Hong Kong General Information Area: 1098 sq km (423.9 sq miles). Population: 6,796,700 (2000). Population Density: 6,190 per sq km. GEOGRAPHY: Hong Kong is located in East Asia, just south of the Tropic of Cancer. Hong Kong Island is 32km (20 miles) east of the mouth of Pearl River and 135km (84 miles) southeast of Canton. It is separated from the mainland by a good natural harbour. Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 by the Treaty of Nanking; and the Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street and Stonecutters Island) in 1860 by the Convention of Peking. The area of Boundary Street to Shenzhen River and a group of 260 islands, now known as the New Territories, were leased to Britain in 1898 for a period of 99 years. The New Territories (plus the 260 islands) comprise 891 sq km (380 sq miles). Shortage of land suitable for development has led to reclamation from the sea, principally from the seafronts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Government: Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1997. Head of Government: Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa. Language: Chinese and English are the official languages with Cantonese most widely spoken. English is spoken by many, particularly in business circles. Religion: Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist, with Christian and Muslim minorities, but there are also places of worship for most other religious groups. Time: GMT + 8. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Telephone Directory enquiries services are computerised. For directory enquiries, dial 1081 (English) or 1083 (Chinese). Full IDD is available. Country code: 852. Outgoing international code: 001. Local public telephone calls can be made either with phonecards or coins. Local calls are free from private phones. Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks provide excellent coverage, even to most of the smaller outlying islands. Mobile telephones also function all over the underground network, thanks to transmitters installed in the tunnels. Main network operators inlcude Orange Dual-Band (website: www.orangehk.com), Sunday (website: www.sunday.com) and New World Mobility (website: www.nwmobility.com). Fax HK Telecom International Ltd and the post office provide services. Bureaufax and international services are also available. Internet ISPs include Hong Kong Internet Service (website: www.hkis.com), ABC Net (website: www.hkabc.net) and HKNet (website: www.hknet.com). Internet cafes are plentiful nationwide. Post Regular postal services are available. Airmail to Europe takes three to five days. Poste Restante facilities are available. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800; Sat 0800-1400. Press English-language dailies include Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong iMail, International Herald Tribune and South China Morning Post. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.28 11.95 9.740 6.195 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes 1 Yes Australian Yes 2 Yes Canadian Yes 2 Yes USA Yes 4 Yes OtherEU Yes 3 Yes Japanese Yes 4 Yes Entry restrictions: All visitors must show evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months after the period of intended visit required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) holders of a Hong Kong (SAR) passport, Hong Kong (SAR) certificate of identity or identity card. (b) 1. British Citizens for visits of up to six months (British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects, British Protected Persons and nationals of British Dependent Territories may stay for up to three months); (c) 2. nationals of Commonwealth countries for visits of up to three months (except nationals of Samoa, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda for visits of up to one month, and nationals of Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Lesotho, Mozambique and Pakistan for visits up to 14 days). Nationals of Grenada, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands do require a visa; (d) 3. nationals of EU countries for visits of up to three months; (e) 4. nationals of Andorra, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Montserrat, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, USA and Venezuela for visits of up to three months; (f) nationals of American Samoa, Argentina, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica (except holders of a provisional passport and holders of ‘Documento de Identidad Y Viaje’ issued by the Costa Rican Government, who do require a visa), Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru (except for holders of Peruvian special resident’s passports who do require a visa), Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay (except holders of passports issued under decree 289/90, who do require a visa) and Yemen for visits of up to one month; (g) nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Congo (Dem Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Niger, Oman, Palau, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Surinam, Togo and Vatican City for visits up to 14 days. (h) People in transit not leaving the airport transit area except for nationals of Angola, Iraq, Liberia and Sierra Leone who do require a transit visa. Note: For clarification or further information, contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department, second floor, Immigration Tower, Seven Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (tel: 2824 6111; fax: 2877 7711; e-mail: enquiry@immd.gcn.gov.hk; website: www.info.gov.hk/immd/english). Their booklet ‘Do you need a Visa for Hong Kong?’ is also available from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (see Contact Addresses section). Types of visa and cost: Tourist; Business (single- and multiple-entry); visas generally cost HK$135, but this varies according to nationality and nature of visit. Enquire at the Chinese Consulate (or Consular section at the Embassy) or the Hong