Information
Hong Kong is a very hospitable and a very safe place, but can be a little tricky for tourists. As with all places caution must be applied as tourists can be exploited.

There are many guides which are good, especially the Hong Kong Tourist Association's Essential - The Official Hong Kong Guide, which gives you all you need to know about HK (contact www.hkta.org). This guide is available from most hotels.

For a good map of Hong Kong, check out the A-O-A Street Map, the official map of the Hong Kong Associationof Travel Agents (HATA) and endorsed by the Hong Kong Hotels Association, which presumably means that you can find it at any hotel!

Another good map is the HKTA's Official Map of Hong Kong. You can find many leaflets at HKTA's offices, including the one at Chek Lap Kok Airport (HK International Airport).

Hong Kong's New Chek Lap Kok Airport replaces the old Kai Tak one which was in the heart of the New Territories. This meant no more noisy skies for the residents and that you will see no more aircraft flying above you at heights as low as 50 feet.

The new airport is a huge engineering feat as it was built from scratch by flattening a small island and adding rock to make it a larger area. The terminal building is a Y shaped and is 1.27 kilometres from one end of the Y to the entrance. It's been quoted as being able to cope with the same number of passengers as Heathrow and JFK airport put together as soon as the second runway is built.

You can find more stats on possibly the World's most impressive airport at www.hkairport.com.

There are many Internet sites with info on HK. Check them out by searching the Yahoo pages (www.yahoo.com).

Otherwise check out travel guides. Believe me it'll be worth it.
 

Cautious Notes
Climate: HK has very mild winters, but also very hot summers. While I was there the minimum temperature (i.e. night) was 29°C and maximum of 36°C. Humidity is also high, sometimes greater than 90%. This can be very uncomfortable. Most places are air conditioned, so it's wise not to stay outdoors too long. Winter temperatures range from 10-20°C so a few woollies might be needed then.

Health: No innoculations are required before coming here, though I have heard recommendations that if you have come from a country with a high risk of malaria, that you should continue to take the precautions. Mosquito and insect bites are common, so you might want to take some insect repellent. Sun block is a must when it is very hot and you will sunburn quickly. Take a bottle of water when going out, it will help you stay fresh and cool you down. You might like to bring a small towel as well.

Shopping: Shopping in HK is safe most of the time. Beware of shops that look suspect. Try to pay by cash - often the price might be lower, and you might also be able to haggle. Pay by credit card only if you need to and in any case in major well known stores only. Make sure that the good you buy are in excellent condition and check that everything is there before you buy. This is especially true with electrical/computer goods. If possible try before you buy, especially with CDs and CD-ROMs. If you do buy electrical goods check that it is compatible with British (or your country's) standards, such as the electrical mains system (240v, 50Hz in UK). All these shopping tips can be applied elsewhere.

Final Tip: Use your common sense. Don't do anything stupid!
 
 
 
 

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A Mak Designs Production 1998. Designed by Lester Mak. Last updated 3 Sep 99.

Disclaimer: No responsibility can be held against L Mak for the content of external sites mentioned above. No responsibility can be held either for any injury or loss arising from the use of the tips above.