Calling to Hong Kong
Making Calls while in Hong Kong
Other Information about Long Distance Calling To/From Hong Kong
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Information About Hong Kong Telephone System
Hong Kong has a modern telecommunications with excellent domestic and international service. Currently, there are over 3. 8 million land lines and over 8 million cell phones in use.
Important Phone Numbers To Know if Traveling to Hong Kong
For U.S. citizens traveling to Hong Kong, the U.S. embassy is located in Beijing at Ritan at Xuishui Dong Kie 2 (tel. 010/6532-3431) and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4 pm.
There is a U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong at 26 Garden Rd., Central District (tel. 852/2523-9011). It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30 pm (closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30pm).
Other Important Information to Know About Hong Kong
Time Zone:
GMT + 8.00. Current time in Hong Kong.
Currency:
One U.S. dollar is currently worth 7.82 Hong Kong dollars, and one British pound is worth 15.6 Hong Kong dollars. Current exchange rate for Hong Kong dollar.
Population:
6,864,000 (95% of Chinese descent, 5% South Asian, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, and European)
Holidays:
Hong Kong has 17 public holidays a year, many of which it shares with mainland China. Most shops, restaurants, and attractions remain open except during the Chinese New Year. Banks, however, are closed on all public holidays. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday becomes a public holiday. New Year’s and Easter are always 3-day holidays, excluding Sundays.
Public holidays include New Year's Day, Lunar New Year (late January/early February), Easter, Ching Ming Festival (early April), Labour Day (early May), Buddha's Birthday (May), Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival; May or June), Establishment Day of the Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong's return to China; July 1), day following Mid-Autumn Festival (late September/early October), National Day (Oct 1), Chung Yeung Festival (mid-October), and Christmas.
Language:
Hong Kong’s official languages are English and Chinese. However, Cantonese is the Chinese language most commonly spoken there, not Mandarin (official “Chinese”). Despite its status as an official language, English is not widely spoken, particularly out of tourist settings.
Climate:
Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. Winters are cool and dry winters, and summers are almost always hot and humid. Monsoons do occur, and tropical cyclones occasionally appear in the summer and early autumn.
Fun Facts About Hong Kong
- Hong Kong is a shopper’s dream. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, visitors spend more than 50% of their money on shopping!
- Hong Kong has an active nightlife scene. Major entertainment districts include Lan Kwai Fond, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wan Chai.
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club is an excellent place to gamble and watch horse racing.
- Hong Kong’s public transportation system is excellent. Try to take a ride on a British-style double-decker.
- Happy hours are common in Hong Kong. They often last more than a couple of hours and offer great bargains.
- Mahjong, checkers, and Chinese chess are popular pastimes in Hong Kong.
- Both Chinese and European influences mark Hong Kong’s dining options. Restaurants that cater to tourists will usually offer “Eastern” and “Western” menus.
- Manhua are Hong Kong-based comic books available for sale at newsstands.
- The Star Ferry Company offers trips across the beautiful Victoria Harbour. It’s a short trip but well worth the 20¢ -30¢ fare.
- Aberdeen sits on the south side of the island. Formerly a fishing village, it is know home to the largest floating restaurant in the world.
- Hong Kong is a dining mecca. Half of the population dines out every day!
- Visit the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden. It’s full of stalls selling songbirds, bird food (including worms and crickets), and beautiful gifts for, yes, birds.
- The Temple Street Night Market, open from 4pm to 11pm, sells everything under the sun. Get designer sunglasses and a cheap seafood dinner all in one place.