Kong Immigration Department for details. Transit: HK$70. Validity: Three months. Extensions are possible. Enquire at the Immigration Department in Hong Kong or at the nearest Chinese Embassy (or Consular Section). Application to: Chinese Consulate (or Consular Section at the Embassy), Hong Kong Economic Office or the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Application requirements: (a) Passport valid for at least six months with photocopies of the relevant pages of information. (b) Application form. (c) Valid travel documents (onward or return tickets and accommodation bookings). (d) Sufficient funds to cover duration of stay. (e) Two passport-size photos. (f) For business visas, a letter of invitation from a ministry, firm or an official Hong Kong organisation is required. (g) Fee. Working days required: Five (if the application is processed by a Chinese Consulate or Embassy); four to six weeks if the application needs to be considered by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Note that there is no refund if the application is turned down. Money Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of HK$1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of HK$10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 cents. Currency exchange: Foreign currency can be changed in banks, hotels and bureaux de change. Banks usually offer the best rate of exchange. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Accepted almost everywhere. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Hong Kong Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Feb ’02 May ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 11.15 11.37 12.33 12.42 $1.00= 7.80 7.80 7.80 7.79 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630, Sat 0900-1230. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Hong Kong by persons aged over 18 without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l bottle of wine or spirits; reasonable quantity of other items for personal use. Note: (a) Residents who have stayed for more than 24 hours outside of Hong Kong are limited to half the above cigarette, cigar and tobacco allowance. (b) Antibiotic drugs are prohibited unless confirmed by a medical note. (c) The import of animals is strictly controlled. Prohibited items: Firearms, narcotics, copyright-infringed goods; endangered species and products deriving from them. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 1-3 Chinese New Year. Apr 5 Ching Ming Festival. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 8 Lord Buddha’s Birthday. Jun 4 Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival. Jul 1 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. Oct 1 National Day. Oct 4 Chung Yeung Festival. Oct 12 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Public Holiday. Note: 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. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio Yes N/A Malaria 1 N/A 1: There may be a slight risk of malaria in the rural areas although prophylaxis is not considered necessary. Food & drink: All water direct from government mains in Hong Kong exceeds the United Nations WHO standards and is fit for drinking. However, all hotels also provide bottled water in guest rooms. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Japanese encephalitis may occur in the New Territories between April and October. Immunisation against hepatitis A, B, diphtheria and tuberculosis is sometimes recommended. Dengue fever is increasing, with 36 confirmed cases since 22 September 2002. Health care: Charges are made for all services and treatment. All visitors are advised to take out private health insurance. Hotels have a list of government-accredited doctors. First-class Western medicine is practised. Excellent dental care is available. For emergency medical services dial 999. Travel - International AIR: Hong Kong’s major international airline is Cathay Pacific (CX) (website: www.cathaypacific.com), which flies to Hong Kong thrice daily from London Heathrow, Los Angeles, and once a day from New York, Toronto Vancouver and Delhi. Cathay Pacific’s associated airline for flights to and from mainland China is Dragonair. Other airlines operating to Hong Kong include Air Canada, British Airways, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Important note: Some civilian air routes over Afghanistan are threatened by military activity. Some airlines continue to use these routes to fly to destinations including Hong Kong. Others, including all British airlines, use alternative routes, on which the threat is assessed as minimal. Travellers should check their routes directly with either travel agents or airlines when booking flights. Approximate flight times: From Hong Kong to London is 12 hours 50 minutes, to Los Angeles is 14 hours 15 minutes, to New York is 17 hours, to Singapore is three hours 40 minutes, to Sydney is nine hours and to Tokyo is four hours 20 minutes. International airports: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) (Chek Lap Kok) (website: www.hkairport.com) is located on Lantau Island, 34 km (21 miles) from central Hong Kong. It opened on 6 July 1998 (replacing the existing Kai Tak airport) and could handle 117,000 passengers a day even before the opening of its second runway in 1999. It is one of ten Airport Core Programme (ACP) projects, one of the largest infrastructural projects ever undertaken in the world. It includes the 2.2km (1.4 miles) Tsing Ma Bridge, the world’s largest road and rail suspension bridge, linking Lantau Island to the mainland New Territories. About three quarters of the 12,480 sq km (7800 sq miles) airport site was constructed from land reclaimed from the sea, with the rest formed from the excavation of the existing islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The new airport terminal building, designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, is Hong Kong’s largest single building and its wing-like roof and glass walls have been hailed as a