Fast Facts

Your hotel concierge or guest relations manager is usually a valuable source of information. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is also well equipped and eager to help visitors and answer their questions.

American Express -- There are two American Express offices, located on both sides of Victoria Harbour. On Hong Kong Island, you'll find American Express on the first floor of the Henley Building, 5 Queen's Rd. Central, in the Central District (tel. 852/3192 7788). In Tsim Sha Tsui, it's at 48 Cameron Rd. (tel. 852/3191 3838). Both are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. American Express cardholders can withdraw local currency and traveler's checks 24 hours a day at automated teller machines (ATMs) at both locations, as well as at Jetco ATMs throughout Hong Kong, as long as you know your personal identification number.

Business Hours -- Although open hours can vary, banking hours are generally Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. Keep in mind, however, that some banks stop their transactions -- including foreign currency exchange -- an hour before closing time.

Most business offices are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, with lunch hour from 1 to 2pm; Saturday business hours are generally 9am to 1pm.

Most shops are open 7 days a week. Shops in the Central District are generally open from 10am to 7:30pm; in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, 10am to 9:30pm; and in Tsim Sha Tsui, 10am to 9 or 10pm (and some even later than that). As for bars, most stay open until at least 2am; some stay open until the crack of dawn.

Dentists & Doctors -- Most first-class hotels have medical clinics with registered nurses, as well as doctors, on duty at specified hours or on call 24 hours for emergencies. Otherwise, the concierge can refer you to a doctor or dentist.The U.S. consulate can also provide information on English-speaking doctors. If it's an emergency, dial tel. 999 (a free call).

Drugstores -- There are no 24-hour drugstores in Hong Kong, so if you need something urgently in the middle of the night, you should contact one of the hospitals listed below. One of the best-known pharmacies in Hong Kong is Watson's, which dates back to the 1880s. Today, there are more than 100 Watson's in Hong Kong, most of them open from 9am to 10pm. Ask the concierge at your hotel for the location of a Watson's or drugstore nearest you (only about half the Watson's dispense medicine; the rest deal only in cosmetics and toiletries).

Electricity -- The electricity used in Hong Kong is 220 volts, alternating current (AC), 50 cycles (in the U.S. it's 110 volts and 60 cycles). Outlets are the British-style three-pin, rectangular plugs. Most hotels are equipped to fit shavers of different plugs and voltages, and higher-end hotels also have outlets with built-in plug adapters to fit foreign prongs. Most laptop computers nowadays are equipped to deal with both 110 and 220 volts. Otherwise, you'll need a transformer and plug adapter (ask your hotel whether they have a plug adapter you can use -- they often do, for free).

Embassies & Consulates -- If you need to contact a consulate about an application for a visa, a lost passport, tourist information, or an emergency, telephone first to find out the hours of the various sections. The visa section, for example, may be open only during certain hours of the day. In addition, consulates are usually closed for their own national holidays and often for Hong Kong holidays as well.

The American Consulate, 26 Garden Rd., Central District (tel. 852/2523 9011; 852/2841 2211 for the American Citizens Service; www.hongkong.usconsulate.gov), is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 5:30pm. The Canadian Consulate, 11th-14th floor of Tower One, Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central District (tel. 852/2867 7348; www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/hongkong), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to noon and 2 to 4pm.

The British Consulate, at 1 Supreme Court Rd., Central District (tel. 852/2901 3000, or 852/2901 3262 for passport inquiries; www.britishconsulate.org.hk), is open Monday through Friday from 8:45am to 3pm.

The Australian Consulate is on the 23rd floor of Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, on Hong Kong Island (tel. 852/2827 8881; www.australia.org.hk), and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. The New Zealand Consulate is on the 65th floor of Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai (tel. 852/2525 5044; www.nzembassy.com/hongkong), and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm.

For information on visa applications to mainland China, contact a tour operator such as China Travel Service.

Emergencies -- All emergency calls are free -- just dial tel. 999 for police, fire, or ambulance.

Holidays -- Most Chinese festival holidays are determined by the lunar calendar, which changes each year, while national and Christian religious holidays, such as Labour Day, Easter, or National Day, are the same each year. Note, however, that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday becomes a holiday.

