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Travellers' Information Climate Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with distinct seasonal changes. Spring (March to mid-May): Summer (late May to mid-September): Autumn (late September to early December): Winter (mid-December to February): Typhoon season is from May to November. When a typhoon is approaching, warnings are broadcast on TV and radio, and signals to indicate the storm's distance from Hong Kong. If a typhoon signal number 8 is hoisted, businesses and shops close down and flights may be cancelled. Entry Regulations / Visa Requirements Visitors from most countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa for periods from seven days to six months, depending on nationality. You may check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status. Or you may visit Hong Kong Immigration Department's website for more information. Hong Kong International Airport Visitors to Hong Kong are served by one of the world's largest and most modern airports. Situated at Chek Lap Kok on the outlying island of Lantau, Hong Kong International Airport truly makes Hong Kong the gateway to Asia. Duty-free Concessions and controlled items For information about duty-free concessions, please click here. For information about controlled items, please click here Getting into Town The high-speed Airport Express rail service takes passengers to Hong Kong Station in Central district, via Tsing Yi and Kowloon, in about 24 minutes. A free Airport Express shuttle bus service from Hong Kong and Kowloon stations serves major hotels. Both these stations provide free in-town check-in services. There are more than 30 franchised bus routes from the airport, including 10 Airbus services that have fewer stops than other bus routes. Taxis to almost anywhere in Hong Kong are readily available from the airport staging area. In town Transport Buses Double-decker and coach buses have their final destinations marked in English and Chinese on the front top panel. Fares are low and exact change is required. More information,including about fares, can be found here. Ferries There are ferry services between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui; Central and Hunghom; Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui; and Wan Chai and Hunghom. Fares are low. Various ferry companies provide ordinary and fast ferry service across Victoria Harbour and to/from Lantau Island (including Discovery Bay and Silver Mine Bay), Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, Lamma Island and other towns in the New Territories. For further information, please click here. Railway The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is an underground railway network with six lines and 50 stations. It runs through the city centre and connects districts at the urban fringe. The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail is 35.5 kilometres long and connects East Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon with Lo Wu - the boundary between Hong Kong and the Mainland of China. There are 14 stations, including one on a loop line at the Sha Tin Racecourse which mainly caters for race-day traffic. There are a few other railway lines which serve mainly the New Territories. For more information, please visit here. Taxis Taxis are ubiquitous in major areas and fares are comparatively low (the basic flag-fall rate for the first 2 km is HK$16 in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island). Many drivers speak some English, but it is advisable to have your destination written in Chinese characters. Only Hong Kong dollars are accepted and receipts are available upon request. Taxis come in different colours, depending on their area of service; red on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; green in the New Territories; and blue on Lantau Island. However, all three serve Hong Kong International Airport. All passengers must wear seat belts wherever available. More information about taxi services in Hong Kong can be found here. Peak Tram The Peak Tram provides breath-taking harbour views during its seven-minute, 373-metre ascent of Victoria Peak. Inaugurated more than a century ago, and now fully automated, the service runs about every 10 to 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to midnight, daily between Garden Road and the Peak Terminus. Read here for more information. Tram Hong Kong Tramways is a 13-km street transit system established in 1904. Trams run along Hong Kong Island's northern shoreline from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan in the east, with a side loop around Happy Valley racecourse. The double-decker trams provide passengers with a fascinating slow-moving view of Hong Kong's urban bustle. They operate daily from 5.10 a.m. to around midnight. The fare at HK$2 is fixed, no matter how far your travel, and is paid into the driver's coin box upon alighting. More information can be obtained here. Consular Posts and Officially Recognised Representatives As at 22 August 2008, there were 58 Consulates-General, 58 Consulates and 5 Officially Recognised Bodies in Hong Kong. More details about them can be found here. Currency The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). Three banks issue paper notes. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged at about US$1 = HK$7.8. Note denominations are HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100, HK$500, and HK$1,000. Coins come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents, and one, two five and 10 dollars. Electricity The voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Safety / Security Hong Kong is a remarkably safe city by day and night. Police patrol frequently and are helpful. As in all big cities, avoid carrying large amounts of cash; traveller's cheques or credit cards are preferred. Always take care of your belongings. Shopping Hours Most Hong Kong stores are open seven days a week and many stay open late. Generally, shops are open from 10 am to 7.30 pm or later.
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