landmark in modern architecture. Rail, bus and taxi links from Hong Kong International Airport to central Hong Kong leave from the Transportation Centre adjacent to the passenger terminal and cross the Tsing Ma bridge to the mainland New Territories. The easiest connection is via the Airport Express Line (AEL), an all-seater business class high speed train. The AEL leaves the airport every ten minutes, operating from 0500-0100. It is a 23-minute journey to Hong Kong station, also stopping at Kowloon, with free shuttle buses running from the rail stations to various hotels (a single ticket costs HK$100 for adults and HK$50 for children). Many bus routes operate between the airport and Hong Kong and Kowloon, including nine Airbus services. Fares range between HK$14-45. High-speed ferries run between Chek Lap Kok Ferry Pier and Tuen Mun, with a shuttle bus from the pier to the airport. Ferries operate from 0600-2300 and cost HK$15. There are also 18 pick-up bays for coaches providing group and organised tour hotel transfers, and a car park for more than 3000 vehicles. Taxis to Hong Kong are readily available. MTR Travel Services and a number of other coach companies offer a variety of travel services for journeys to mainland China or Macau. Facilities at Hong Kong International Airport include tourist information desks and computer kiosks, several currency exchange counters, banks and ATMs, 24 hour food and drink outlets, a post office and medical centre, good physical accessibility for passengers with disabilities and a large Hong Kong Sky Mall shopping centre with duty free shopping available. Hong Kong International is also one of only a few airports to have an Automated People Mover (APM); a driverless train at basement level that transports passengers between terminals. Departure tax: HK$80; children aged 12 and under are exempt. SEA: A large number of cruise ships visit Hong Kong port. The following is a list of those that are UK-based; Crystal, Cunard, P&O, Silversea, Radisson Seven Seas, and Seabourn. Ferries and hovercraft link Hong Kong with mainland China. Departures are from the Hong Kong ferry terminal in Kowloon to Shenzhen or Guangzhou. Enquire locally for details. There are more than 100 daily scheduled sailings each way to Macau. The journey can be made by jetfoil, turbocat, jumbocat, hoverferry or catamaran. Travel time by jetfoil – 55 minutes; by catamaran – one hour and ten minutes. See also the Macau section. RAIL: The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation (KCR) operates a service from Kowloon to Guangzhou (formerly Canton), several times a day. There are also services from Hong Kong to Foshan and Changping. Restaurant cars are only available if travelling first class. Local KCRC trains run regularly (every five to ten minutes) to Lo Wu, the last stop before the Chinese border. It is then possible to cross the border to Shenzhen, a special economic zone, in China over the border. To go as far as Lo Wu travellers must hold a visa for China, otherwise it is only possible to get to Sheung Shui. Children under three years old travel free. Children aged three to nine years old pay half fare. For more information, contact the KCRC information line (tel: 2602 7799; website: www.kcrc.com). Travel - Internal SEA: Cross-harbour passenger services (shortest route 7-10 minutes) are operated by Star Ferries (sailing every 5 minutes) from 0630-2330. There are frequent passenger and vehicle services on other cross-harbour routes. Wallah wallahs (small motorboats) provide 24-hour service. The outlying islands are served daily by ferries and hydrofoils. However, the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel means that wallah wallahs are decreasing in popularity. Tours of the harbour and to Aberdeen and Yaumatei typhoon shelters are available by Watertours junks, and visits to outlying islands are possible by public ferry. Ferries sail to Tuen Mun, Sha Lo Wan, Tai O, Discovery Bay and Cheung Chau. Weekdays are the best time to go, since ferries tend to be very crowded at weekends. During the typhoon season (May-November), all ferry services may be suspended during bad weather. RAIL/METRO: Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has four lines and provides a cross-harbour line. It is more expensive than the ferry, but quicker, particularly for those travelling further into Kowloon than Tsimshatsui or to Lantau Island. Trains run between 0600-0100. For visitors staying for a week or more it is worth getting an Octopus Card, an electronic ticket from which the cost of the journey is automatically deducted when it is placed on a sensor. The card costs HK$50, and value can be added to the card at machines in any MTR station. Any other credit remaining is also refunded when the card is handed in. At present, the card may be used on MTR services, as well as on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, major bus routes and some ferries. The Airport Express Tourist Octopus Card is valid for three days, entitling passengers to one Airport Express journey and three days of unlimited travel by MTR. Plans are underway to extend its use to other routes and means of transport as Hong Kong’s transport system becomes more and more integrated. For further details, contact the MTR information line (tel: 2881 8888). The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation (KCR) has 13 stations within Hong Kong. Trains run between 0530-0025 from Hung Hom (Kowloon) to Shenzhen in China; see Travel – International section for more information. KCR also run the Light Rail (LR) which connects the north west new territories Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. LR trains run from 0545-0030. For further information contact Light Rail (tel: 2468 7788). ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. Bus: Routes run throughout the territory, with cross-harbour routes via the tunnels. These, however, are often very crowded. Exact change is required. Air-conditioned coaches operate along certain Hong Kong and Kowloon routes. Minibus: These can pick up passengers and stop on request except at regular bus stops and other restricted areas. Trams: Only available on Hong Kong Island, running from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan (via Happy Valley racecourse). Double decker trams are also available. All trams run from 0600-0100 and fares are HK$2. Peak Tram on the Island is a cable tramway to the upper terminus on Victoria Peak. Taxi: These are plentiful in Hong Kong and Kowloon. There is an extra charge (HK$20) for the Cross Harbour Tunnel. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green ones the New Territories, and blue ones Lantau Island. Maxicabs, however, operate on fixed routes without fixed stops. Many drivers speak a little English, but it is wise to get your destination written in Chinese characters. Rickshaws: These are gradually disappearing and are now purely a tourist attraction. It is advisable to agree the fare in advance. Car hire: A wide selection of self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available, although car hire is not that popular in Hong Kong. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. A valid national licence is accepted for up to 12 months. Minimum age is 18 years. Third Party insurance is compulsory. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Hong Kong Island to main tourist districts and outlying islands. Road Metro Sea Kai Tak 0.35 - - Kowloon 0.20 0.04 0.10 Causeway Bay 0.10 - - Lantau Is. - - 1.00 Aberdeen 0.20 - - Cheung Chau - - 1.00 Accommodation HOTELS: Hong Kong offers a wide range of luxury hotels with all the major international chains represented. Smaller hotels specialising in ‘family style’ hospitality can be a cheaper alternative. There are also a number of fairly new hotels in the New Territories, providing a range of recreational facilities. Guest-house accommodation, with good standards and facilities, is also available. In spite of the large number of hotel rooms available in Hong Kong (about 40,000), visitors are strongly advised to make an advance booking, especially during the peak season (May until November). There is a Hotel Reservation Centre at Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok island (open daily from 0700-2400) which can offer assistance. A ten per cent service charge and five per cent government tax are added to the bill. Many hotels are members of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section) and 94 hotels belong to the Hong Kong Hotels Association, 508-511 Silvercord Tower II, 30 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon (tel: 2375 3838; fax: 2375 7676; e-mail: info@hkha.org; website: www.hktourismboard.com/hkha). Grading: Though there is no grading structure as such, hotel members of the HKTA fall into one of four categories: High Tariff A Hotels, High Tariff B Hotels, Medium Tariff Hotels and Hostels/Guest-houses. SELF-CATERING: Resort houses on the outlying islands can be hired. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: Permitted in the countryside, though permission is required within the Country Park protection area. YOUTH HOSTELS: There are four main YMCA/YWCAs in Hong Kong. The YMCA in Kowloon is at 41 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon (tel: 2268 7000; e-mail: info@ymcahk.org.hk; website: www.ymcahk.org.hk). For further details, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section). There are numerous youth hostels in Hong Kong, all of which are outside the city. Contact Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association Ltd, Room 225-226, Block 19, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Shamshuipo, Kowloon (tel: 2788 1638; fax: 2788 3105; website: www.yha.org.hk). Introduction Hong Kong is a popular tourist destination as well as being one of the world’s major business centres. This tax-free, bustling port and commercial centre comprises Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and the many Outlying Islands. Transportation is modern and well organised and most tours and sightseeing trips are completed the same day. A tour of the New Territories takes about six hours, one of Hong Kong Island about four. Other popular excursions include sport and recreation tours and night tours, such as a dinner cruise and a tram tour with cocktails served. Contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board for further details (see Contact Addresses section). HONG KONG ISLAND: The island is an eclectic mix of modern skyscrapers, colonial buildings and traditional temples. Central is the financial and commercial hub of the island and the main point for catching the famous star ferry to the Kowloon Peninsula. A unique way to experience the buzz of city life is by riding the 800m-long central-mid-levels escalator (the world’s longest covered outdoor escalator) which transports tens of thousands people each day and has created its own escalator culture of cafes and restaurants. Central is also a major shopping and entertainment area with the trendy night spots of Lang Kwai Fong and SoHo. Nearby, along Hollywood Road is Man Mo Temple, the country’s oldest Chinese temple that honours the gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo). One of the best ways to view the incredible density and scale of the city is from Victoria Peak. Reached by the Peak Tram, that rises 386m up the mountainside within eight minutes, the summit offers an exceptional panorama, whether by day or night. At the foot of the tram lies Government House, the residence of 25 British Governors from 1855 until Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. Other vestiges of this colonial past are seen in St John’s Cathedral, thought to be the oldest Christian church in the Far East, and the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Located in Hong Kong Park, the museum is an imposing colonial-style building housing ancient Chinese artefacts used in the history of tea-making. Wan Chai district is renowned