Entry requirements: Visitors must hold a passport valid at least until one month after departure from Hong Kong. Visas are needed to enter mainland China, which can be easily obtained in Hong Kong.
Currency: Hong Kong dollar. The rate of the HK dollar against the U.S. dollar is 7.8 to 1.
Money matters: ATMs are plentiful in Hong Kong, and some "Electronic Money" machines provide 24-hour cash withdrawal facilities for Visa and MasterCard holders. Currency and traveler's checks are easily exchanged in hotels or banks with some handling charges. Most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge, and an additional five percent may be added as a tip. When a service charge is not included, tipping 10 percent is sufficient. For taxi drivers, round up to the nearest dollar.
Climate: Hong Kong enjoys a subtropical climate, similar to Puerto Rico or Miami. Average temperatures: March to mid-May, 64° to 80°F; late May to mid-September, 78° to 91°F; late September to early December, 64° to 82°F; mid-December to February, 57° to 68°F, occasionally dropping to 50°F. The best time to visit Hong Kong is mid-September to mid-May.
Flight times: From Chicago, 15 hrs 55 min; from Los Angeles, 14 hrs 35 min; from New York, 16 hrs 40 min.
Language: Cantonese and English are the official languages, and all major signs are in English or bilingual. |
