| Hong Kong |
| Hong Kong has a population of approx. 7 million of whom 98% are Chinese, English and Cantonese are the official languages. English is widely spoken throughout the territory and is also used in Government department and in business. |
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Airport |
| The Hong Kong International Airport (www.hongkongairport.com) situated on Lantau Island is one of the worldˇ¦s largest and most modern airports. It truly makes Hong Kong the transport hub of Asia, being directly accessible from all over the world with over 5,300 international flight to 140 cities every week. |
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| Banks |
| Business hours: |
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| Monday to Friday |
9:00am ˇV 4:30pm |
| Saturday |
9:00am ˇV 12:30pm |
| Sunday & Public Holidays |
Closed |
ATM Services: 24 hours/day |
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| Climate |
During September, weather in Hong Kong is usually warm and humid with temperatures ranging between 25°C -30°C. There may be occasional rain. You may visit the Hong Kong Observatory (www.hko.gov.hk) for current weather and detail information. |
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Currency |
The currency unit is Hong Kong Dollars (HK$). Most foreign currencies and travelerˇ¦s cheques are easily exchanged at banks, hotels and moneychangers. A passport is required for money exchange services.
Exchange rates of US$1 = approx. HK$7.75. The Hong Kong Dollars is available in $10, $50, $100, $500 and $1,000 denominations. Coinage is in 10, 20, 50 cents and $1, $2, $5 and $10. There are no restrictions on the type or amount of money that can be brought into or taken out of Hong Kong. Major credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants throughout Hong Kong. |
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Electricity |
| Electricity is supplied as alternating current at 220 volts. Hong Kong generally uses UK-style three-hole sockets. |
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Geography |
Hong Kong is made up of three quite distinct areas: Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and 6 Outlying Islands of which there are more than 260 islands. |
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| Hong Kong Tourism Board |
| Please check (http://www.discoverhongkong.com) for more information. |
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Postal Service |
| Most post offices are open from Monday to Friday 9:30am ˇV 5:00pm, Saturday during 9:30am ˇV 1:00pm. Hotels often provide simple postage services. Posting box is available at the entrance of meeting venue. |
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| Restaurants |
| Hong Kong has more than 5,000 restaurants specializing in all the regional dishes of China and neighboring Asian countries as well as European and American cuisine. |
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Shopping |
| Most shops and department stores are open seven days a week until 9:00pm. Street markets are in business every day until late into the night. Hong Kong is a shopperˇ¦s paradise for bargains, rapidly-made tailored clothing, antiques, jewellery, cameras and electronic equipment. Major credit cards are widely accepted. |
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Time |
| Hong Kong time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. |
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Transport |
| For general transport, taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway, http://www.mtr.com.hk), allow easy access throughout the territories. Public bus, tram and ferry services are also frequent. When you arrive Hong Kong International Airport, you may take Airport Express, bus or taxi to your hotel. You may check (http://www.hongkongairport.com) for more details. |
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Visas and Passports |
| Entry is visa-free for over 170 countries. For a few countries, issue of a visa may take some time and it is advisable to apply at least three months in advance. Please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department (http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkbisas_4.htm) for details. |
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