Time Out also includes reviews of events in Macau.
Radio and television
Over a dozen radio stations are broadcast in Hong Kong, though there is now only one dedicated English-language channel, RTHK. Some other stations offer an element of programming in English. The BBC World Service is available 24 hours a day. For local news, Hong Kong’s two TV stations, TVB and ATV, each broadcast one English-language channel and one Chinese-language channel. If you are staying in a hotel you should have access to a selection of regional and international broadcasters in English via cable and satellite.
Money
The Hong Kong dollar is the standard unit of currency and comes in denominations of HK$1,000, $500, $100, $50, $20 and $10 notes plus HK$10, $5, $2 and $1 coins. The dollar is divided into 100 cents, and there are coins of 50¢, 20¢ and 10¢ denominations. The dollar rate fluctuates against most major international currencies but it is pegged to the US dollar at approximately 7.8 Hong Kong dollars to the US dollar.
There are three note-issuing banks in Hong Kong: Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of China. Most banks will exchange foreign currency and generally display exchange rates on digital boards. They usually offer better rates than the money-changers in the major tourist areas, there’s usually a HK$50 charge for a single transaction. Cash machines are plentiful in the urban areas, and allow the withdrawal of local currency with most major credit cards.
Macau’s official currency, the pataca (MOP$), is divided into 100 avos. There are banknotes in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 patacas and 10, 5, 2, and 1 pataca coins. The pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar, which is accepted as currency in Macau.
Hong Kong dollars are not widely accepted in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, though some shops may accept the currency, albeit at punitive rates. It’s advisable to change your money into renminbi (RMB) before you enter the mainland. The basic unit is the yuan, often called kuai. One yuan is worth 10 jiao. Banknotes come in 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 yuan denominations: plus 5, 2 and 1 jiao.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Hong Kong in bars, restaurants and hotels. A 10-percent service charge is added to the bill in many restaurants, but it is still customary to add a further 5 percent to go direct to the staff. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, but rounding up the fare to the nearest dollar or two is appreciated.
In places frequented by tourists in Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou tipping is increasingly common practice; follow the same guidelines as Hong Kong.
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Opening hours
Office hours in Hong Kong are 9am to 5.30pm or 6pm. Small shops, grocers and markets are open before 8am, but major stores and shopping centres generally open around 10am. Banks open between 8.30am and 4.30pm, but times may vary between branches and banks.
While shops in Central close by 7 or 8pm, elsewhere it’s late-night shopping every night. In particular, many shops in Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok stay open until 10 or 11pm seven days a week, including public holidays.
Bars and restaurants are free to choose their own opening times. Things start to quieten down in the main entertainment districts after 1am. If you want to drink and party all night you will find venues.
In Macau, restaurants and bars are open late, but after midnight most of the action is centred around the 24-hour casinos. In Shenzhen and Guangzhou shops and shopping centres are open in the evening, and although locals like to dine early, there are many places to eat and drink late at night.
Public holidays
The fact that many Hong Kong residents work a five-and-a-half-day week and have short periods of annual leave is compensated by a relatively large number of public holidays every year – 17 in total. These are as follows:
1 January: New Year’s Day
January/February: Lunar New Year (three-day holiday)
March/April: Good Friday and Easter Monday; Ching Ming Festival (5 April)
May/June: Dragon Boat Festival; Buddha’s Birthday (lunar); Labour Day (1 May)
1 July: SAR Establishment Day
September/October: The day following the Mid-Autumn Festival
1 October: National Day
October: Chung Yeung Festival
25 December: Christmas (two days).
Macau
As for Hong Kong, but with some additional days: National Day (1 October) is a two-day holiday in Macau. There are public holidays for All Souls’ Day in November, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December and the Winter Solstice on 22 December. The Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (20 December) replaces Hong Kong’s 1 July holiday.
China
There are seven official holidays in China. Two of these are three-day holidays for Lunar New Year and National Day, though these morph into a full week with staff and schoolchildren working over the prior weekend to give themselves a full seven day break. These periods are known as “Golden Weeks”, though conditions are unpleasant for travellers as prices increase and transport networks heave. If possible, avoid travelling to the mainland at these times:
1 January: New Year’s Day
Lunar New Year: officially three days (Jan/Feb), but nearly all offices, banks and government departments close for a full week.
Qingming Festival: April 4 or 5
1 May: Labour Day, plus two following days
Dragon Boat Festival: Fifth day of the fifth lunar month (usually June)
Mid-Autumn Festival: Mid-way through the eight lunar month (usually September)
National Day: officially three days from October 1, but nearly all offices, banks and government departments close for a full week.
