Hong Kong Essentials

Hong Kong Essentials & Tourist Information

Hong Kong Tourist Attractions
Every visitor to Hong Kong simply must take a trip up to Victoria Peak for one of the world's most spectacular views. See dramatic skyscrapers rising from the edge of picturesque Victoria harbour which is even more fabulous at nigh time. Taking a charming funicular tram to the summit, it costs HK$28.  A day at the races is a truly special occasion in Hong Kong and is full of character and colour like nowhere else. Race meetings involve an extensive card of races, sideshow entertainment with music and dance and fun and games for kids. Entrance to the Happy Valley Racecourse starts at only HK$10 and meetings are usually held twice a week almost year round.

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Useful Cantonese Phrases

Hong Kong Opening Hours
Hong Kong banking hours are from 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings until 1pm. Post offices operate very similar hours. In the many shopping malls, retail outlets are open throughout the day, 7 days a week from 10am - 10pm. Most convenience stores, which are found everywhere, usually operate 24 hours a day and there are many pharmacies that will stay open until the early hours especially in Kowloon and Central.

Tipping & Etiquette in Hong Kong
Most mid range and tourist restaurants automatically add a 10% service charge to bills and when this is the case, no further compensation is required. Street cafes and hawker food centres do not levy any service charge and any tipping is discretionary and although not expected, is always gratefully received. Other worthy gratuities are for taxi journeys, hotel porterage and restroom attendants.  

Hong Kong Food & Drink
Cuisine in Hong Kong is primarily Cantonese but borrows many influences from all across China and internationally with many dishes a fusion of Chinese and South Asian flavours. Rice or noodles are the base of virtually all dishes and Dim Sum is perhaps the most recognisable Hong Kong cuisine. Comprising steamed baskets of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, it is a popular form of eating for local families both in restaurants and at home. Other interesting dishes to sample include Peking Duck, Cantonese Hot Pot, Chinese meat curries, Hot and Sour Soup, seafood and much more. Vegetarians are well catered for in Hong Kong with soybean and tofu used extensively as a meat substitute and a wide range of tasty and exotic vegetables are consumed.     

Hong Kong Useful Numbers
• Calling the UK from Hong Kong – 0044 + area code minus zero + number
• Police – 999
• Ambulance – 999
• Fire – 999

Disabled Access in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a fairly difficult city in which to negotiate with a wheelchair purely because of the sheer weight of people on its bustling pavements. Shopping centres are almost all accessible with travelators and lifts but again do become exceedingly busy at almost any time of day. There is a very efficient integrated policy for disabled travel on public transport with the popular wheelchair friendly REHAB bus network which offers scheduled and special charter bus routes all over the city and beyond. Most MTR underground stations have lifts and assistance to platform level and ticketing machines for special needs passengers. 

Embassies
• British Consulate-General 1 Supreme Court Road Hong Kong Telephone: (+852) 2901 3000
• Embassy of Peoples Republic of China 49-51 Portland Place London W1B 1JL Telephone: 020 7299 4049

Hong Kong City Breaks  Getting Around Hong Kong

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