Visa
Travelers entering Hong Kong must have a valid passport. Passport holders from certain countries DO NOT need a visitor's visa for short stays. For information about Visa requirements, see Passport and Visa.

Area Code 00852

Zip code 999077

Currency is Hong Kong Dollar. As the old saying goes, 'more banks than rice stalls in Hong Kong': moneychangers are everywhere. Please check the exchange rate and the service fee. Customers with AMEX cards can draw Hong Kong Currency through ATMs directly and those with VISA and Master cards can draw local currency from ATMs marked for Visa or MasterCard electronic currency.

Time zone is GMT plus 8 hours that is the same as most places in Mainland China.

Voltage is 220V. Many hotels provide transformers.

Tap water is drinkable. It meets the WHO standard.

Telephone System:
Public telephones in Hong Kong belong to the following 6 types:
Yellow telephones only for local calls: accepting 1- or 2- HKD coins
Yellow telephones for international calls: accepting 1-, 2- or 5- HKD coins
Silver telephones: accepting 1-, 2- or 5- HKD coins
Telephones accepting magnetic cards and coins for international calls
Silver telephones accepting credit cards and coins
New telephones accepting magnetic cards, credit cards and coins.

Information directory desk
1018 English 1083 Cantonese 1088 Mandarin Chinese 1013 International directory

Emergency call 999

Useful numbers
Complaint hotline (including taxi complaint): 2527 7177
Tourist Hotline of Hong Kong Tourism Board: 2508 1234
The Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: 2824 6111
Postal Directory Hotline: 2921 2222

Internet is offered in many hotels. Cafes, shopping centers, subway stations and public library also offer free related Internet facilities. If you have your own laptop, you can connect with the Internet at some emporiums or cafes. Modem users should buy BT-to-RJ transformers, since the BT system in Hong Kong is gradually being replaced by the RJ system.

Document
Hong Kong citizens and travelers are required to carry an identification certificate or document with them.

Work Hours of Government and Office
9a.m to 5p.m (dinner time from 1p.m to 2p.m) Monday through Friday and 9a.m to 1p.m Saturday

Work Hours of Banks
9a.m to 4p.m (no break), Monday through Friday and 9a.m to 12.30p.m Saturday

Toilet
Toilets can be found on street corners, in parks, malls and parking lots, free of charge.

Smoking
Smoking is forbidden in public transportation tools and certain public places.

Tip
Some hotels and restaurants 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.

Post offices
Hong Kong General Post Office: 2, Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
Office hours: 08:00 - 18:00 (Mon. to Sat.) 09:00 - 14:00 (Sun.)
Kowloon Central Post Office: 405, Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
Office hours: 09:30 - 18:00 (Mon. to Fri.) 09:30 - 13:00 (Sat.)
Shatin Central Post Office: 1, Sheung Wo Che Road, Shatin, New Territories
Office hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (Mon. to Fri.) 09:00 - 13:00 (Sat.)

Hospitals
Hong Kong Island:
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade: 2576 6555
Tang Shiu Kin Hospital
Tel: 2831 6800
Address: 282, Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
Queen Mary Hospital
Tel: 2855 3111
Address: 102, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

Kowloon:
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade: 2713 5555
Caritas Medical Centre
Tel: 2746 7911
Address: 111, Wing Hong Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
United Christian Hospital
Tel: 2379 4000
Address: 130, Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

New Territories:
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade: 2639 2555
Pok Oi Hospital
Tel: 2486 8000
Address: Au Tau, Yuen Long, New Territories
Tuen Mun Hospital
Tel: 2468 5111
Address: Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories

Famous Universities
University of Hong Kong (http://www.hku.hk/)
Address: Pokfulam Road
Chinese University of Hong Kong (http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/v5/en/)
Address: Shatin, New Territories
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (http://www.ust.hk/en/l)
Address: Clear Water Bay, Kowloon
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (http://www1.polyu.edu.hk/main/main_e.php)
Address: Hung Hom, Kowloon