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Postal services
Airmail stamps are available from convenience stores and vending machines outside post offices. The General Post Office in Central, 2 Connaught Road, also sells a selection of cards and gifts.
Most post offices are open 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday. The General Post Office at 2 Connaught Place, Central, is also open from 9am to 5pm on Sunday while, on the Kowloon side, the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, located at 10 Middle Road, is open Sundays, 9am to 2pm.
If you choose to mail presents and purchases rather than carry them home, Hong Kong Post is cheap, efficient and can also courier documents and parcels. In Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou hotels will assist guests with posting mail and packages.
In Macau, the main post office is located in picturesque Senado Square. If you are tempted by antique and reproduction furniture, shops can assist in arranging shipping. Shenzhen shoppers rely on the post office on the ground floor at the Lo Wu shopping centre to ease their burden after bargain hunting. In China it is probably much simpler to use the postal services at business and tourist hotels.
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Smoking
Smoking remains an integral part of some aspects of Chinese culture, though its popularity seems to be on the decline in Hong Kong. Health infomercials regularly warn of the dangers of the practice, and a blanket ban on smoking in all indoor places – restaurants, bars and clubs included – has been in place since 2009. Some nightlife venues do turn a blind eye and tobacco control inspectors are kept busy in issuing fines.
Student travellers
Students over the age of 11 years do not benefit from many travel discounts in Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland. Some cultural events offer slightly reduced ticket prices for students with identification.
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Telephones
Hong Kong is well known for having one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in the world. Virtually the entire network consists of fibre-optic cabling with digital switching, which means a whole host of advanced telecommunications services are available to local users.
International calls
All hotels offer international direct-dial services at an inflated price.
International dialling codes:
Hong Kong: 852
Macau: 853
Shenzhen: 86-755
Guangzhou: 86-20
In Hong Kong:
Directory Assistance: 1081 (in English)
Collect Calls: 10010
International directory enquiries /overseas numbers: 10013
International access codes:
AT&T: 800 96 1111
MCI: 800 96 1121
Sprint: 800 96 1877.
Local calls
Local telephone calls are free of charge, so it may be possible to use the telephone in shops, bars and restaurants that have a landline. Many shopping malls and convenience stores even have a complimentary phone for customers to use. Most hotels charge for local calls from guest rooms.
Mobile phones
Hong Kong has one of the highest rates of mobile-phone ownership – at 140 percent there are more phone subscribers than residents. Mobile phones can be rented at Hong Kong International Airport. To avoid roaming changes, you can buy pre-paid SIM cards with a Hong Kong number and a fixed number of minutes from convenience stores or the telephone companies’ shops. These cards are compatible with tri-band and dual-band phones. Mobiles can be used on the MTR subway system.
Public phones
Public phone booths are becoming increasingly rare. It generally costs HK$1 for five minutes, and calls can be paid by phone card or coins. Stored-value phone cards are available from retail stores of telephone companies and convenience stores.
Time zone
Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Guangzhou all operate on the same time zone (Beijing time). This is GMT +8 hours (EST +13 hours). There is no daylight savings time, so from early April to late October, when Europe and America put their clocks forward by one hour, Hong Kong is seven hours ahead of London and twelve hours ahead of New York.
Toilets
Toilet facilities at tourist attractions in Hong Kong are generally clean, well maintained and always free of charge to use. Public toilets in other locations are of a variable standard, and soap and paper may be absent. To be on the safe side, always carry a small pack of tissues. Shopping centres and restaurants usually have clean facilities.
There are few public toilets to be found in Macau, and clean public toilets are a rarity in Shenzhen. However, in recent years Guangzhou has opened some acceptable new public toilets, complete with star rating. Patrons must pay a small fee of one or two yuan.
Tourist information
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is the official government-sponsored body representing the tourism industry of Hong Kong, and offers many useful services and helpful publications. HKTB also provides information packs for tourists arriving at the airport and the land crossing at Lo Wu. Out-of-hours computer terminals provide 24-hour access to the excellent www.discoverhongkong.com website.
At the HKTB’s Visitor Information and Services Centres you can pick up useful publications including the weekly Hong Kong Diary and the monthly Official Hong Kong Map. A Guide to Quality Shops and Restaurants is a handy (but dense) book that lists all establishments that have been accredited by the HKTB’s QTS scheme, and includes special offers and vouchers that are exclusive to visitors. The centres also provide a tour-reservation service for selected tours, and stock an interesting selection of souvenirs.
