About Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a fascinating place, boasting a unique mix of
traditional culture and futuristic experiences. There is plenty to
see and do and registered delegates will be able to take advantage
of some great complimentary offers. See our Cultural Activites section for
details.
The essentials
You may find the below information useful when planning your
trip.
Hotels
Whilst delegates are free to arrange their own accommodation, hotel
reservations can be secured through the
Congress registration process at any of the following:
Airport
The Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok
commenced service on 6 July 1998. It is situated on Lantau Island,
which is an outlying island of Hong Kong 25km away from down town
area. The Airport Railway operates to link the new airport and
Lantau Island, with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The Airport
Express rail takes 23 minutes to get to Central, Hong Kong and the
round trip fare is HK$180 (US$23.10).
Climate
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. May to August is hot
and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms, particularly
during the mornings. Afternoon temperatures often exceed 31°C
whereas at night, temperatures generally remain around 26°C with
high humidity. The average temperature of May lies
between 20°C - 25°C. 7-day weather forecast can be found
on the Hong Kong
Observatory website.
Time Difference
Hong Kong time is GMT plus 8 hours.
Food
Dining out is a gourmet's delight, an exciting adventure
with a limitless choice of restaurants and dishes. There are more
than 30,000 restaurants in Hong Kong, providing visitors with a
truly international eating experience. In Hong Kong, seafood is a
passion; only the best and the freshest are offered. The range of
restaurants is immense with high standards.
Shopping
Hong Kong is the shopping window of the world. Its
diversity will astonish the most seasoned shopper. It is a heaven
for choices - from fashion to furniture, from antiques to jewellery
and from cameras to computers.
This range of choices extends to the shopping environment. There
are designer boutiques and street stalls, classic shopping malls
and frantic markets, modern art galleries and antique shops, and
they are open every day of the week. Nothing could be simpler than
shopping in Hong Kong.
Tipping
Most restaurants may levy a 10% service charge but waiters
will expect to be given some loose change. However, tipping is left
to your discretion. Bellboys, porters, restroom attendants and taxi
drivers are happy to accept loose change.
Currency Exchange / Credit Cards
The unit of currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). It is
pegged to the US$ at approximately HK$7.8 to US$1. Most foreign
currencies and traveller's cheques can be changed at banks,
money-changers, hotels and major retail outlets. Banks usually
offer the best exchange rate. The Hong Kong Dollar notes are
available in $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000 denominations.
Coins come in 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2, $5 and $10
denominations. All major credit cards are widely accepted. Check
the cash prices which may be lower than the credit card price.
Electricity and Water
Local voltage is 220V at 50Hz. Adaptors can be easily
bought, and most hotels have multi-voltage fitting for electric
razors. All mains water supply meets the World Health Organisation
standards. Bottled water is widely available.
Further information
The Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) is also a great source of
reliable information. Below are HKTB links to information that you
may find useful before and during your visit: