A World of Fun for Families in Hong Kong

Get ready for loads of fun and excitement for the whole family when you visit Hong Kong. It's an awesome wonderland brimming over with vigour and vitality. Parents and kids are sure to have incredible experiences, and the Hong Kong Family Fun Guide makes it easy for everyone to have the vacation of a lifetime! Let click the folowing diagram to plan your journey!

(Information provided by the Hong Kong Tourism Board)

About Hong Kong

Business & Banking Hours

Generally, offices of most commercial establishments and government departments open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with a lunch hour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Mondays to Fridays. Some open on Saturdays, usually from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Major banks are open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays.

Climate

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with distinct seasonal changes. It is summer time when you visit Hong Kong in June. The average temperature is 26°C – 33°C and humidity at 85%. For the most updated information, please visit the website of Hong Kong Observatory at www.hko.gov.hk

Dial-a-Weather

Local Forecast and Temperature
Readings (24 hours):
English 187-8066
Putonghua 187-8202
Cantonese 187-8200

Currency and Credit Cards

The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of US$1=HK$7.8, although the rate does vary slightly. All major currencies and travellers' cheques can be exchanged at banks, hotels or moneychangers with some handling charges. Credit cards are widely accepted in Hong Kong and can be used to obtain cash advances at banks and automatic teller machines.

Departure Tax

The Air Passenger Departure Tax in Hong Kong is currently HK$120 for persons aged 12 and above. Children under 12 years of age are not required to pay the tax.

Electricity

The voltage in Hong Kong is 220V, 50Hz. Most sockets are 3-rectangular-pin sockets and most hotels provide adaptors for electrical appliances.

Language

The official languages are Chinese and English, with Cantonese the most widely spoken Chinese dialect. All major signage is in Chinese or bilingual. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong.

Public Transport

Hong Kong is so compact, getting around is quite easy. Fleets of taxis, buses, trams, ferries, complemented by the excellent Mass Transit Railway (MTR) underground system, will enable participants to travel between their hotels and other areas in the city, safely and conveniently.

Airport Express

Fare: HK$100/trip, HK$180/round trip
The Airport Express is a dedicated airport railway line providing fast and reliable service operating daily from 5:50 am to 1:15 am (last train departs from Airport or Hong Kong Station at 0:48 am) at 12-minute intervals. The train journey to or from downtown Hong Kong takes approximately 23 minutes.

Taxis

Rates start at HK$15.00 on flag fall (first 2 km) plus HK$1.40 every further 200m. Pay in HK$ only the fare shown on the meter plus any additional charges when applicable, e.g. luggage, tunnel tolls. Charges are displayed in the taxi. Passengers have to pay the two-way Cross-Harbour tunnel toll on cross-harbour trips.

Safety

Hong Kong is generally considered a safe city by day or night. As in all big cities, avoid carrying large amount of cash. Make use of your hotel's safe-deposit box for valuable items.

Sales Tax

There is no sales tax on goods and services in Hong Kong.

Shopping

There are no set hours for shops, but generally:
Central District – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
All others – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm or 10:00 pm
Shops are open 7 days a week. Always shop around and compare prices before deciding to buy and always shop with reputable establishments. Department stores and most shops have a fixed price policy. Bargaining, however, is possible in outdoor markets and with street vendors.

Telecommunications

Local calls from public coin phones cost HK$1 per five minutes. Most hotels have International Direct Dialing (IDD), but may charge an extra fee for local and/or IDD calls. Stored-value phone cards allow you to make calls on public coin and card phones. Internet access can be found in some of the cafes around the city and is generally available in the business centers of most of the hotels.
Travel and Tourism. For more information on Hong Kong, we recommend you to visit the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board at www.discoverhongkong.com

Time

The local time in Hong Kong is GMT + 8.

Tipping

Restaurants would expect a tip of around 5% to 10% of the bill, even when a service charge of 10% is already included. Bellboys, porters and washroom attendants will also expect a modest tip.

Water

Water that runs direct from taps satisfies the United Nations World Health Organization standards. Bottled water is widely available in hotels, supermarkets and convenience stores.

For more information on getting around Hong Kong, you may also wish to visit www.discoverhongkong.com.

Disclaimer: All information provided in this website is for reference only. Information and any other contents of this website are subject to change without notice. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the information on this site is accurate, regrettably we cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.