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1. Telephone System
Public telephones in Hong Kong belong to the following 6 types:
Yellow telephone only for local calls: accepting 1- or 2- HKD coins
Yellow telephone for international calls: accepting 1-, 2- or 5- HKD coins
Silver telephone: accepting 1-, 2- or 5- HKD coins
Telephone accepting magnetic cards and coins for international calls
Silver telephone accepting credit card and coins
New telephone accepting magnetic card, credit card and coins.
2. Working Hours of Banks
9a.m to 4p.m (no break) from Monday to Friday and 9a.m to 12.30p.m on Saturday
3. Toilet
Toilet can be found in street corners, parks, malls and parking lots, free of charge.
4. Smoking
Smoking is forbidden in public transportation tools and certain public places.
5. Tip
Some hotels and restaurants will levy a 10% service charge while customers may add other 5% tip. For restaurants that don’t levy a service charge, a 10% tip is expected. Tip taxi drivers, bellboys, and restroom attendants.
6. Other
Emergency call 999
Hong Kong Tourist Association Tourism Hotline: 25081234
Complaint hotline (including taxi complaint): 25277177
The Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: 28246111
Hong Kong International Airport: 21818888
Postal Directory Hotline: 29212222
7. Local-Currency
The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. Bills come in denominations of HK$20 (grey), HK$50(blue), HK$100(red), HK$500 (brown) and HK$1000 (yellow). Coins are issued in denominations of 10 cents, 20 cents, and 50 cents, HK$1, HK$2, HK$5 and HK$10.
Interestingly, Hong Kong currency is issued by three local banks, rather than by the government as in most other economies. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (often shortened to Hong Kong Bank) and Standard Chartered Bank have long been Hong Kong’s two designated note issuers. Though the bills issued by each share the same colours, their design is different. In May 1994 the Bank of China became the third note-issuing bank. In a further bow to 1997, the two British banks stopped issuing notes carrying references to the British monarchy, switching to designs that are more palatable to the Chinese government.
Sight seeing in Hong Kong is made easy for the visitors through variety of public transportation which can be termed as life line of Hong Kong Tourism.
1. Taxi
Color coded taxis operate in different districts of Hong Kong. Fare, depending on districts, starts from HKD12 to 15 for the first two kilometers, and HKD1.2 to 1.4 for each additional 0.2 kilometer. There is no haggling. Baggage handling is charged at HKD 5 per piece. To avoid problems always get your destination written in Chinese on a card.
2. Tram
Do not miss the tram ride in Hong Kong, which has one of the world’s oldest tram systems. HKD 2 for a trip up to 13 kilometers (8 miles)! You get to see busy downtown either at street level or on upper deck.
3. Ferry
A ferry ride between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is exciting. It is low cost (HKD1.7 for ordinary class and HKD2.2 for first class) and conveniently scheduled at 3 to 5-mimute intervals. This 7-minute trip offers a good view of the Victoria Harbor.
4. Subway
Subway is Hong Kong’s traffic backbone. Five subway lines with 44 stations take you everywhere in Hong Kong efficiently. The fare is charged by distance. Travelers ought to use Octopus card instead of carrying change. Station names are conveniently displayed in English. Toilet facilities are not available on the system.
5. Public Bus
Bus routes serve Hong Kong well. Most buses are double-deckers with fare ranging from HKD3 to HKD20. Directions are bilingual in Chinese and English. Octopus card can also be used on bus.
6. Mini Buses
Mini buses are color-coded. The green ones operate regular routes with fixed fare. The red ones operate without fixed charge or routes. Drivers generally do not speak English and will stop only on request.
Hong Kong is conveniently divided into four parts. First there is Hong Kong Island, the original part of the colony on which stands Hong Kong Central, the city of Hong Kong. A short ferry ride across the harbour from the island is the Kowloon peninsula which is also totally city. These are the two parts which were originally conceded to the British and were not due to be handed back to China in 1997. The southern tip of the peninsula is Tsimshatsui, the tourist heart of Kowloon. Most of Hong Kong’s hotels are in Central or in Tsimshatsui. People speak of Hong Kong side and Kowloon side.
Kai Tak airport is also in Kowloon, although its runway juts out into the harbour. Beyond Kowloon you move into the New Territories, the rural area that runs up to the Chinese border. The New Territories get progressively less rural each year as Kowloon sprawls further and further out.
The islands that dot the area to the west of Hong Kong Island, the fourth part of the colony, are really just more of the New Territories (except for one small island) since they are also part of the 99-year lease package. Largest of the islands is sparsely populated Lantau, which is much larger than Hong Kong Island itself. The islands are relatively undeveloped and in some ways the most surprising and enjoyable part of Hong Kong.
