馃寖 Hong Kong

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 71% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Hong Kong belongs to China as a Special Administrative Region and sets immigration rules of its own, and separate permission is needed to enter mainland China. Whether a visa is required depends on the passport; the Immigration Department's page lists who needs one and the permitted length of stay. Guides give differing validity periods, from 1 to 6 months after the stay ends, so aim for 6 months at least. A return or onward ticket is something airlines often ask to see. On the Immigration Department site, look up whether a pre-arrival registration or arrival form may apply to your passport.

Culture and rules - take note

Speed, crowds and efficiency characterise the city. Eating and drinking on the MTR are fined, and so are littering and spitting. Indoor public places mostly ban smoking, as do many outdoor ones, and e-cigarettes and vapes are prohibited too. Line up in an orderly way, and on escalators stand to the right. A service charge of 10% is usually added at restaurants, which makes extra tipping optional. Do not leave chopsticks standing upright in rice. English turns up often around tourist spots, though Cantonese is the spoken language. Muslim visitors will find halal restaurants and mosques, the Kowloon Mosque among them. Transport can be closed by typhoons, which come roughly May-November, so follow warnings issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. Transport fares and many shops accept payment by Octopus card. Stay away from political discussion and protest activity.

Emergency

999 for police, fire and ambulance (112 also works from a mobile phone).

Good to know

Cards, ATMs and cash

The currency is the Hong Kong dollar. Canadian advice says credit card and ATM fraud occurs, so attention should be paid when others handle your cards, and ATMs inside a bank or business are advised. It recommends not carrying large sums of money, and cash or other convertible assets above a set limit have to be declared to customs.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, vapes and security laws

UK advice describes zero tolerance for drugs in Hong Kong, covering all cannabis products including CBD oils, even for people in airport transit. Canadian advice says e-cigarettes are illegal to possess, carry or smoke in public. National security laws can apply to activity outside Hong Kong and to social media posts, and investigators may require a phone to be unlocked. On-the-spot fines apply for littering, jaywalking and spitting.

Taxis and scams

Taxis in Hong Kong

There are three colours of taxi in Hong Kong, says the Transport Department: red urban taxis, which cover most areas; green New Territories taxis, mainly serving the north; and blue Lantau taxis, serving Lantau Island. Any of the three may serve the airport passenger terminals. The taximeter calculates the fare from distance and waiting time, and passengers pay the amount it records. A printed receipt can be requested. Drivers must offer at least two electronic payment methods.

Taxi fleets and hire cars

Five licensed taxi fleets, each with its own app, are named by the Transport Department: Amigo, Big Bee Taxi, Big Boss Taxi, Joie and SynCab. Octopus lists God Taxi, FlyTaxi, eTaxi and WETAXI as apps whose taxis accept Octopus payment. The department also says that a private car carrying paying passengers needs a hire car permit, even when booked through a smartphone app, and that the permit is shown inside the windscreen.

Shopping touts and spiked drinks

Deception in shopping or other deals accounts for visitors' most common complaints, Hong Kong Police say, and copy watch touts operate along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui; police advise against following touts into private buildings. They also warn that drinks in bars and nightclubs can be spiked with tasteless drugs so that bank cards and PINs can be stolen, and say never to leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers. UK advice repeats the drink spiking warning.

Who can help

local government

Hong Kong Police Force: emergency number 999 and visitor guidance

Helps with: Hong Kong Police page for visitors. It says to call 999 in an emergency and gives duty officer lines for the airport and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Who qualifies: Visitors to Hong Kong who need police help or want to report a crime.

Phone: 999

Email: [email protected]

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tourism Commission (Hong Kong Government)

Helps with: Hong Kong government's tourism policy office. It accepts comments, enquiries and complaints about tourism by phone, email or post during office hours.

Who qualifies: Anyone with a tourism enquiry or complaint about Hong Kong.

Phone: (852) 3848 4122

Email: [email protected]

Address: 11/F, Hong Kong Li-Ning Building, 218 Electric Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Hong Kong Red Cross

Helps with: The Red Cross in Hong Kong. Its website describes emergency relief and disaster preparedness, community health services and education, and blood donation.

Who qualifies: People in Hong Kong who need its emergency relief, health or blood services.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Consulates in Hong Kong (official list, Protocol Division)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's consulate. The Hong Kong Government's Protocol Division publishes the list of consulates-general, honorary consulates and officially recognised bodies.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own country's consulate.

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station (Duty Officer)

Helps with: Police station in Tsim Sha Tsui. The police visitor page gives its Duty Officer line for visitors.

Who qualifies: Visitors in Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon who need police assistance or advice.

Phone: 2678 2887

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon)Museums, shopping, the nightly light show, the Avenue of Stars and views of the Victoria Harbour skyline are found along Kowloon's harbourfront.Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 Central and Victoria Peak Central and Victoria PeakHong Kong Island's business heart is here, and the historic Peak Tram climbs to sweeping city views.Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 Lantau Island Lantau IslandLantau Island holds the fishing village of Tai O, the cable car at Ngong Ping, the Big Buddha of Tian Tan and Hong Kong Disneyland.Photo: Ngchikit, Public domain Mong Kok Mong KokBudget shopping, local snacks and street markets (the Ladies' Market among them) fill this crowded, lively district.Photo: [2], CC BY 2.0 Causeway Bay Causeway BayBusy streets, malls and department stores fill Hong Kong Island's major area for shopping and dining.Photo: Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0 Southern District (Ocean Park, Stanley) Southern District (Ocean Park, Stanley)Hong Kong Island's southern side is where to find Stanley, a seaside market town, Repulse Bay beach and Ocean Park.Photo: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0

City selection based on: Euromonitor city arrivals ranking, Hong Kong Tourism Board attraction listings

Festivals and events

festival

Chinese New Year parade & fireworks

6-10 Feb 2027 路 Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon)

This event is among the country's biggest each year. Hotels fill up, and prices go higher, which makes early planning worthwhile.

culture

Art Basel Hong Kong

around Mar 2027 路 Hong Kong

This art fair is the leading one in Asia.

sport

Hong Kong Sevens (rugby)

around Mar-Apr 2027 路 Hong Kong

Kai Tak Stadium hosts a rugby party spread over three days.

trade

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (spring)

around Apr 2027 路 Hong Kong

A very large electronics trade fair is held in the Convention and Exhibition Centre, repeated in October.

festival

Dragon boat races (Tuen Ng)

9 Jun 2027 路 Hong Kong

Victoria Harbour, Aberdeen and Stanley are the places where races take place.

trade

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (autumn)

around Oct 2027 路 Hong Kong

A very large trade fair for electronics is held at Hong Kong's Convention and Exhibition Centre.

festival

Chinese New Year parade & fireworks

26-30 Jan 2028 路 Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon)

This event is among the country's biggest each year. Hotels fill up, and prices go higher, which makes early planning worthwhile.