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| Introduction |
Strategically located
at the doorstep of China and the centre of
the Asia-Pacific basin. Hong Kong has developed
over the last 150 years into one of the world's
leading manufacturing, trading and service
centres. Its open economy is built on free
trade and free enterprise. Geographically,
the territory is divided into four distinct
areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New
Territories and the outlying Islands. Hong
Kong is subtropical with a relatively high
humidity. Temperature ranges from 10°C
in the winter to 30°C in the summer. |
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| Languages |
| English and Chinese
are the official languages. Street signs,
menus and tourist and government publications
are usually bilingual. |
|
|
| Money and Banking |
| Most banks are open
from 9 am - 4 pm on weekdays, and from 9 am
- 12:30 pm on Saturdays. There is no foreign
exchange control in the territory and the
Hong Kong dollar is freely convertible. In
Hong Kong any currency, including mainland
China's renminbi (RMB), may be bought and
sold on the open market. Visitors can exchange
foreign currency at any bank or exchange shop
or at the cashier counters of hotels. Daily
exchange rates are available through any bank,
but the Hong Kong dollar is pegged at HK$7.75
to US$1. The government issues coins in denominations
of 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2, $5 and $10. There
are also three different kinds of notes in
denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $500
and $1,000. |
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| Transportation |
| Hong Kong's efficient
and low-cost public transport system includes
three railways, buses, trams, taxis, and ferries.
There are three road-only tunnels under the
harbour. |
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| To and From the Airport |
| From July 6, 1998,
travellers to Hong Kong will be served by
one of the world's largest and most modern
airports situated at Chek Lap Kok on the outlying
island of Lantau. The easiest connection to
and from Central and Kowloon is the Airport
Express Railway (AEL), which makes the journey
to Central and Kowloon in 23 and 19 minutes
respectively. Fares for an adult range between
HK$60 - HK$100 for a single journey. Airbuses
to major centres operate on frequent schedules
with stops near most major hotels. An overnight
bus service will cover the airport's 24-hour
operation. Taxis are also an option and fares
from Chek Lap Kok range from HK$200 - HK$400. |
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| Railways |
|
The Mass Transit
Railway (MTR) (tel : (852) 2881-8888) is
an underground-elevated railway network
comprising three lines and 38 stations.
Depending on which line you take, the system
runs from 6 am to 1 am. Cars and stations
are air-conditioned.
The MTR links up
with the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) (tel
: (852) 2602-7799) which runs from Hung
Hom in Kowloon to Lo Wu at the border to
the Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen on
the Mainland.
The third railway
is the Light Rail Transit (tel : (852) 2468-7788)
which runs between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long
in the New Territories.
|
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| Trams |
| Trams ply the northern
shore of Hong Kong Island at a fixed fare
from 6 am to 1 am. There is also the century-old
Peak Tram, a funicular railway which runs
up to the Peak from 7 am to midnight at about
15-minute intervals. Tel : (852) 2522-0922
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| Ferries |
|
The Star Ferry Co (tel : (852) 2366-2576)
operates a shuttle service between Hong
Kong Island and Kowloon.
Ferries between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui
run every few minutes from 6:30 am to 11:30
pm. Other Star Ferry boats connect Central
with Hung Hom (7 am - 7:20 pm) and Wan Chai
to Tsim Sha Tsui (7:30 am - 11 pm). The
Wan Chai Ferry Pier is within a few minutes
walk of the HKTDC offices and the Hong Kong
Convention and Exhibition Centre.
|
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| Taxis |
Taxi
fares are charged by metered tariff.
When crossing the harbour by either
cross-harbour tunnel, the two-way tunnel
toll is added to the fare. With the
other tunnels, only the one-way toll
is added. There is an extra charge per
piece of luggage (both of these extra
charges are signposted in the taxi).
Flagfall and charges are displayed.
Tipping is usually confined to small
change. There are two taxi jurisdictions
in Hong Kong - urban and New Territories.
Radio taxis :
|
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Tel |
| Hong Kong
Island |
(852)
2574-7311 / (852) 2527-6324 |
| Kowloon |
(852)
2760-0411 / (852) 2670-0477 |
| New Territories |
(852)
2457-2266 / (852) 2697-4333 |
|
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| Visa |
| According to Hong
Kong Immigration Department, nationals of
most foreign countries can visit Hong Kong
visa-free. The liberal visa policy will continue
after 1 July 1997. Applicants may submit their
visa applications directly to Hong Kong Immigration
Department, or through Chinese diplomatic
or consular missions in their place of domicile. |
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| Enquiries can be directed
to : |
Hong Kong Immigration
Department Immigration
Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Tel : (852) 2829-3836
Fax : (852) 2824-1133 |
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| Visas for
Mainland China Travel |
|
All travellers
to the Chinese Mainland, except Hong Kong
Chinese residents, require visas. The mainland
issues single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry
(six months, unlimited entry) visas, the
latter designed for frequent travellers
who have long-term business establishments
(e.g. joint ventures) in the mainland.
The
Visa Office of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the PRC at
5/F, China Resources Building, Lower
Block, 26 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. |
| Tel
: |
(852) 2827-1881 |
| Office
Hours : |
Monday
to Friday 9 am - 12:20 pm, 2 pm - 5
pm;
Saturday 9 am - 12:20 pm |
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|
| China
Travel Service at various locations,
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| Central
office (Tel): |
(852) 2522-0450 |
| Tsim
Sha Tsui office (Tel:) |
(852) 2736-1863 |
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|
| Many
travel agencies specializing in China
travel can also obtain visas. The China
Travel Service normally takes 48 hours
to issue a visa, but can do so in one
day for a premium. The Visa Office takes
24 hours and also offers a more expensive
same-day service. |
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