Passport and
Visa
Visitors must hold a valid passport, endorsed where necessary
for Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a liberal visa policy, allowing
visa-free entry to nationals of more than 170 countries
and territories. For country-specific visa information,
please visit www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm.
For delegates from countries for which visas are required
for entry to Hong Kong, please check with the Chinese
Embassy or Consulate in your country.
For delegates traveling to other cities
in China, an entry visa to China is required. Please obtain
your visa from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate within
your current place of residence. The travel documents
must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of traveling.
Airport Transfer
Airport Express Line (AEL)
This
high-speed rail service takes passengers to and from the
Hong Kong Station in Central in about 23 minutes. Train
services are provided daily between 6 am and 1 am and
at 12-minute intervals. Train tickets can be purchased
at the Airport Express Customer Service Centre located
at the Arrivals Hall. Taxi is recommended for direct transfer
from the Hong Kong Station to Congress hotels in 5-10
minutes. Alternatively, a free Airport Express shuttle
bus serving between the Hong Kong Station and major hotels
departs every 24 minutes.
| Approximate cost: |
Single Journey - HK$100 per adult ticket, HK$50
per child ticket |
| |
Round Trip (valid
for one month) - HK$180 per adult ticket |
Airport Seat-in-Coach
The coach service is available between the airport and
all Congress hotels. The service timetable corresponds
with the arrival and departure flight schedules of major
international airlines. Tickets can be purchased at the
coach operator counter at the Arrivals Hall.
Approximate time: 60 minutes
Approximate cost: Single journey - HK$140 per person
Taxi
Urban taxis are red. The current rates are HK$16 on flag
fall for the first two kilometers plus HK$1.40 every further
0.20 kilometer. Additional charges for luggage and tolls
apply. Taxis only accept HK Dollars in cash.
Approximate time: 45 minutes
Approximate cost: HK$350-HK$400
Air Passenger
Departure Tax
| Adults (12 years and over): |
HK$120 |
| Children (under 12 years): |
Free |
Air passenger departure tax is normally included in the price
of the air ticket.
Business Hours
Generally, offices of commercial establishments and government
departments are open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. Some
are open on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm. Major banks are
open from 9 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 12:30
pm on Saturdays.
Most shops and department stores are open daily from
10 am to 9 pm, while 24-hour convenience shops are located
all over the city.
There is no sales tax on goods and services in Hong Kong.
Hotels and restaurants usually add 10% service charge
to their bills. Tipping may be appropriate when a service
charge is not included.
Climate
Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate with seasonal changes.
In August, The temperature ranges from 26oC
to 33oC. Humidity can reach nearly 86 per cent.
An umbrella or hat can protect you from the intense sunshine.
Go to www.hko.gov.hk
for weather forecast before deciding what to pack.
Currency and
Credit Card
The Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) is the unit currency used in
Hong Kong. One US dollar is about HK$7.70. Most foreign
currencies and traveler¡¦s cheques can be changed over
banks, hotels and moneychangers. There are no restrictions
on the type or amount of money that can be brought into
or taken out of Hong Kong.
All major credit cards are widely accepted in Hong Kong
and can be used to obtain cash advances at banks and automatic
teller machines (ATMs). ATMs can be found almost everywhere
and at the meeting venue, and provide 24-hour cash withdrawal
(HK$).
Electricity
The
standard voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts AC/50 cycles.
The plug/socket system in Hong Kong is a 3-rectangular-pin
type.
Public Transportation
Hong
Kong is so compact that getting around is quick and easy.
An efficient public transport system ¡V networks of urban
underground trains (MTR), numerous routes of trams, buses
and ferries ¡V enable visitors to explore Hong Kong conveniently
and safely on their own.
Airport Express Travel Pass not only takes you to/from
the airport; it also allows you to travel within the city
by MTR for 3 consecutive days. For further information,
please visit: http://www.mtr.com.hk
Time Zone
Add 8 hours to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to get the Hong
Kong time.
Telecommunication
International direct dialing, Internet, e-mail facilities
are easily accessible in Hong Kong. Most of the mobile
telephone systems used around the globe operate in Hong
Kong.
Discover Hong
Kong
For the most updated tourist information, please visit
the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board at www.discoverhongkong.com.