for its small shops and markets, as well as fashionable restaurants and bars. The impressive 78-storey Central Plaza stands here (Hong Kong’s tallest building) and visitors can view the city from the Sky Lobby on its 46th floor. After 1800 each day, neon lights upon the building’s rooftop change colour every hour to denote the time of evening. Nearby is the vast Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the handover ceremony took place. The Golden Bauhinia monument outside the centre symbolises this momentous occasion. Causeway Bay is the main embarkation point for the cross-harbour tunnel. Attractions in the area include the Happy Valley Racetrack, many local teahouses, department stores and the Noon Day Gun, that has fired at midday since the 1840s. The south of the island is characterised by a more relaxed pace of life and beautiful bays and harbours. Aberdeen Harbour can be toured by traditional fishing junks and sampans. It is perhaps best known, however, for its neon-lit Jumbo Floating Restaurant (the largest in the world). Situated near the harbour is Ocean Park, a popular amusement park with roller coaster rides, large reef aquariums, performing dolphins and killer whales as well as the giant pandas, An An and Jia Jia. Repulse Bay is renowned for its pristine beach, overlooked by the Tin Hau Temple, and Stanley is well worth a trip for its outdoor markets. KOWLOON: Considered as Hong Kong’s ‘tourist mecca’, Tsim Sha Tsui is packed with tourist hotels, shops and markets. Nathan Road is a smart and fashionable shopping street, considered the equivalent of Fifth Avenue or the Champs Elysée. Near to the star ferry pier stands the old Clock Tower – the remaining piece from the Kowloon-Canton railway station that was re-located to Hung Hom in 1975. Worth visiting are the Hong Kong Museum of Art, which has exhibitions of jade, ceramic and calligraphy, and the Hong Kong Space Museum, with a Space Theatre. Kowloon Park features a Sculpture Walk with local and international exhibits, as well as chinese and ornamental gardens. For a more spiritual retreat, tourists should visit either the Chi Lin Nunnery, a spectacular Tang Dynasty-style complex, or Wong Tai Sin Temple, built in honour of a shepherd who earned immortality. Many fortune-tellers congregate here. Further into Kowloon City, Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei offer unique bustling markets. In Yau Ma Tei, Temple Street is a normal commercial road until 1400 when makeshift stalls and carts appear for the Night Market, that sells everything from electrical goods to incense-sticks. Mong Kok (thought to be the world’s most densely populated urban area) heaves with selling and buying. Exotic fish and amphibians are sold at the Goldfish Market, and near the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, intricate bamboo birdcages and songbirds can be purchased. NEW TERRITORIES: The territories cover 796 sq km (306 sq miles) between Kowloon and Mainland China, and are a contrast of hilly woodlands, wildlife reserves, sandy bays, new towns and lively markets. Sha Tin is home to Sha Tin Racecourse, that normally stages horse races at the weekend, and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum which includes many interactive exhibits. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, situated in the hills above Sha Tin, in fact houses around 13,000 small Buddha statues, and is well worth visiting. Many historical and interesting sights are scattered among the New Territories. A beautifully designed complex, located in Tuen Mun, features pavilions, bonsai trees, lotus ponds and a Taoist temple that contains lanterns from Beijing’s Imperial Palace. Built in 1486, Tsui Shing Lau Pagoda in Yuen Lang district is the oldest pagoda in Hong Kong. The Waterfront Park in Tai Po has a futuristic Lookout Tower that provides breathtaking views across Tolo Harbour. Further north, on the border with China, is the fantastic Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple, built in the traditional Taoist style with a double-tiered roof of orange tiles. For details of more sights contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section). OUTLYING ISLANDS: Hong Kong has over 260 outlying islands but only a few are inhabited. Lantau Island is famed for its Giant Buddha that sits upon Ngong Ping Plateau at the Po Lin Monastery. At 26m high and weighing in at 202 tonnes of bronze, it is the world’s largest seated outdoor buddha. Monks prepare vegetarian lunches at the monastery for visitors. Tanka boat people who live in traditional stilt-houses at the fishing village of Tai O can be visited. The island also boasts the white sandy beach, Cheung Sha, and the amazing Shek Pik Reservoir Dam. Day trips to Lantau and tours can be arranged from Hong Kong Island. Lamma Island is renowned for its seafood and there are many restaurants and cafes along the sea front. The walk to the village of Yung Shue Wan provides a wonderful hilltop vista of Hong Kong’s distant skyline. Cheung Chau and Peng Chau are still traditional fishing islands with simple temples and unspoilt beaches. Cheung Chau holds an annual Bun Festival in celebration of Pak Tai (a god that influences good sailing and fishing). Bamboo towers covered in steamed buns are constructed as an offering to the god. Numerous other islands can be visited as a tranquil alternative to the frenetic energy of the rest of Hong Kong. For more information contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section). Sport & Activities Horseracing: This is the most popular sport among local people. Race meetings, at which vast sums of money change hands, are held from September to June, Saturday or Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening. The two main racecourses are at Happy Valley (Hong Kong Island) and Shatin (New Territories). The tourism board organises horseracing tours which allow visitors to enjoy the races from the members-only enclosures. Hiking and trekking: MacLehose Trail, the longest trail, at 100km (62 miles), crosses the New Territories, taking in Hong Kong’s highest peak, Tai Mo Shan (985m/3231ft). It can be joined at ten different points, all of them accessible by public transport, and is recommended for experienced hikers. The 70-km (43-mile) Lantau Trail runs around Lantau Island, via Lantau Peak (934m/3064ft) and Po Lin Monastery, home to the world’s tallest seated Buddha. The Hong Kong Trail runs through five country parks on Hong Kong Island, and the Wilson Trail runs for 78 kilometres from the south of Hong Kong Island to the north of the New Territories, necessitating a ferry ride across the harbour. A popular walk is the Dragon’s Back on Hong Kong Island, which follows a ridge, giving spectacular views. This can be ended off with dinner in one of the restaurants in Shek-O village. On these trails and on other walks, visitors can escape from the urban bustle that characterises the rest of the territory and enjoy tranquillity and beautiful views. Wildlife: In 1841, Lord Palmerston who was then foreign secretary wrote that Hong Kong was ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon it’. Today, the situation is different, although many people will be surprised to learn that less than 30 per cent of the territory’s land area is developed. Owing to the foresight of a former Governor, many of Hong Kong’s natural areas have been protected, and there are 22 country parks which cover approximately 110,000 acres (40,000 hectares) of land. There is a wide variety of vegetation, including native and imported species of trees. Although there are no longer large mammals such as tigers and elephants to be seen, it is possible to spot macaque monkeys, wild boar, civet cats, barking deer and the Chinese pangolin, a scaly mammal which resembles an armadillo. Hong Kong’s prime birdwatching site is at the Mai Po marshes near Yuen Long in the east of the New Territories. The area is now administered by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and visitors are required to obtain a permit to enter. Black-headed gulls, Saunders gull, osprey, Dalmatian pelicans and Chinese pond herons all visit the site to feed on the fish in the mud flats and mangroves there, and many other species can also be seen. Hong Kong’s waters are home to the Chinese pink dolphin, which can be observed near Lantau Island. Golf: All golf clubs and their facilities in Hong Kong are for members only, although visitors can play for a limited time at an extra cost. Major tournaments are held at the renowned Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, which also allows visitors to join as day members. The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau public golf course, beautifully located on an island, was designed by Gary Player. The Hong Kong Tourism Board organises sports and recreation tours on Tuesdays and Fridays which include trips to various golf courses (see Contact Addresses section). Watersports: There are over 30 highly-acclaimed beaches throughout the territory. Excellent skindiving, water-skiing and sailing, kayaking and windsurfing are available. Watersports equipment can be hired from beaches and hotels in Stanley and Sai Kung, and from other centres. Other: Cyclists will enjoy the Tolo Harbour Cycling Track, running from Sha Tin to Tai Po, an easy ride through scenic countryside. Bikes are available for rental near KCR stations. Most of the outlying islands do not allow cars, and are therefore very peaceful. They are best visited in the week because they attract many visitors at weekends. Spectator sports such as soccer, rugby and cricket are also popular. Jogging facilities are provided by some hotels. The Clinic at Adventis Hospital holds jogging sessions every Sunday. There are also good facilities for squash, tennis, riding, bowling and ice skating, as well as health-centre facilities. Social Profile Food & Drink: Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cooking. Apart from Chinese food, which is superb, there are also many Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singapore/Malaysian and Thai restaurants. It is the home of authentic Chinese food from all the regions of China, which may be sampled on a sampan in Causeway Bay, on a floating restaurant at Aberdeen, in a Kowloon restaurant, in a street market or at a deluxe hotel. Hotels serve European and Chinese food but there are also restaurants serving every type of local cuisine. Chinese regional variations on food include Cantonese, Northern (Peking), Chiu Chow (Swatow), Shanghai, Sichuan and Hakka. Cantonese is based on parboiling, steaming and quick stir-frying to retain natural juices and flavours. The food is not salty or greasy and seafoods are prepared especially well, usually served with steamed rice. Specialities include Dim Sum (savoury snacks, usually steamed and served in bamboo baskets on trolleys). These include Cha siu bao (barbecue pork bun), Har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings) and Shiu mai (steamed and minced pork with shrimp). The emphasis in Northern food is on bread and noodles, deep-frying and spicy sauces. Specialities include Peking duck and hotpot dishes. Shanghainese food is diced or shredded, stewed in soya or fried in sesame oil with pots of peppers and garlic. Chiu Chow is served with rich sauces and Hakka food is generally simple in style with baked chicken in salt among the best dishes. Sichuan food is hot and spicy with plenty of chillies. A speciality is barbecued meat. The Chinese do not usually order a drink before dinner. Popular Chinese wines and spirits are Zhian Jing (a rice wine served hot like sake), Liang hua pei (potent plum brandy), Kaolian (a whisky) and Mao toi. Popular beers are the locally brewed San Miguel and Tsingtao (from China) with imported beverages widely available. Nightlife: There are many nightclubs, discotheques, hostess clubs, theatres and cinemas. Cultural concerts, plays and exhibitions can be seen at Hong Kong’s City Hall which also has a dining room, ballroom and cocktail lounge. