Leisure Tips for Exhibition and Convention Visitors	Currency and Credit Card
Passport and Visa	Electricity
Airport Transfer	Public Transportation
Business Hours	Time Zone
Climate	Telecommunication
	Discover Hong Kong

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Leisure Tips for Exhibition and Convention Visitors

Passport and Visa
Visitors must hold a valid passport, endorsed where necessary for Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a liberal visa policy, allowing visa-free entry to nationals of more than 170 countries and territories. For country-specific visa information, please visit www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm. For delegates from countries for which visas are required for entry to Hong Kong, please check with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country.

For delegates traveling to other cities in China, an entry visa to China is required. Please obtain your visa from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate within your current place of residence. The travel documents must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of traveling.

Airport Transfer
Airport Express Line (AEL)
This high-speed rail service takes passengers to and from the Hong Kong Station in Central in about 23 minutes. Train services are provided daily between 6am and 1am and at 12-minute intervals. Train tickets can be purchased at the Airport Express Customer Service Center located at the Arrivals Hall. Taxi is recommended for direct transfer from the Hong Kong Station to Congress hotels in 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, a free Airport Express shuttle bus serving between the Hong Kong Station and major hotels departs every 24 minutes.

Airport Seat-in-Coach
The coach service is available between the airport and all Congress hotels. The service timetable corresponds with the arrival and departure flight schedules of major international airlines. Tickets can be purchased at the coach operator counter at the Arrivals Hall.
Approximate time: 60 minutes
Approximate cost: Single journey - HK$140 - HK$160 per person

Taxi
Urban taxis are red. The current rates are HK$18 on flag fall for the first two kilometers plus HK$1.5 every further 0.20 kilometer. Additional charges for luggage and tolls apply. Taxis only accept HK Dollars in cash.
Approximate time: 45 minutes
Approximate cost: HK$350-HK$400

Air Passenger Departure Tax

Business Hours
Generally, offices of commercial establishments and government departments are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Some are open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Major banks are open from 9am to 4:30pm on weekdays and 9am to 12:30pm on Saturdays.

Most shops and department stores are open daily from 10am to 9pm, while 24-hour convenience shops are located all over the city.

There is no sales tax on goods and services in Hong Kong. Hotels and restaurants usually add 10% service charge to their bills. Tipping may be appropriate when a service charge is not included.

Climate
Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate with seasonal changes. In May, the temperature ranges from 24^oC to 29^oC. Humidity can reach nearly 84 per cent. An umbrella or a hat can protect you from the intense sunshine. Go to www.hko.gov.hk for weather forecast before deciding what to pack.

Currency and Credit Card
The Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) is the unit currency used in Hong Kong. USD$1 is about HK$7.70. Most foreign currencies and traveler's cheques can be changed over banks, hotels and moneychangers. There are no restrictions on the type or amount of money that can be brought into or taken out of Hong Kong.

All major credit cards are widely accepted in Hong Kong and can be used to obtain cash advances at banks and automatic teller machines (ATMs). ATMs can be found almost everywhere and at the meeting venue, and provide 24-hour cash withdrawal (HK$).

Electricity
The standard voltage in Hong Kong is 220 volts AC/50 cycles. The plug/ socket system in Hong Kong is a 3-rectangular-pin type.

Public Transportation
Hong Kong is so compact that getting around is quick and easy. An efficient public transport system – networks of urban underground trains (MTR), numerous routes of trams, buses and ferries – enable visitors to explore Hong Kong conveniently and safely on their own.

Airport Express Travel Pass not only takes you to/from the airport; it also allows you to travel within the city by MTR for 3 consecutive days. For further information, please visit: http://www.mtr.com.hk

Time Zone
Add 8 hours to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to get the Hong Kong time.

Telecommunication
International direct dialing, Internet, e-mail facilities are easily accessible in Hong Kong. Most of the mobile telephone systems used around the globe operate in Hong Kong.

Discover Hong Kong
For the most updated tourist information, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board at www.discoverhongkong.com.