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travel information
Weather
Hong Kong is an all-year-round destination, however,
the best time to visit falls in Autumn between late
September and early December when the temperature
is cooler. In this period of time, temperatures
range from 18-28C (64-82F). Humidity averages 72%.
It is the end of the typhoon season, though typhoon
is still possible but unlikely.
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Visa
Most visitors do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong,
just a valid passport. Specifically, all visitors
from European Union member countries, the USA and
Canada do not need visas. Visas, obtained in advance
from your local China or Hong Kong visa office,
are required for visitors of the following countries
and regions:
| A |
Afghanistan |
Albania |
Angola |
Armenia |
| Azerbaijan |
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| B |
Belarus |
Bulgaria |
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| C |
Cambodia |
Costa Rican Provisional
passports |
Cuba |
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| G |
Georgia |
Grenada |
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| I |
Iran |
Iraq |
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| K |
Kazakstan |
Korea (Democratic People's Republic of) |
Kyrgystan |
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| L |
Laos |
Lebanon |
Libya |
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| M |
Moldova (Republic of) |
Mongolia |
Myanmar |
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| N |
Nepal |
Nicaragua |
Nigeria |
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| P |
Panama |
Special Peruvian passports |
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| R |
Romania |
Russian Federation |
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| S |
Senegal |
Solomon Islands |
Somalia |
Sudan |
| Syria |
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| T |
Taiwan |
Tajikistan |
Turkmenistan |
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| U |
Ukraine |
Uzbekistan |
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| V |
Vietnam and Yugoslavia (Federal Republic of) |
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Please check with your local Chinese Embassy for
details.
If foreign visitors wish to go to mainland China,
a visa must be obtained. This can be done in
Hong Kong, allowing several days at least, but it
is advised to obtain before you leave for Hong Kong.
For more details, please go to the Immigration Department.
The Immigration Department
Address: Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2824 6111
Fax: +852 2877 7711
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the P.R.C.
Address: 5/F, Lower Block, 26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2585 1657
Or
China Travel Service
Tel: +852 2315 7106
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Official Hotel Partner
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Grand Hyatt Hong Kong is proud to be the official hotel of the Business of Design Week 2006.
We are pleased to honour a special 10% discount for BODW delegates who book through www.hyatt.com on any room category.
Located along the prime waterfront, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong commands beautiful views of world-famous Victoria Harbour and is directly connected to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The hotel is home for eight world-class restaurants and spa and 25 multi-function meeting rooms. The hotel's residential spa Plateau features 23 rooms and suites for accommodation and an extensive choice of result-oriented treatments, as well as an outdoor heated pool, five fitness and exercise studios, a 400-meter jogging track and more.
For further enquiries or bookings, please contact our Reservations Department at
(852) 2584 7038 or reservations.ghhk@hyattintl.com
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Oversea registered delegates travel
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Local Transportation
Hong Kong has a well-established public transportation
system. There is a 3-day Hong Kong Transport Pass
(Airport Express Tourist Octopus) at HK$220 each
for tourists, which is available at all Airport
Express and MTR stations. It includes one airport
express single journey, 3-day unlimited MTR rides
and HK$20 usable value on major transportation.
For long-staying visitors, it is more convenient
to use an "Octopus" card when you travel
with various public transportations.
Airport
Express Train
Hong Kong International Airport was built
alongside the island of Lantau, some 36 km (23 miles)
from central Hong Kong island in mid-1998. The best
way to get from the airport to your hotel is to
take the Airport Express train.
The Express leaves every 10 minutes, stopping at
Tsing Yi, Kowloon and then Hong Kong station. The
whole journey takes about 23 minutes. It runs from
5:50 am to 12:48 am daily. A single adult fare is
HK$100 to Hong Kong station, HK$90 to Kowloon and
HK$60 to Tsing Yi. For comparison, a taxi from the
airport to central Hong Kong costs about HK$340.
The Express station at the airport is on the same
level as the exits for arriving passengers. It is
clearly signposted and a minute's walk from the
exit points. Tickets can be bought from automatic
ticket machines, which give change. When you arrive
at your designated Express station, the simplest
way to get to your hotel is by taxi (see the section
about taxi). Alternatively, at Hong Kong and Kowloon
stations, there are shuttle buses to major hotels
leaving at 20-minute intervals from 6:00 am to 11:00
pm.
Upon departure, if you arrive at Hong Kong or Kowloon
Express stations up to 90 minutes before your flight,
you can enjoy the in-town check-in service by checking
in baggage and get your flight boarding pass at
the station.
Taxi
There are plenty of taxis available in
Hong Kong and Kowloon. All taxis have metres and
accept only Hong Kong dollars. Though some taxi
drivers speak English, for convenience sake, you
are also advised to have your destination written
in Chinese. Current flag fall is HK$15.00, for approximately
2 km (3.3 miles). Every additional 200 metres is
HK$1.40, and the same is charged for waiting time
per minute. Baggage surcharge of HK$5.00 per piece
will be needed. A ride from the airport to central
Hong Kong will cost you about HK$340.