Most visitors to Hong Kong still don’t need a visa. The exception is for blacklisted countries, many of which (ironically) have or had communist regimes: Hong Kong has always made it difficult for nationals from such countries to enter its borders, and despite the return of Hong Kong to the communist motherland of China, this tradition paradoxically continues. Nationals that always require visas to travel to Hong Kong include those from China, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Romania, Vietnam and Cuba.
The only real changes affect British travellers. Currently, British citizens who hold UK passports can stay for up to six months without a visa. This can be extended. Citizens of Commonwealth countries (including British Dependent Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons) do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months. There is a British Citizens Unit on the 6th floor of Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, if you have any queries. Citizens of most western European countries are also permitted to stay for three months without a visa. Americans, Japanese, South Africans and Germans (and the majority of Latin American countries) do not require visas for a visit of one month or less.
Officially, visitors have to show that they have adequate funds for their stay and that they have an onward ticket or a return ticket to their own country. In practice, this rule is seldom enforced, except in the case when a visa is required. Visitors from the following countries must have a visa: Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China , Russia, Costa Rican provisional passport holders, Cuba, Czech Republic, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Myanniu (Burma), North Korea, Panamanian special passport holders, Vatican service passports, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia and all state- less persons. If you do need a visa, apply to the nearest Chinese consulate.
Visitors are not permitted to take up employment, establish any business or enroll as students. If you want to engage in employment, education or residence you must have a work visa beforehand. It is very hard to change your visa status after arrival in Hong Kong. Anyone wishing to stay longer than the visa free period must apply for a visa before travelling to Hong Kong. Also be aware that the above is just a guide and that (although it is very unlikely) immigration authorities have the right to refuse permission to enter Hong Kong.
Subtropical Hong Kong has four distinguishable seasons. Good weather makes it an ideal destination for travelers all year round. The peak travel season is in autumn, from September to around Christmas time.
The spring, from March to mid-May, tends to be warm and humid, accompanied by fogs and drizzles. The average temperature is 23C (73.4F). Better bring light overcoat and woolen sweater. In summer, from May to the mid-September, it has frequent downpours and thunderstorms. The average temperature is 28C (82.4F). Dress lightly, and bring an umbrella apart from T-shirt or cotton shirts. Dry and slightly cold winter has an average temperature of 17C (62.6F). You need woolen sweater and heavy coat. Expect typhoons in summer. Don’t venture out far when typhoon signal is lower than 3, and please stay indoors when it gets higher. All shops and banks are closed when typhoon signal 8 is raised.
Hong Kong celebrates traditional festivals such as Lunar New Year (The day falls between 22 January and 19 February, varying every year), Dragon Boat Festival (5 day of 5 moon) plus Easter and Christmas. Major expositions, car and horse races, golf tournaments fill in the slack.
Remember, Hong Kong hotels are booked solid for April and October due to expositions and conventions. Christmas sales attract many visitors, and hotel prices will skyrocket, especially on weekends. Travelers on a shoestring should stay away. Make reservations one week in advance to avoid disappointment.
There are for basic way of getting in to Hong Kong that is by Air, Train, Sea & Bus; which is basic mode of transportation for getting into a country.
1. By Air
Hong Kong International Airport is world class. Sixty airlines ferry passengers to 140 locations around the world. The gateway of China, HKIA connects to 40 inland destinations and flies shuttles between Taiwan and mainland. Airlines schedule 4 to 6 flights to Hong Kong daily from major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. These are treated as international flights, and charge CNY90 airport fee (free for passengers under 12).
HKIA hosts numerous services. Hong Kong Tourist Board provides city information. Hong Kong Hotel Association provides selective hotel reservation service free of charge.
Passengers at HKIA get on direct public transit to city business center 32 km (20 ml) away. Buses, Airport Express trains, taxis, tour coaches and hotel limousines provide around clock service. Bus is at a bargain from HKD17 to 45 while Airport Express ranges from HKD60 to 100. Travelers can buy an Octopus card for the train (This card can also be used on buses, trams, 7-11, fast food restaurants and even Starbucks.).
2. By Train
Most of the train from mainland China, the travelers from China prefer this mode of transportation for getting into Hong Kong. Traveling by train would be a good alternative for casual budget-conscious travelers as the train ticket cost is only 1/3 of that of air ticket.
3. By Bus
Bus travel is popular with visitors from mainland China, around the Pearl River Delta, Guangdong Province. Coach Service picks up and drops off passengers at hotels in major cities for a trip to Hong Kong.
4. By Sea
Seaports in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Shunde, Jiangmen, etc. offer trips to Hong Kong over water. Foreign travelers with heavy luggage may find it a challenge to get to the docks from city centers.
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