Public holidays for 2007 are: New Year's Day (Jan 1); Lunar New Year (Feb 17-20); Easter (Good Friday through Easter Monday); Ching Ming Festival (Apr 5); Labour Day (May 1); Buddha's Birthday (May 24); Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival, June 19); Establishment Day of the Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong's return to China, July 2); day following Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept 26); National Day (Oct 1); Chung Yeung Festival (Oct 19); Christmas (Dec 25-26). For 2008 lunar holidays, which had not yet been announced at the time we went to press, go to www.info.gov.hk/info/holiday_e.htm.

Hospitals -- There are 41 public hospitals in Hong Kong. The following can help you round-the-clock: Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Rd., Hong Kong Island (tel. 852/2855 3838); and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Rd., Kowloon tel. 852/2958 8888).

Languages -- Before the 1997 handover, English and Cantonese were Hong Kong's two official languages. Now, however, English and "Chinese" are listed as the two official languages. There is no one Chinese language, however. While most Hong Kong Chinese speak Cantonese, that's a foreign language in Beijing, where the official language is Mandarin (Putonghua). In reality, Mandarin has also become the official language of the SAR and is being taught in Hong Kong schools. At any rate, while Mandarin and Cantonese differ widely, they use the same characters for writing. Therefore, while a Hong Kong Chinese and a mainland Chinese may not be able to communicate orally, they can read each other's newspapers. Chinese characters number in the tens of thousands; knowledge of at least 1,500 characters is necessary to read a newspaper. Chinese is difficult to learn primarily because of the tonal variations. Western ears may find these differences in pronunciation almost impossible to detect, but a slight change in tone changes the whole meaning. One thing you'll notice, however, is that Chinese is spoken loudly -- whispering does not seem to be part of the language.

Despite the fact that English is an official language and is spoken in hotels and tourist shops, few Chinese outside these areas understand it. Bus drivers, taxi drivers, and waiters in many Chinese restaurants do not speak English and will simply shrug their shoulders to your query. To avoid confusion, have someone in your hotel write out your destination in Chinese so that you can show it to your taxi or bus driver. Most Chinese restaurants in tourist areas -- and all those listed in this book -- have English menus. If you need assistance, try asking younger Chinese, since it's more likely that they will have studied English in school.

Liquor Laws -- The drinking (and smoking) age in Hong Kong is 18. The hours for bars vary according to the district, though those around Lan Kwai Fong and Tsim Sha Tsui stay open the longest, often until dawn. Beer is available at convenience stores, including 7-Eleven, while a larger selection of beer, wine, and liquor is available from the basement food emporiums of department stores.

Lost & Found -- To report stolen or lost property, call the police (tel. 852/2527 7177) or go to the nearest police station. If you've lost your passport, make a police report at the nearest station and then contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement. The minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen, alert all of your credit card companies and file a report at the nearest police station. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's Hong Kong emergency number is tel. 852/800 900 782. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 852/2811 6122. MasterCard holders should call tel. 852/800 96 6677. If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000 from the U.S.; www.westernunion.com). There are many Western Union locations in Hong Kong, including one in the post office at 10 Middle Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui.

Luggage Storage & Lockers -- The best and most convenient place to store luggage is at your hotel, even if you plan on traveling to Macau or China for a couple of days. Otherwise, there are luggage-checking services ("left-luggage") at Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Station, Kowloon Station, the Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island, and the China Hong Kong Terminal on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Mail -- Postal service is cheap and reliable. Most hotels have stamps and can mail your letters for you. Otherwise, there are plenty of post offices throughout the SAR. Most are open Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 5pm and Saturday from 9:30am to 1pm. The main post office is on Hong Kong Island at 2 Connaught Place, in the Central District (tel. 852/2921 2222), where you'll find stamps sold on the first floor (what those from the U.S. would call the second floor). If you don't know where you'll be staying in Hong Kong, you can have your mail sent here "Poste Restante." The post office will hold mail for 2 months; when you come to collect it, be sure to bring along your passport for identification. On the Kowloon side, the main post office is at 10 Middle Rd., which is 1 block north of Salisbury Road (tel. 852/2366 4111). Both are open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 9am to 2pm.

Mailboxes are green in Hong Kong. Airmail letters up to 20 grams and postcards cost HK$3 (US40¢/20p) to the United States or Europe. You can count on airmail letters to take about 5 to 7 days, sometimes longer, to reach the United States.