You are required to pay toll charges for Lantau
link bridges and round trip toll charges for cross-harbour
tunnels if the hiring is not begin from a cross-harbour
taxi stand. Charges for using Lantau link is HK$30,
return toll for Western tunnel is HK$50, HK$30 for
the Eastern tunnel and HK$20 for the Cross Harbour
tunnels.
Underground train or subway
The MTR, Hong Kong's underground rail service, is
fast and efficient. It covers most areas in town
and operates in central Hong Kong and Kowloon. Single
journey tickets can be purchased at ticket issuing
machine in MTR stations. Alternatively, Octopus
card, available at MTR Customer Service Centre is
a stored value electronic ticketing system which
can be used in multiple modes of transport such
as MTR, Airport Express, buses and ferries etc.
The MTR Route Map
Cross-harbour Ferry
Cross-harbour ferry is a cheap (HK$2.2
one way, upper deck) and interesting scenic boat
trip to travel to and from Kowloon and the Hong
Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), which
is located in Wan Chai on Hong Kong island. Ferries
between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui run every few
minutes from 6:30am to 11:30pm, from 7:30am to 10:50pm
between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. The Wan Chai
ferry pier is within a few minutes' walk from HKCEC.
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Currency
Hong Kong has a fixed exchange rate which ties the
HK dollar to the US dollar within a narrow band.
The upper end of the band is HK$7.80 to US$1. There
is no currency restrictions and the Hong Kong dollar
is freely convertible with all other currencies.
There are many currency exchange operators, as well
as banks and hotels and at the airport. All major
credit cards are accepted at hotels, banks, large
restaurants and stores.
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Custom Duties
There is no custom tariff in Hong Kong and goods
imported or exported require minimal customs formalities.
Excise duties are levied only on tobacco, liquor,
methyl alcohol and hydrocarbon oil.
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Service Charges
Most restaurants add 10% service charge automatically.
Waiters also expect to pick up loose change. Larger
tips, often 10%, are expected if there is no service
charge. Small tips of HK$5-10 are common for hotel
porters who carry your luggage. Toilet attendants,
who provide a hand-washing service in some hotels
and restaurants, and cloakroom attendants, expect
a tip of HK$2-5.
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Security
Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world,
with a very low crime rate. However, it is advised
to keep close watch on your personal belongings
when you are in crowded areas.
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Electricity
Voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts, transformer will
be needed to operate 100 volts electrical appliances.
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Telephone Directory
GENERAL NUMBERS
| Emergency Calls (Police/
Fire/ Ambulance) |
999 |
| Crime Hotline (also taxi complaints) |
2527 7177 |
| 24
hours medical service |
Queen Mary Hospital
|
2855 4111 |
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
|
2958 8888 |
| Free
Ambulance Service |
Hong Kong Island
|
2576 6555 |
Kowloon & New Territories
|
2713 5555 |
| Consumer Council |
2929 2222 |
| Overseas
Calls |
Collect Calls
|
10010 |
IDD & Cardphone Inquiries
|
10013 |
| VISITOR
TRAVEL HOTLINES |
Hong
Kong International Airport
|
2181 0000 |
Hong Kong Tourism Board
|
2508 1234 |
| MAJOR
AIRLINES (Reservation/ Flight Information)
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Air Canada
|
2867 8111 |
| Air France |
2524 8145 |
| Air India |
2522 1170 |
| Alitalia Airlines |
2543 6998 |
| British Airways / Qantas
Airways |
2822 9060 |
| Canadian Airline Int'l |
2867 8111 |
| Cathay Pacific Airways |
2747 1888 |
| China Airlines |
2769 8391 |
| China National Aviation
Corp. |
2861 0322 |
| Hong Kong Dragon Airlines |
2180 2180 |
| Japan Airlines |
2523 0081 |
| Korean Air |
2368 6221 |
| Lufthansa German Airlines |
2868 2313 |
| Malaysia Airlines |
2521 8181 |
| Northwest Airlines |
2810 4288 |
| Philippine Airlines |
2361 9300 |
| Singapore Airlines |
2520 2233 |
| Swissair |
3002 1330 |
| Thai Airways Int'l |
2876 6888 |
| United Airlines |
2810 4888 |
| Virgin Atlantic Airways: |
2532 6060 |
| CONSULATE
GENERALS |
| Britain |
2901 3000 |
| Canada |
2810 4321 |
| Finland |
2525 5385 |
| France |
3196 6100 |
| Germany |
2105 8788 |
| Indonesia |
2890 4421 |
| Italy |
2522 0033 |
| Japan |
2522 1184 |
| Korea |
2529 4141 |
| Malaysia |
2821 0800 |
| New Zealand |
2525 5044 |
| Singapore |
2527 2212 |
| Switzerland |
2522 7147 |
| Thailand |
2521 6481 |
| USA |
2523 9011 |
| OTHERS |
| Hong Kong Telephone Numbers
Inquires: |
|
| English |
1081 |
| Cantonese |
1083 |
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Being one of the sponsors of Business of Design Week 2006, Cathay Pacific Airways is offering exclusive airfares on Economy class to registered delegates and their travel companions.