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, including a 2100-seat Concert Hall, 1750-seat Grand Theatre, a studio theatre with 300-500 seats and restaurants, bars and other facilities, has become the major venue for cultural concerts, plays and operas. Hong Kong Art Centre in Wan Chai supplements the City Hall’s entertainment with culture in the form of Chinese opera, puppet shows, recitals and concerts. American, European, Chinese and Japanese films with subtitles are shown at a number of good air-conditioned cinemas. Two daily papers, the Hong Kong Standard and the South China Morning Post, contain details of entertainment. An unusual event to watch is night horse-racing held Wednesday nights from September to May. For further details, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Shopping: Whether one is shopping in modern air-conditioned arcades or more traditional street markets, the range of goods available in Hong Kong is vast. Many famous-name shops have opened in Hong Kong, bringing the latest styles in great variety. Places that display the QTS sign (Quality Tourism Services) are the best guarantee of satisfaction. Bargaining is practised in the smaller shops and side stalls only. There are excellent markets in Stanley on Hong Kong Island, which is in a beautiful setting in a small village on the coast, and in Temple Street, Kowloon, which is a night market. Tailoring is first class. Except for a few items, such as liquor and perfume, Hong Kong is a duty-free port. Shopping hours: Hong Kong Island (Central & Western): 1000-1900 (1000-2000 along Queen’s Road). Hong Kong Island (Causeway Bay & Wan Chai): 1000-2130. Kowloon (Tsimshatsui & Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok): 1000-2100. Many shops are open Sunday. Special Events: For a complete list of special events contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of the major festivals and special events celebrated in Hong Kong during 2003: Feb 2003 City of Life Street Carnival. Feb 2 Birthday of Che Kung. Feb 15 Yuen Sui (Spring Lantern) Festival. April 5 Ching Ming Festival. April 24 Tin Hau Festival. May 8 Birthday of Lord Buddha. Jun 4 Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival. Jul 15 Monkey God Festival. Aug 4 Seven Sisters festival. Aug 11 Hungry Ghosts Festival. Sept 23 Birthday of Confucius. Note: A festival in Hong Kong is a major event on a scale hardly understood in the West. During Chinese New Year festivities, there is total disruption of everyday life. Social Conventions: Handshaking is the common form of greeting. In Hong Kong the family name comes first, so Wong Man Ying would be addressed as Mr Wong. Most entertaining takes place in restaurants rather than in private homes. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home. During a meal a toast is often drunk saying Yum Sing at each course. There may be up to 12 courses served in a meal, and although it is not considered an insult to eat sparingly, a good appetite is always appreciated and it is considered cordial to taste every dish. It is customary to invite the host to a return dinner. Informal wear is acceptable. Some restaurants and social functions often warrant formal attire. Smoking is widely acceptable and only prohibited where specified. Tipping: Most hotels and restaurants add ten per cent service charge and an additional five per cent gratuity is also expected. Small tips are expected by taxi-drivers, doormen and washroom attendants. Business Profile Economy: The mainstays of Hong Kong’s economy are light manufacturing, shipping and financial services. The last of these is now the most important as Hong Kong has developed into a major international financial centre. Manufacturing is concentrated in textiles, consumer electronics and other consumer goods (Hong Kong is the world’s largest producer of children’s toys). The shipping industry is assisted by Hong Kong’s natural deep-water harbour, probably the best in the region. Much regional trade is still conducted through Hong Kong. Within months of the handover of the territory to China in July 1997, a financial crisis which affected the whole region started to take hold. With a more mature and stable banking system than most of the rest of the region, Hong Kong showed few immediate ill effects. However, the severe impact on many of the territory’s major trading partners and the depression of the regional economy was sure to cause some damage, and did so in the form of a seven per cent drop in output during 1999. There was some recovery during 2000, but unexpectedly this did not last and by mid-2002, the economy was contracting at an annual rate of 1.5 per cent. Unemployment, meanwhile, had grown to eight per cent. The USA, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Germany are Hong Kong’s main trading partners. Business: Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly. Local businesspeople are usually extremely hospitable. Appointments should be made in advance and punctuality is appreciated. Business cards are widely used with a Chinese translation on the reverse. Most top hotels provide business centres for visiting businesspeople, with typing, duplication, translation and other services. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some Chinese offices open earlier than 0900 and close later than 1700. