Money
The currency used in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar. It is normally abbreviated HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies.
Since 1983, it has been pegged at a fixed exchange rate to the United States Dollar. The currency is allowed to trade within a range between 7.75 and 7.85 Hong Kong Dollars to one United States Dollar.
The Hong Kong dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, HK$ 1, HK$ 2, HK$ 5 and HK$ 10 coins, and HK$ 10, HK$ 20, HK$ 50, HK$ 100, HK$ 500, HK$ 1,000 notes.
There is no restriction on the amount of money that one can bring to Hong Kong.
A good website that gives current exchange rates for almost all the currencies in the world is : www.xe.com
Money can be changed in banks, Hotels and authorized bureaus. Banks will normally give better rates than hotels and tourist establishments, while bureaus might give a better rate than the bank. If you change your money in a bureau, make sure that you checked the exchange rate properly and see whether they take a commission...
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday, 09:00-16:30 and on Saturday morning, until 12:30. Bureaus are normally opened later, as well as on weekends.
Cash can be withdrawn 24 hours a day at the ATMs, and most international credit cards are accepted in Hong Kong. Traveler cheques will be accepted in almost every bank and bureau.
Communications
Post : Hong Kong post is very efficient. Most branches open from Monday to Friday, 09:30am - 5pm and on Saturday morning until 1pm. Some of the branches (the bigger ones, in particular) are opened until 6pm on midweek days.
Internet : Unless your hotel/guesthouse provides internet facilities, or if the price they are asking is too high, the best way to send or receive an Email, to plug in to Skype, or simply to load your photos on a CD, is to enter one of the Cyber cafes in town...
Those can be found along the streets in the central business areas and even in shopping malls. You should look for the signs though, as those businesses are more likely to be found in a small office space than in a shop facing the street (That is due to the high rent).
Fresh Cyber Café seems to be pretty popular. Their Wanchai branch is located on Lockhart Road, opposite The Bridge Bar and stays open 24 hours a day. Rates are quite reasonable.
Some public libraries across Hong Kong have installed Internet Express Terminals (IETs)and allow visitors to use their internet facilities free of charge. Each session lasts for 15 minutes though... Travelers recommend the library at City Hall, as well as Central Library, next to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay (both are on Hong Kong Island).
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A growing number of coffee shops offer wireless connection to their customers.
Pacific Coffee Company is a particularly good option, as they have wireless access for those of you who carry their own computer, as well as some PCs on site, for those of you who don't have a computer... (they'll normally allow you to use the PC for maximum 15 minutes, unless there are not too many others who want to use it...)
Their store locator is recommended as it indicates how many PCs are available at each branch...
Here is a list of some of their most conveniently located outlets:
Shop B, G/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay
Shop 113-115, 1/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Shop G04, G/F, Lee Gardens Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay
Shop UG4-5, East Town Building, 41 Lockhart Road, Wanchai
G/F & 1/F Pak Fook Building, 208 - 212 Queen's Road East, Wanchai
Shop 1022, Level 1, IFC Mall, Central
G/F, The Workstation, 43 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
UG/ F, Somptueux Central, 52-54 Wellington Street, Central (near LKF)
Shop on G/F, 151-155 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Unit G10, Level G, The Peak Tower (Victoria Peak)
G31-G32A, G/F, Miramar Shopping Center, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Shop L021A, G/F New World Centre, 18-24 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Starbucks also provides Wireless broadband hotspots in many of their branches, but you'll have to have your own computer... (That is, at least, how it was at the time of writing)
Another possibility is to make a use of computer terminals with free internet access that some of the large communication companies operate, to promote their business (especially in busy MTR stations, like Central...). Those terminals can be used for a limited period of time (especially if there are others who also want to use them...) so don't count on them for a long use...
SMS can be sent from ICQ... it is free and it normally works.
Phone : Making an International call from your hotel room can be very expensive and, therefore, unless you use your own mobile phone (which is not a bad option - especially if you use a local prepaid sim card), you'll better buy a prepaid phone card that will allow you to call from every phone in the country, including public phones.
If you buy one of those discounted cards that offer a "package deal" you'll better check if your country is actually included in this package... Prepaid cards (also called IDD phone-cards) can be purchased in every 7-eleven, Circle-K and in many other convenient stores.
To find out more about IDD phone-cards, you can dial 10013 (from Hong Kong).
Domestic calls (inside Hong Kong) are basically free but hotels seem to charge for them. Calls from public pay-phones costs HK$ 1 for every five minutes but in large shopping malls you may find phones from which it is possible to call free (within Hong Kong).
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A tip from 'Mtropolasia-Man' :
PCCW mobile's "Global Reach" IDD Rechargeable SIM Card seems to be fairly popular... It offers free calls to fixed-lines in 30 countries, including Canada, USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries, and you can also call free to mobiles in Canada, USA, China and Singapore...
All you will have to pay is the local airtime charge, which is currently HK$ 0.25 per minute)
For the full information (and to purchase airtime), go to the webpage of PCCW mobile "Global Reach"
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Another popular option is the CSL Prepaid SIM Card, issued by of Hong Kong's largest cellular operator - CSL
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Time
Hong Kong doesn't apply summer saving time. The time is GMT+8 all year round.
Weights & Measures
Like most countries in the world, Hong Kong uses the metric system. However, several forms of traditional Chinese and some imperial weights and measures are still used.
In street markets, produce may be sold by the catty (about 1.33 pounds or 605 grams). Gold is sold by Tael Troy (about 37.4 grams or 1.2 ounces troy).
Electricity
The electrical current in Hong Kong is 220 volts / 50 cycles alternating current (AC). In Macau, it is also 220 volts / 50 cycles. The plugs have three round prongs. It is recommended to get an adaptor, as outlets in Hong Kong are different than those in Macau and China.
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You may also want to read about...
When to come? What to wear? What to bring?
Customs and Immigration
Visiting neighboring countries
Emergency - what to do in case of a problem
Health & Hygiene