HKTB visitor centres
International Airport: (only accessible to arriving visitors), Halls A and B, Arrivals Level, Terminal 1, 8am–9pm daily
Lo Wu Terminal Building: Arrival Hall, 2/F, 8am–6pm daily
Hong Kong Island: Causeway Bay MTR station (Near Exit F), 8am–8pm daily. There is also an office at the Peak Piazza (between The Peak Tower and The Peak Galleria), 9am–9pm daily
Kowloon: Star Ferry pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, 9am–6pm daily
Visitor Hotline (multilingual): 2508 1234 8am–6pm daily
Tourist information is available at www.discoverhongkong.com.
CTS offices
China Travel Service (CTS) is China’s state travel agency and can arrange tours, tickets and visas for travel to the mainland, although CTS offices do not provide a tourist information service.
Hong Kong: G/F, CTS House, 78–83 Connaught Road, Central. Tel: 2853 3533.
Kowloon: 1/F, Alpha House, 27 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2315 7106.
Macau
The Macau Government Tourist Office runs offices at the Macau ferry terminal in Hong Kong and upon arrival in Macau. There is also a tourist information centre on the Largo do Senado square, open 9am–6pm daily. Visitors can contact the tourist hotline (853) 2833 3000 or view the website www.macautourism.gov.mo.
Tourist offices overseas
Hong Kong is the most visited city in Asia, and the HKTB has offices in Sydney, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei. There are also HKTB offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou. www.discoverhongkong.com
Australia
Level 4, Hong Kong House, 80 Druitt Street, Sydney, nsw 2000
Tel: 61 2 9283 3083
Fax: 61 2 9283 3383
United Kingdom
6/F, Mutual House, 70 Conduit Street, London W1S 4GF
Tel: 44 20 7432 7700
Fax: 44 20 7432 7701
United States
Suite 1812, 370 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Tel: 1 212 421 3382
Fax: 1 212 421 8428.
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Visas and passports
Nationals of most developed countries do not require a visa for entry to Hong Kong or Macau, but you will need one if you plan to visit mainland China.
For those taking up employment in Hong Kong, it is necessary to obtain a work permit from the Immigration Department, usually in advance of entering the territory. Your company should be able to assist with the necessary paperwork. Hong Kong residents should carry a Hong Kong identity card, which is issued by the Immigration Department.
All other visitors are supposed to carry photographic identity such as a passport with them, but it is unlikely that you will be stopped by police officers and asked to produce identification.
Chinese visas
Visas for China are issued at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 5/F Lower Block, China Resources Bldg, 26 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; tel: 3413 2424 www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/. Visa applications are made on the seventh floor. Two photos are required. A basic single-entry visa costs HK$200 but higher, “reciprocal” charges are made to citizens of 25 countries, the US and UK included. A British citizen will pay HK$360 while an American will pay HK$1,100. Visas are processed in about three days though express services are available. China visas can also be obtained through most Hong Kong travel agents, including the Hong Kong offices of the China Travel Service (CTS). The two main offices are at 78 Connaught Road, Central; tel: 2853 3888, and at 1/F, Alpha House, 27 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2315 7106, 24-hour hotline 3413 2300. www.ctshk.com.
If you are planning a short trip to Shenzhen, citizens of the UK, Canada, Australia and several other nations can apply for a five-day visa on arrival when crossing the mainland border. The visa office at Lo Wu (Lohu) keeps the longest office hours and most reliable staff. Visas generally cost RMB168, but the price is hiked to more than RMB400 for British passport holders, making it more economical to apply for a regular China visa. The visa on arrival option is not open to American citizens.
If you plan on visiting Hong Kong as a side trip from the mainland, make sure that you have a double- or multiple-entry China visa.
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Weights and measures
Imperial, metric and traditional Chinese measures are all legally accepted weights and measures in Hong Kong. Distance is most often measured in kilometres. Clothes and shoes also mix Asian, European, British and US sizings.
Vital Statistics
Area: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region covers a total area of 1,103 sq km (426 sq miles), comprising Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories and 262 outlying islands.
Geography: Hong Kong lies on a latitude of 22° 15 North (similar to Kolkata and Havana) and a longitude of 114° 10 East.
Population: Hong Kong’s population is just over 7 million, and population density is 6,300 people per sq km (2,400 per sq mile). Of the half a million or so non-Chinese living in Hong Kong, the three biggest groups are the 133,000 Filipinos, the equal number of Indonesians, and the 32,000 or so US passport-holders.