Tours Guide to Hong Kong
Overview
Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
of the People's Republic of China (PRC) since July 1, 1997, continues to enjoy
a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy,
and retains its own currency, laws, and border controls. It is composed of
three geographic areas: the New Territories, Kowloon Peninsula, and Hong Kong
Island. Hong Kong SAR is a very cosmopolitan and highly developed city. Tourist
facilities and services are widely available. The Hong Kong SAR government has
a web site in English at http://www.gov.hk/en/nonresidents/visitinghk/cityatt/,
which provides useful information on a comprehensive range of subjects.
Map of Hong Kong
View of Hong Kong
General Information
Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate:
Spring (March-mid-May): Temperature and humidity
rising. Jackets or sweaters suggested. Average temperature: 23˘XC (73˘XF),
humidity around 82%, sea temperature, 22.3?C (72?F).
Summer (late May-mid-September): Hot and humid.
Temperature may rise to 33˘XC (91 ˘XF) with humidity up to around 90%. .
Shirtsleeves, cotton clothing, a sweater for indoors and an umbrella for
outside suggested. Average temperature: 28˘XC (82˘XF), humidity 80%, sea
temperature 28˘XC (82˘XF).
Autumn (late September-early December):
temperature and humidity drop. Clear sunny days. Shirtsleeves to sweaters and
light jackets suggested. Average temperature: 23˘XC (73˘XF), humidity 72%, sea
temperature 17˘XC (63˘XF).
Winter (late December-February): Cool with low
humidity. Suits, light woollens and sometimes overcoats suggested. Average
temperature: 17˘XC (62˘XF), humidity 72%, sea temperature 17˘XC (63˘XF).
Currency/Foreign
Exchange
Hong Kong has its own currency,
the Hong Kong dollar, which is linked to the US dollar, and trades at around
HK$7.8 to US$1. For purposes of exchanging currency there is little meaningful
fluctuation. The Hong Kong dollar is freely convertible, and there are no
exchange controls. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at any bank or
exchange shop, or at the cashier counters of hotels.
US dollars or any currency may be bought and
sold on the open market in Hong Kong, including the Chinese mainland renminbi
(RMB). Hong Kong dollars are the only legal tender in Hong Kong.
Time
Zones
Hong Kong is UTC+8 hours and does not have daylight savings
time. Hence, Hong Kong is ahead 13 hours of Eastern Standard Time.
Language
English speakers find it easy to
work and live in Hong Kong. English is one of Hong Kong's two official
languages, along with Chinese. Since English is a mandatory subject in
government-run schools, everyone has studied it, some quite extensively.
Airport signs, street signs and notices are posted in English as well as
Chinese. English-speaking visitors and residents can communicate in English in
all hotels and in taxis, as well as shopping malls and retail outlets of any
appreciable size.
Cantonese is the Chinese language spoken at home
by about 90 per cent of the people in Hong Kong. Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua),
the official language of the People's Republic of China, is spoken differently
from Cantonese but widely understood. English speakers usually have no need to
try out Mandarin Chinese in Hong Kong unless meeting friends or business
contacts from the Chinese mainland.
Getting
around Hong Kong
Hong Kong is served by an efficient, low-cost
public transportation system that makes getting around town quite easy. This
system includes the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) subway system, Kowloon-Canton
Railway (KCR), Light Rail Transport, buses, trams, taxis and ferries. The MTR is
reasonably priced, safe and fast, with trains running every two to four
minutes. Four lines interconnect at several main stations, with more lines
under construction or planned. Regular users generally buy an
"Octopus" stored-value card. Most underground stations have banks,
dry-cleaners, florists, instant photo machines, clothing shops, newsstands and
bakeries. There are facilities for the disabled at all stations. www.mtr.com.hk
Taxi fares are charged by metered tariff and,
relative to other major cities, are reasonable. When crossing the harbour by
either tunnel, the two-way tunnel toll is added to the fare. With other
tunnels, only the one-way toll is added. There is an extra charge per piece of
luggage. Tipping is usually confined to small change. There are three taxi
jurisdictions - urban, which covers Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, New
Territories and Lantau Island.
Business visitors can hire cars by the hour or
by the day from reputable car agencies. Hotels also provide hired car services
for their guests.
Offices and Banking Hours
Most Government offices will start service to
the public from 09:00 to 17:00 on Weekdays, for private business companies,
usually they will start from 08:30 and work until 18:00 with one hour lunch
break in between. Department Stores and Shopping Malls will open daily from
10:00-22:00.
The banking hours are normally from 09:00 to
16:30 on Weekdays and 09:00 to 12:00 on Saturday. Some branches in the tourist
and commercial areas will open until 18:00 on Weekdays and 15:00 on Saturday.
Most offices will close on Saturday afternoon,
Sunday and Public Holidays.
