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About HK
Hong Kong is the most vibrant and dynamic city in Asia and is the gateway to Mainland China. Here is the place where East meets West. From countless shopping malls, to the versatile culinary delight, cultural attractions and a spectacular skyline, Hong Kong is a city not to miss.
Check out more information at DiscoverHongKong.com.
General Information
Business & Banking Hours
Generally, offices of most commercial establishments and government departments open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with a lunch hour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Mondays to Fridays. Some open on Saturdays, usually from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Major banks are open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays.
Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with distinct seasonal changes. It can get uncomfortably humid in the summer months, and the monsoons between July and September can put a damper on things. September through April is the time to come although it can get a tad chilly in January and February.
It is summer time when you visit Hong Kong in June . The average temperature is 25 ¡V 30¢XC and humidity at 82%. For the most updated information, please visit the website of Hong Kong Observatory at www.hko.gov.hk
Dial-a-Weather
Local Forecast and Temperature Readings Hotline(24 hours):
| English | (852)187-8066 |
| Putonghua | (852)187-8202 |
| Cantonese | (852)187-8200 |
Currency and Credit Cards
The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of US$1=HK$7.8, although the rate does vary slightly. All major currencies and travellers' cheques can be exchanged at banks, hotels or moneychangers with some handling charges. Credit cards are widely accepted in Hong Kong and can be used to obtain cash advances at banks and automatic teller machines.
Departure Tax
The Air Passenger Departure Tax in Hong Kong is currently HK$120 for persons aged 12 and above. Children under 12 years of age are not required to pay the tax.
China travel information
For those wanting to proceed to Mainland China we provide the following China travel information. From visas, customs, GMT + 8 hours, Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan; tipping is not standard practice in China; official language is Mandarin Chinese; English is not widely spoken; international dialing code for China is 86; etc.
For more details, please visit http://www.china-hongkong-travelguide.com/china-travel.html
Electricity
The voltage in Hong Kong is 220V, 50Hz. Most sockets are 3-rectangular-pin sockets and most hotels provide adaptors for electrical appliances.
Language
The official languages are Chinese and English, with Cantonese the most widely spoken Chinese dialect. All major signage is in Chinese or bilingual. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong.
Public Transport
Hong Kong is so compact, getting around is quite easy. Fleets of taxis, buses, trams, ferries, complemented by the excellent Mass Transit Railway (MTR) underground system, will enable participants to travel between their hotels and other areas in the city, safely and conveniently.
Airport Express
Fare: HK$100/trip, HK$180/round trip
The Airport Express is a dedicated airport railway line providing fast and reliable service operating daily from 5:50 am to 1:15 am (last train departs from Airport or Hong Kong Station at 0:48 am) at 12-minute intervals. The train journey to or from downtown Hong Kong takes approximately 23 minutes.
Taxis
Rates start at HK$15.00 on flag fall (first 2 km) plus HK$1.40 every further 200m. Pay in HK$ only the fare shown on the meter plus any additional charges when applicable, e.g. luggage, tunnel tolls. Charges are displayed in the taxi. Passengers have to pay the two-way Cross-Harbour tunnel toll on cross-harbour trips.
Safety
Hong Kong is generally considered a safe city by day or night. As in all big cities, avoid carrying large amount of cash. Make use of your hotel's safe-deposit box for valuable items.
Sales Tax
There is no sales tax on goods and services in Hong Kong.
Shopping
There are no set hours for shops, but generally:
Central District ¡V 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
All others ¡V 10:00 am to 9:00 pm or 10:00 pm
Shops are open 7 days a week. Always shop around and compare prices before deciding to buy and always shop with reputable establishments. Department stores and most shops have a fixed price policy. Bargaining, however, is possible in outdoor markets and with street vendors.
Telecommunications
Local calls from public coin phones cost HK$1 per five minutes. Most hotels have International Direct Dialing (IDD), but may charge an extra fee for local and/or IDD calls. Stored-value phone cards allow you to make calls on public coin and card phones. Internet access can be found in some of the cafes around the city and is generally available in the business centers of most of the hotels. Conrad Hong Kong offers in-room computer dataport and allows Internet access.
Travel and Tourism
For more information on Hong Kong, we recommend you to visit the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board at www.discoverhongkong.com.
Time
The local time in Hong Kong is GMT + 8.
Food and Drink
Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cooking. Chinese regional variations on food include Cantonese, Northern (Peking), Chiu Chow (Swatow), Shanghai, Sichuan and Hakka. Apart from Chinese food, which is superb, there are also many Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singapore/Malaysian and Thai restaurants.
Hong Kong Food has a variety of authentic Chinese cuisine from all the regions of China. Chinese food may be sampled on a small sampan in Causeway Bay, on a floating restaurant at Aberdeen, in a Kowloon restaurant, in a street market or at a deluxe hotel.
Tipping
Restaurants would expect a tip of around 5% to 10% of the bill, even when a service charge of 10% is already included. Bellboys, porters and washroom attendants will also expect a modest tip.
Water
Water that runs direct from taps satisfies the United Nations World Health Organization standards. Bottled water is widely available in hotels, supermarkets and convenience stores.
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