To mail a package via surface mail to the United States, it costs HK$251 (US$33/£18) for a package weighing 5 kilos (11 lb.) and HK$441 (US$53/£32) for a package weighing 10 kilos (22 lb.). A 5-kilo package sent airmail will cost HK$419 (US$54/£30), a 10-kilo package HK$799 (US$104£57). Post offices sell boxes called Postpak that are handy for mailing items home; they come in several sizes costing HK$6.50 (US84¢/45p) to HK$35 (US$4.55/£2.50). For general inquiries, call tel. 852/2921 2222.

Newspapers -- The South China Morning Post and The Standard are the two local English-language daily newspapers. The South China Morning Post is often delivered to guest rooms free or available at the front desk or hotel kiosk, at newsstands, and bookstores. For a different perspective, you might also want to pick up the China Daily, from Beijing. The Asian Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, and USA Today International are also available.

Passports -- Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 3 weeks but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a €12 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-year passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Police -- You can reach the police for an emergency by dialing tel. 999, the same number as for a fire or an ambulance. This is a free call. There's also a 24-hour crime hot line (tel. 852/2527 7177).

Restrooms -- The best places to track down public facilities in Hong Kong are its many hotels. Fast-food restaurants and shopping malls are other good bets. Attendants on duty nowadays rarely expect tips, but if you encounter one who does, HK$2 (US25¢/14p) is sufficient. Note that there are no public facilities at any of the MTR subway stations. Hotels and tourist sites usually have Western toilets, but you may encounter Chinese toilets on ferries and in rural areas. To use them, squat facing the hood. Since some public facilities may not have toilet paper, be sure to carry tissue.

Smoking -- Virtually all hotels, except those in the rock-bottom category, have nonsmoking rooms, and many restaurants, especially large ones and those in hotels, have nonsmoking sections (some are even entirely smoke free). Smoking is also prohibited in cinemas, shopping malls, supermarkets, department stores, and banks. Under proposed legislation, the smoking ban will be extended to all indoor spaces (including restaurants and bars) by July 2009.

Taxes -- Hotels will add a 10% service charge and a 3% government tax to your bill. Restaurants and bars will automatically add a 10% service charge, but there is no tax. There's an airport departure tax of HK$120 (US$16/£8.55) for adults and children older than 12, but this is usually -- though not always -- included in your ticket price. If you're taking the boat to Macau, you must pay a Hong Kong departure tax of HK$19 (US$2.45/£1.35), which is already included in the price of your boat ticket.

Telephone -- The international country code for Hong Kong is 852. Therefore, to call Hong Kong:

1. Dial the international access code: 011 from the U.S.; 00 from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand; or 0011 from Australia.

2. Dial the country code: 852.

3. Then dial the number (there is no city code for Hong Kong). So the whole number you'd dial would be 011-852-0000-0000.

To make international calls: To make international calls from Hong Kong, first dial tel. 001 (or 0080 or 009, depending on which competing telephone services you wish to use) and then the country code (U.S. or Canada 1, U.K. 44, Ireland 353, Australia 61, New Zealand 64). Next dial the area code and number. For example, if you wanted to call the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., you would dial 001-1-202-588-7800.

For directory assistance in English: Dial tel. 1081 if you're looking for a number inside Hong Kong; tel. 10013 for numbers to all other countries.

For collect calls: To make a collect call from any public or private phone in Hong Kong, dial tel. 10010.

Toll-free numbers: Numbers beginning with 800 within Hong Kong are toll-free. However, calling a 1-800 number in the United States from Hong Kong is not free but rather costs the same as an overseas call.

In Hong Kong, local calls made from homes, offices, shops, restaurants, and some hotel lobbies are free, so don't feel shy about asking to use the phone. Otherwise, local calls from public phones cost HK$1 (US15¢/7p) for each 5 minutes; from hotel rooms, about HK$4 to HK$5 (US50¢-US65¢/30p-35p).

Most hotels in Hong Kong offer direct dialing. Otherwise, long-distance calls can be made from specially marked International Dialing Direct (IDD) public phones. The most convenient method of making international calls is to use an Octopus card. Alternatively, a PCCW Hello PhoneCard, which comes in denominations ranging from HK$50 to HK$500 (US$6.50-US$65/£3.55-£36), is available at PCCW shops, 7-Eleven convenience stores, machines located beside telephones, and other locations around Hong Kong. Simply insert the card into the slot and dial. You can also charge your telephone call to a major credit card by using one of about 100 credit card phones in major shopping locations.