Accommodations
Accommodation varies in Hong Kong. from the really
run-down guest house to the five star hotels. It depends on your budget. There
are two useful websites, by which you can find a comfortable hotel.
http://www.hongkonghotels.net/
http://www.hotel-hong-kong.com/
For such a minute island-country, Hong Kong's
manifest of restaurants is unimaginable. In every nook and cranny, there are
accessible restaurants serving varied selections of deliciously appetizing
cuisine. Price ranges according to the districts and type of cuisine. There are
many affordable private restaurants around the island that serve the same
presentable dishes as the hotel restaurants.
Then, where to eat?
AH-SO Japanese Restaurant
The Restaurant is in the heart of the Harbour City 700, Tsimshatsui of Marco
Polo Hotel is in perfect keeping with its neighbourhood.
China Coast Bar & Grill
Probably the first and the only Bar & Grill in the area, the China Coast
Bar & Grill is unique of its kind.
Cafe Aficionado
With an artistic theme carried through the decor, uniforms and tabletops, Cafe
Aficionado offers the best in Oriental and Western fare around the clock.
M Kitchen
The restaurant dominates the upper floor while the lower level is the bar and
cigar room. Immediately to the left after the main front doors is a huge array
of fine wines on display from all over the world. 70% of these wines are
imported from France while the rest come from Spain, West Germany, Italy,
Chile, and other parts of Europe.
Bravo
Bravo is situated in Central - heart of Hong Kong. Being a self-service
boutique cafe, Pizza, Pasta, Oriental Rice & Noodles, Sandwich, Salad,
Baked Potatoes, Fresh Fruit Juice is served at reasonable price.
San Francisco Steak House
We learned early that if you want to be the best at something, then you should
not worry about the cost or the trouble. That is why our Certified Angus Beef
is the most beautiful (and costly) in Hong Kong.
T.G.I Friday's
Being the first American casual dining restaurant, T.G.I Friday's ensures you
of the most relaxing and decorative environment to enjoy your dining experience
of our great variety of food and beverages to be served by our friendly people.
Ocean Park is located in the South District, it
is an enjoyable and meaningful place for kids or the young at heart!
Ocean Park is an amusement park filled with
roller coasters, slides, swings and other fairground rides. It's on a huge
scale and a lot of fun if this is your thing. There is also a sea life center
here, complete with penguins, seals, sharks and killer whales! A cable car runs
through the park connecting with the Middle Kingdom, a slightly naff collection
of Chinese model villages, pagodas etc.
Ocean Park
Central District of Hong Kong Island
Central
District
The Central District on Hong Kong Island is the
financial and economic hub of Hong Kong. First impressions are of an organic
mass of glass and concrete, a veritable forest of tall skyscrapers with the
green hills behind them. Most spectacular among the many extravagant buildings
is the 180 m high tower of the Hong Kong Bank, designed by Norman Forster. If
your hotel is in Kowloon you should take the Star Ferry to cross the harbour -
the Star Ferries are famous symbol of Hong Kong. The green-and-white boats have
been in use since the 1880s!. The trip with the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong
Island takes about 7 minutes and should not be missed, because you get a very
good view of the harbour as well as an impression of daily Hong Kong life.
HK
Conference and Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong is a major conference and exhibition
center. Hundreds of international exhibitions are held annually. The Hong Kong
Conference and Exhibition Center (operated by the governmental Hong Kong Trade
Development Council), has approximately 500,000 square feet of exhibition
space, including 300,000 square feet added in a major expansion completed in
the summer of 1997. A privately built facility, the International Trademart,
opened in Kowloon Bay in early 1996 with 158,000 square feet of exhibition
space.
HK
Conference and Exhibition Centre
Repulse Bay is situated on the south coast of
Hong Kong Island, with many beautiful beaches such as South Bay, Repulse Bay,
Deep Water Bay and Middle Bay. Repulse Bay is a popular beach for water
activities and picnics all year round.
Lantau
Island
Lantau Island, with a size twice as big as Hong
Kong Island, is the biggest island to the west of Hong Kong Island. Visitors
can take a bus or the mass transit railway and reach the heartland of Lantau
within 30 minutes from the city center.
With wild countryside, monasteries, old fishing
villages and seriously secluded beaches, Lantau Island, for those who are tired
of the noise and polluted city life, is definitely a place to visit or even to
live with. There are a lot of outdoor activities that people can do such as
hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing and etc.
The giant
Buddha in Lantau Island
Mongkok/Ladies
Street
Mongkok, a district in Kowloon with the highest
population density in Hong Kong. Here alone live an estimated 165,000 people
per square kilometre. There are not so many large shops, but there are numerous
markets here which offer a different sort of bargain to be snapped up. You can
shop with the locals at Sai Yeung Choi Street for audio-visual products and
mobile phones, and Fa Yuen Street for sports and export outlet goods and
fashions.
Ladies Street located in Tung Choi Street, Mong
Kok. It length 500M divided into 4 sections. Since all the shops in the street
were sold women clothing and commodity in past, so people called it
"Ladies Street". A very famous computer centre is also beside the
street.
Nowadays, there are wide range of goods for you
to chose, not only women commodity, so it's a good shopping place for local
people and foreigner.
The business hours is from 10:00 a.m. to
midnight.
Mongkok
scene
ICMB International Conference on
Medical Biometrics
2010