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Hong Kong Trade Development Council, 16 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 7PL, UK (tel: (020) 7616 9500; fax: (020) 7616 9510; e-mail: london.office@tdc.org.hk; website: www.tdctrade.com); or Hong Kong Trade Development Council, 38th Floor, Office Tower, Convention Plaza, One Harbour Road, Wan Chai (tel: 2584 4333; fax: 2824 0249; website: www.tdc.org.hk); or Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, 22nd Floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway (tel: 2529 9229; fax: 2527 9843; e-mail: chamber@chamber.org.hk; website: www.hkgcc.org.hk). Conferences/Conventions: The Hong Kong Convention and Incentive Travel Bureau is a division of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, which specialises in promoting Hong Kong as a leading venue with a special East/West position; it publishes lavish and detailed brochures showcasing the region for conference and incentive planners, together with a glossy catalogue of promotional material and a directory of associations and societies in Hong Kong. There are venues with seating for up to 12,500 persons. Leading hotels are offering substantial room and function space savings (up to 50 per cent) for conference, convention and incentive travel organisers until the end of the year 2000. For further information, contact the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 12th Floor, One Inernational Finance Centre, One Harbour View Street, Central (tel: 2522 1122; Fax: 2295 3106; e-mail: info@hkex.com.hk; website: www.hkcec.com.hk). Climate Hong Kong experiences four distinct seasons, with the climate influenced in winter by the north-northeast monsoon and in summer by the south-southwest monsoon. Summers are very hot, with the rainy season running from June to August. Spring and autumn are warm with occasional rain and cooler evenings. Winter can be cold, but most days are mild. There is a risk of typhoons from July to September. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens are worn during warmer months, with warmer clothes for spring and autumn evenings. It should be noted that even during the hottest weather, a jacket or pullover will be required for the sometimes fierce air-conditioning indoors. Warm mediumweights are best during winter. Waterproofing is advisable during summer rains. History and Government History: Hong Kong was part of the Chinese empire before coming under British administration as a direct result of the 19th-century Opium Wars. The conflict arose from Chinese resistance to allowing their ports to trade in opium produced in British-controlled India. The British used force on two occasions in the late 1830s and late 1850s to impose their commercial will. When peace terms were drawn up in 1841 in the Treaty of Nanking, which ended the First Opium War, the Emperor of China agreed that Hong Kong Island should be ceded to Britain and five other ports licensed for foreign trade. The territory of Hong Kong comprises two other pieces of land: the Kowloon peninsula was ceded under the Convention of Peking in 1860, and in 1898 the New Territories were leased from China for 99 years. The British controlled Hong Kong from then – apart from a four-year period during World War II when the territory was occupied by the Japanese – until the territory was handed back to the Chinese in July 1997. The terms under which the reversion took place were settled at an agreement signed by the British and Chinese Governments in December 1984. As well as confirming the terms of previous agreements, the 1984 agreement contained guarantees on the future of Hong Kong, specifically that the territory would enjoy a high degree of autonomy, especially in the economic field where its existing system would be largely left intact. The slogan ‘one country, two systems’ was coined by the Chinese to describe the future regime and its relationship with mainland China. Only in the fields of foreign affairs and defence would the new Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong be subject to the diktat of Peking. The main point of contention in the period leading up to handover was political representation. Under the colonial regime, democratic representation had been kept to a minimum and executive powers were firmly retained by the Governor. The system has survived, largely intact, since the departure of the British in July 1997. Beijing selected the shipping tycoon Tung Chee Hwa to fill the new post of chief executive with powers analogous to those of the former Governor. A pro-Beijing political party created shortly before the handover, the Democratic Party for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), took control of the LegCo after the first election held under Chinese rule in May 1998. The result has been more or less repeated in subsequent polls. The limited powers of the LegCo and the restricted nature of the electoral franchise mean that no serious opposition can be mounted to the policies of the administration. In June 2002, Tung Chee Hwa was confirmed in a second term of office as chief executive. The timing for the new regime was unfortunate in as much as the Asian financial crisis hit the region just months after the territory had changed hands. Initially, it seemed that Hong Kong would come through largely unscathed: in fact, the economy has been depressed for most of the last five years (see Economy section). This has given rise to some political discontent and the self-confidence that previously characterised Hong Kong is now waning severely. Tung has promised to make government more ‘accountable’ but it is unclear how he plans to do this. China is pushing the administration to introduce an anti-subversion law, principally to combat the Falun Gong Christian religious sect. Government: Hong Kong is now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Under the Basic Law which is the governing instrument of the region, executive power is held by a Chief Executive, who is appointed by an ‘Election Committee’ composed of 800 ‘representatives of the community’. The Chief Executive is answerable to the State Council of the PRC (see China section) and serves a five-year term. The Chief Executive appoints a 15-member Executive Council to assist in the administration of the Region. Hong Kong’s legislature is the 60-member Legislative Council; 24 members are directly elected in geographical constituencies, 30 members are selected from ‘functional constituencies’ (mostly professional bodies and business interests) and the remaining six by the ‘Election Committee’. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.