Visually stunning Hong Kong offers a warp-speed ‘shop till you drop’ lifestyle combined with enclaves of tradition. It is a popular tourist destination and one of the world’s major business centres. Hong Kong’s 260 outlying islands, few of which are inhabited, provide a tranquil alternative to its frenetic energy elsewhere. Hong Kong Island is an eclectic mix of modern skyscrapers, colonial buildings and traditional temples.
On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China in an arrangement lasting 50 years. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, Hong Kong maintains its own political, social and economic systems. English remains an official language and Hong Kong’s border with China still exists.
Hong Kong was part of China before coming under British administration as a result of the 19th-century Opium Wars. When peace terms were drawn up in 1841, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain. It remained under British control (apart from a four-year period under Japanese occupation during WWII) until the 1997 handover.
Much has changed since 1841 when then foreign secretary Lord Palmerston described Hong Kong as ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon it’.
Food and Drink
Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cooking. Apart from Chinese food, there are also many Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singapore/Malaysian and Thai restaurants. It is the home of authentic Chinese food from all the regions of China, which may be sampled on a sampan in Causeway Bay, on a floating restaurant at Aberdeen, in a Kowloon restaurant, in a street market or at a deluxe hotel. Hotels serve European and Chinese food but there are also restaurants serving every type of local cuisine.
Chinese regional variations on food include Cantonese, Northern (Peking), Chiu Chow (Swatow), Shanghai, Sichuan and Hakka.
Legal drinking age: 18.
Tipping: Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge and an additional 5% gratuity is also expected. Small tips are expected by doormen and washroom attendants.
Nightlife
There are many nightclubs, hostess clubs, theaters and cinemas. Cultural concerts, plays and exhibitions can be seen at Hong Kong’s City Hall which also has a dining room, ballroom and cocktail lounge.
The Hong Kong Cultural Center, including a 2,100-seat Concert Hall, 1,750-seat Grand Theater, a studio theater with 300 to 500 seats and restaurants, bars and other facilities, has become the major venue for cultural concerts, plays and operas.
Hong Kong Art Centre in Wan Chai supplements the City Hall’s entertainment with culture in the form of Chinese opera, puppet shows, recitals and concerts. American, Chinese, European and Japanese films with subtitles are shown at a number of good air-conditioned cinemas.
Two daily papers, the Hong Kong Standard and the South China Morning Post, contain details of entertainment.
An unusual event to watch is night horseracing held Wednesday nights from September to May. Night cruises are operated by Star Ferries and are an excellent way to see Hong Kong by night. Most pubs and clubs are in east Tsim Sha Tsui and Lan Kwai Fong.
Shopping
Whether you shop in modern air-conditioned arcades or more traditional street markets, the range of goods available in Hong Kong is vast. Many famous-name shops have opened in Hong Kong, bringing the latest styles in great variety.
Places that display the QTS sign (given to accredited shops and restaurants under the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Quality Tourism Services scheme) are the best guarantee of satisfaction. Bargaining is practised in the smaller shops and side stalls only.
There is an excellent market in Stanley on Hong Kong Island, which is in a beautiful setting in a small village on the coast, open every day 09.00-18.00. Yuen Po Street bird garden in Kowloon is a market popular with the songbird owners in Hong Kong, selling many interesting creature comforts, including intricately crafted cages, open 07.00-20.00. Tailoring is first class.
Except for a few items, such as alcohol and perfume, Hong Kong is a duty-free port.
Shopping hours: Hong Kong Island (Central & Western): 10.00-19.00 (10.00-20.00 along Queen’s Road). Hong Kong Island (Causeway Bay & Wan Chai): 10.00-21.30. Kowloon
(Tsim Shat Sui & Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok): 10.00-21.00. Many shops are open Sunday. Shopping hours may vary greatly.
Climate
Hong Kong experiences four distinct seasons, with the climate influenced in winter by the north-northeast monsoon and in summer by the south-southwest monsoon. Summers are very hot, with the rainy season running from June to August.
Spring and autumn are warm with occasional rain and cooler evenings.
Winter can be cold, but most days are mild. There is a risk of typhoons and tropical storms from April to October, although direct hits are rare.
Required Clothing
Lightweight clothing during warmer months, with warmer clothes for spring and autumn evenings. It should be noted that even during the hottest weather, a jacket or pullover will be required for the sometimes fierce air conditioning indoors. Warm mediumweights are best during winter. Waterproofing is advisable during summer rains.
Getting There by Air
The major international airline is Cathay Pacific (CX) (website: www.cathaypacific.com).
Departure Tax
Included in the ticket price.
Getting There by Water
Main port: Hong Kong port.
Getting There by Rail
Services between Shanghai-Kowloon/Hong Kong (journey time – 25 hours) and Beijing-Kowloon/Hong Kong (journey time – 24 hours) both run on alternate days.
Currency
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD; symbol HK$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of HK$1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of HK$10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 cents.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency can be changed in banks, hotels and bureaux de change. Banks usually offer the best rate of exchange.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. There are also plenty of ATMs.
Traveller’s Cheques
Accepted almost everywhere. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Euros.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.30, Sat 09.00-12.30. Some banks and branches are open slightly longer hours.
Passport Note
All visitors must show evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay.
Passports
Passport valid for at least six months after the period of intended visit required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
