Hong Kong Travel Guide

Hong Kong — Region and Tourist Information

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Region Facts

Location: East Asia.
Language: Cantonese and English are the official languages, with Cantonese the most widely spoken. Mandarin is growing fast as a second language. English is widely spoken, especially in business circles.
Area: 1,098 sq km (424 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 8.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 7.05 million (2009).
Population Density: 6,420 per sq km.
Government: Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1997.
Head of Government: Chief Executive Donald Tsang since 2005.
Religion: Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist, with Christian and Muslim minorities, but there are also places of worship for most other religious groups.

Recent History

The pro-Beijing Democratic Party for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) took control of the Legislative Council (LegCo) after the first election held under Chinese rule in May 1998. Beijing selected shipping tycoon Tung Chee Hwa to fill the new post of Chief Executive. He resigned in March 2005 during his second term after criticism of his rule, citing ill health. Donald Tsang was appointed Chief Executive in June 2005.

Since 2003, there have been protests calling for more democracy. In March 2006, Bishop Joseph Zen, the pro-democracy leader of Hong Kong's Catholics, was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI but was warned by Beijing to stay out of politics. More pro-democracy protests followed in July 2006.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . Local public telephone calls can be made either with phonecards or coins. Local calls are free from private phones.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Mobile telephones also function all over the underground network, thanks to transmitters installed in the tunnels. It is possible to hire a mobile phone at the international airport.

Internet

Internet facilities are available at libraries and Internet cafes are plentiful. Many cafes and hotels offer Wi-Fi access.

Media

Hong Kong has one of the world's largest film industries and is a major center for broadcasting and publishing. Hong Kong's media are a lot more editorially free than the rest of China. However, there is still reported self-censorship and pressure on editorial policies. Many international and pan-Asian broadcasters are based in the territory. Hong Kong's terrestrial commercial TV networks, TVB and ATV, can also be received in neighboring Guangdong province. Public broadcaster Radio-TV Hong Kong (RTHK) operates several radio and TV networks. There are scores of Chinese-language newspapers and a handful of English-language dailies.

Post

Regular postal services are available. Airmail to Europe takes three to five days.Mon-Fri 0800-1800; Sat 0800-1400.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
3 Feb Chinese New Year
5 Apr Ching Ming Festival
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
21 May Lord Buddha’s Birthday
6 Jun Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival
1 Jul Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
12 Sep Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
1 Oct National Day
5 Oct Chung Yeung Festival

2009
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
23 Jan Chinese New Year
5 Apr Ching Ming Festival
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 May Lord Buddha’s Birthday
6 Jun Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival
1 Jul Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
30 Sep Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
1 Oct National Day
22 Oct Chung Yeung Festival
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing day
Religious festivals are timed according to the lunar calendar and variations may occur. The above represent all holidays on which banks, schools, public offices and government departments close. There are also statutory holidays on which all employees receive a day's holiday. For further details of these dates, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board.