Hong Kong · Practical
Hong Kong practicalities
Hong Kong runs on a different system from mainland China — different money, different plug, much more English, much less GFW. Here's what changes when you cross the border.
Currency
The Hong Kong Dollar (HKD, HK$) is pegged to the US Dollar at a tight band around 7.75–7.85. Notes HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100, HK$500, HK$1,000. Coins HK$1, HK$2, HK$5, HK$10 plus 10c, 20c, 50c.
CNY (mainland yuan) is widely accepted in tourist areas at unfavourable rates; pay in HKD where you can.
ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, Maestro and most foreign debit cards. HSBC, Hang Seng, Standard Chartered, Citibank ATMs are reliable.
Plugs
Type G — the same as the United Kingdom. Three large rectangular pins, 220V, 50Hz. Mainland China uses Types A and C; if you're crossing from mainland China to Hong Kong, your adapter doesn't transfer. Bring a UK-compatible adapter or buy one at the airport.
Language
- Cantonese is the dominant local language and the lingua franca.
- English is co-official and universally understood; signage everywhere.
- Mandarin (Putonghua) is widely understood, particularly with younger people and mainland-facing service. But the local accent on Mandarin is heavy, and locals don't always speak it comfortably.
For tourists: English alone is sufficient.
Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service charge added automatically. You don't need to add more.
- Taxis: round up to the nearest dollar.
- Hotels: HK$20 per bag for porters; HK$20 per day for housekeeping if staying multiple days. Optional but typical.
Internet and the GFW
Hong Kong is on the international internet — Google, YouTube, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, all the Western news sites work normally. No VPN required. This is a significant change if you're crossing from mainland China.
WiFi: free at the airport, MTR stations, most cafes, malls. Mobile data on a tourist SIM is HK$50–HK$150 for a 3-7 day SIM with several GB.
Time zone
GMT+8, no daylight saving. Same as mainland China and Singapore.
Climate
Subtropical. Annual highs: - **March–May**: 18–28°C, increasing humidity. - **June–September**: 26–33°C, very humid, typhoon season. Air-con everywhere indoors. - **October–November**: 22–28°C, drier, the most pleasant window. - **December–February**: 12–22°C, occasional cool snaps to 5–10°C.
Typhoon signal warnings (3, 8, 10) close offices, schools and ferries. Signal 8 closes most public transport too.
Health
Hong Kong has one of the world's longest life expectancies; the public health system is excellent. Public hospital A&E HK$180 fee. Private hospitals (Hong Kong Adventist, Matilda, Hong Kong Sanatorium) for international-style care. Travel insurance recommended.
Tap water: officially safe to drink, but most locals filter or boil it. Bottled water is universal and cheap.
Smoking
Banned indoors in public buildings (restaurants, malls, MTR, taxis). Permitted outdoors with some restrictions (no parks, no sports areas, no near schools). Designated smoking areas at major venues.
Shopping hours
Most shops 10:30am–9pm or later. Malls run until 10pm. Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K) run 24 hours. Supermarkets (Wellcome, ParknShop) typically 8am–10pm.
Public holidays
In addition to Western and Chinese-traditional holidays, Hong Kong observes: - **HKSAR Establishment Day** — 1 July. - **Buddha's Birthday** — typically May. - Most Chinese-mainland holidays (Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day, Mid-Autumn, National Day). - Christmas and Boxing Day, plus Easter.
Driving
Right-hand drive (UK-style). International Driving Permit valid for short stays. Limited car rental as a tourist; most travellers use public transport.
Phone calls
International code: +852. No area codes within Hong Kong. Mobile numbers start 5, 6, 9; landlines 2, 3.
Things that are different from mainland China
To summarise: - Different currency (HKD vs CNY) — bring HKD or use ATMs in Hong Kong. - Different plug (Type G vs Types A/C) — bring a UK adapter. - Different language priority (Cantonese + English vs Mandarin). - Open internet (no GFW, no VPN needed). - 10% service charge on restaurants (vs no tipping in mainland). - Right-hand-drive traffic (vs left-hand-drive in mainland). - Different visa system — see the dedicated visa page. - Different mobile network (you can use mainland SIMs in HK with roaming, but it's expensive).