Hong Kong can be a nightmare for travelers with disabilities. City sidewalks -- especially in Central and Kowloon -- can be so jam-packed that getting around on crutches or in a wheelchair is exceedingly difficult. Moreover, to cross busy thoroughfares it's often necessary to climb stairs to a pedestrian bridge. Also, most shops are a step or two up from the street, due to flooding during rainstorms.
As for transportation, taxis are probably the most convenient mode of transportation, especially since they can load and unload passengers with disabilities in restricted zones under certain conditions and do not charge extra for carrying wheelchairs and crutches. Otherwise, the MTR (subway) has wheelchair access (elevators, ramps, or other aids) at major stations, as well as tactile pathways leading to platforms and exits for the visually impaired. Ferries are accessible to wheelchair users on the lower deck, and approximately 40% of buses are wheelchair accessible. More information on transportation accessibility is available from the Transport Department, Floor 41, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Rd., Wan Chai (tel. 852/2804 2600; www.td.gov.hk), which publishes a booklet called A Guide to Public Transport for People with Disabilities, which can also be downloaded online (www.td.gov.hk/mini_site/people_with_disabilities). Another good source is the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (tel. 852/2817 6277; www.rehabsociety.org.hk), which provides information on wheelchair accessibility not only for public transport services in Hong Kong but also for attractions, hotels, malls, and performing venues. It also provides a link to the Transport Department's guide at www.accessguide.hk.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