You can also make cashless international calls from any telephone in Hong Kong by using Home Direct, which gives you immediate and direct access to an operator in the country you're calling. Calls can then be charged collect or charged to an overseas telephone card, making it cheaper than a regular international call from Hong Kong. Some designated Home Direct telephones in Hong Kong, located at the airport, Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, and other locations, even allow you to talk with an operator in your country with the push of a button. Home Direct numbers from Hong Kong are tel. 800 96 0161 for Australia, tel. 800 96 1100 for Canada, tel. 800 96 0064 for New Zealand, and tel. 800 96 0044 for the United Kingdom. For the United States, dial tel. 800 96 1111 or 800 93 2266 for AT&T, tel. 800 96 1121 for MCI, and tel. 800 96 1877 for Sprint. For more information on dial access numbers for Home Direct, phone locations, where PhoneCards can be purchased and operated, time zones, or other matters pertaining to international calls, call tel. 10013.

Television -- There are two English-language TV channels, TVB Pearl and ATV World, broadcasting weekday mornings, evenings, and all day weekends and holidays, with a choice of local programs and shows imported from America, Australia, and Britain. In addition, all first-class and most moderate hotels have satellite television (with imported American, Australian, and British programming, a sports channel, BBC and CNN news channels, and MTV) and/or cable TV (BBC). Generally, satellite provides more channels, though services can vary depending on how many programs a hotel is signed up for (in general, the cheaper the hotel, the fewer channels available). Many hotels also offer in-house pay movies and may also subscribe to the Hongkong Channel, which features short, 5-minute features on Hong Kong's history, transportation networks, traditional customs and festivals, cultural events, shopping tips, and other information.

Time Zone Hong Kong is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 13 hours ahead of New York, 14 hours ahead of Chicago, and 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Since Hong Kong does not have a daylight saving time, subtract 1 hour from the above times if you're calling the United States in the summer. Because Hong Kong is on the other side of the International date line, you lose 1 day when traveling from the West to Asia. Don't worry -- you gain it back when you return, which means that you arrive back home the same day you left Hong Kong.

Tipping -- Even though restaurants and bars will automatically add a 10% service charge to your bill, you're still expected to leave small change for the waiter (who may never see any of that automatic 10% service charge). A general rule of thumb is to leave 5%, but in most Chinese restaurants where meals are usually inexpensive, it's acceptable to leave change up to HK$5 (US65¢/35p). In the finest restaurants, you should leave 10%. If you're paying by credit card, pay a cash tip, since a gratuity put on a credit card is likely to go to the restaurant and not the staff.

You're also expected to tip taxi drivers, bellhops, barbers, and beauticians. For taxi drivers, simply round up your bill to the nearest HK$1 or add a HK$1 (US15¢/7p) tip. Tip people who cut your hair 5% or 10%, and give bellhops HK$10 to HK$20 (US$1.30-US$2.60/70p-£1.40), depending on the number of your bags. If you use a public restroom with an attendant, you may be expected to leave a small gratuity -- HK$2 (US25¢/14p) should be enough -- but this is now a rarity in Hong Kong. In addition, chambermaids and room attendants are usually given about 2% of the room charge.

Useful Phone Numbers The Hong Kong Tourism Board's hot line is tel. 852/2508 1234, with service available daily from 8am to 6pm. The Police Crime Hotline is tel. 852/2527 7177. Other useful numbers are:

U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisory tel. 202/647-5225 (manned 24 hr.)

U.S. Passport Agency tel. 202/647-0518

U.S. CDC Traveler's Health Hotline tel. 877/394-8747

Hong Kong's Department of Health tel. 852/2833 0111.

Water -- It's considered safe to drink urban tap water, though most people prefer bottled water, which is widely available. In summer it's wise to carry bottled water with you. Some hotels have their own purification systems. I always drink the water and have never gotten ill. If you travel into rural Hong Kong or China, however, drink only bottled water.

Weather -- If you want to check the day's temperature and humidity level or the 2-day forecast, dial tel. 187 8200 or 187 8066. Both are in English and both are free. Otherwise, if a storm is brewing and you're worried about a typhoon, tune in to one of the radio or television stations described above.