Notes
Customs regulations
1. Hong Kong is a famous duty-free port. Except for cigarettes, alcohol products and other products that are subject to higher import taxes, other items are generally tax-free or only levied with very low import taxes. Non-Hong Kong tourists who bring tobacco and alcohol into the country are still subject to some restrictions: they can only bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, and 1 kilogram of bottles of alcohol.
2. The import and export of ivory raw materials or products in Hong Kong are strictly controlled by law. Regardless of the value of ivory products in Hong Kong, tourists must apply for an import license from the mainland and apply for an export license in Hong Kong.
3. Hong Kong is a free financial market, so there are no restrictions on tourists bringing any form of currency in and out of the country. However, please note that this is only applicable to Hong Kong Customs. Tourists have strict regulations when entering and exiting other customs in China or going to customs in other countries. Please be sure to inquire about relevant matters in advance. Passengers can bring mechanical cameras, televisions and other large electrical appliances and film and television equipment into and out of Hong Kong. However, when entering or leaving the mainland of China, you need to go through registration and tax payment procedures in accordance with the relevant laws of the mainland. Passengers going to Hong Kong must pay attention. If you carry a camera or camcorder out of the country from the mainland of China, you must declare it to the customs and fill in the registration form. Otherwise, you will still need to pay taxes on the cameras and video cameras you bring when you return to the mainland.
How to go through customs
When tourists or staff from the mainland arrive in Hong Kong, they must first go through immigration formalities. Entrants must bring their passport, pass and a tourist arrival application form from the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department. The application form needs to be filled out in person. The content is very simple and mainly includes name, date of birth, nationality, ID number, where you are from, occupation, etc. If you don’t know how to fill it out, you can ask the staff at the immigration department for inquiries. The application form is placed in many conspicuous places in front of the customs, and can also be obtained directly from the customs officers. If you come to Hong Kong by plane or train, the service lady will proactively distribute an entry application form to each passenger during the trip. There are also people who specially distribute them on ships or direct buses.
When passing through customs, Hong Kong residents and foreign tourists pass through different channels. There are usually eye-catching signs at the immigration points to indicate the correct channel. Please follow the relevant instructions when crossing the border. Exit procedures are basically similar to entry procedures. You only need to hold your valid documents and completed exit registration card and queue up to go through the exit procedures. There are also obvious signs at each checkpoint indicating the exit channels for people holding different documents. Please check carefully and choose the correct exit channel. Hong Kong Airport, Kowloon Railway Station, Sheung Wan Pier, China Hong Kong City Pier, etc. all have entry and exit gates. Entry and exit checkpoints have also been opened at Luohu, Huanggang, Manjindu and other places at the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Therefore, whether you choose to arrive and leave Hong Kong directly by plane, ship, or train, or enter and exit Hong Kong through Shenzhen, you can go through immigration procedures very conveniently. Please note that those who arrive in Shenzhen and enter Hong Kong by themselves must pay attention to the closing times of each border crossing. Generally speaking, individuals cross the border on their own and mostly enter through Luohu Checkpoint, which handles entry and exit procedures between 6:30-0:00. Those with vehicles can enter through the Man Kam To Checkpoint. There are fewer people entering here and the procedures are faster. The processing time is from 7:00 to 22:00. Huanggang Checkpoint is mostly a port for container trucks, and some direct tourist buses enter the country from here.
How to exchange Hong Kong dollars
There are currency exchange offices at Hong Kong Airport Hall, Luo Wu Customs, Sheung Wan Pier and other entry-exit points. But the exchange rate is higher than elsewhere, so exchange here only a small amount of what you have to spend before arriving at your accommodation. But if you don’t want to take a taxi (taxi) but want to take an airport bus (bus * car), you must change a certain number of coins in advance, because almost all buses in Hong Kong have no one to sell tickets and no change is provided. .
Exchanging currency in Hong Kong is very convenient. Banks, hotels, and even general stores can exchange RMB into Hong Kong dollars. Banks generally charge handling fees when exchanging Hong Kong dollars. Wing Lung Bank and HSBC have better reputations, but the former has a higher exchange rate and is a good choice for exchanging Hong Kong dollars. On the streets of Hong Kong, you can see exchange shops with "Exchange RMB" signs everywhere, especially those in the Sheung Wan area with higher exchange rates. But since it is a small street shop, exchangers should be careful to prevent counterfeit money. There is also a kind of "liangdai shop" that can be seen everywhere on the street, which is also a good choice for exchanging RMB.
With the increasing number of people from the mainland visiting Hong Kong in recent years, many shops, especially some gold shops, welcome the use of RMB for shopping. Some gold shops also provide RMB exchange services, but the exchange rate is mostly negotiable. When exchanging Hong Kong dollars, pay attention to the exchange rates of various currencies on the day, especially the parts with "SELL" and "BUY" written above. SELL is the exchange rate at which the store sells RMB, and BUY is the exchange rate at which the store buys RMB and exchanges it for Hong Kong dollars. Some exchange shops also charge handling fees, so you should ask beforehand.
Instructions in Hong Kong
1. In Hong Kong, it is illegal not to carry your ID card with you. Please note: you must carry an identity document with a photo (such as a pass) at all times. . Generally speaking, Hong Kong has good security no matter day or night. But avoid carrying large amounts of cash, prefer travellers' checks or credit cards, and make full use of your hotel's safe facilities.
2. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, and customers can pay an additional 5% as a tip. If the restaurant does not charge a service fee, you can take the initiative to tip 10% of the consumption. Taxi drivers, concierges and restroom attendants may be tipped by passengers as appropriate.
3. Most hotels provide same-day laundry services, and many hotels also provide child care services. The voltage in Hong Kong is 200/220 volts. Most hotels are equipped with transformers/converters for electrical appliances. Small electrical appliances brought from China can generally be used.
4. The tap water supplied by the Hong Kong government is soft water, disinfected with chlorine, meets the standards of the United Nations World Health Organization, and is suitable for drinking. Various types of bottled distilled water and mineral water are also available in hotels and supermarkets. Some parks also have drinking water stations where visitors can drink water for free.
5. The Hong Kong Island General Post Office is located near the Star Ferry Pier in Central, and the Kowloon Central Post Office is located at 10 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. The office hours of both are Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00. Saturday 8:00-14:00. All post offices are closed on Sundays and holidays, but all hotels provide mailing services. The office hours of Hong Kong government agencies work five and a half days a week, Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00 (13:00-14:00 is lunch time), Saturday 9:00-13:00; there are also some companies' offices The time is 10:00-18:00 or later. Bank business hours are Monday to Friday 9:00-16:30, Saturday 9:00-12:30. Shops work seven days a week and usually open at 10:00, but many shops are open from 13:00-17:00 on Sundays and holidays. Stores are usually closed for three days during the Lunar New Year (the first, second and third day of the Lunar New Year), so avoid these days when shopping.
6. Hong Kong has two Chinese and English TV stations. In addition to broadcasting programs produced in Hong Kong, they also broadcast programs produced in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. In addition, viewers can also receive programs from Asia Satellite TV's five channels; and cable TV is becoming more and more popular. Hong Kong has 7 Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) operated by the Hong Kong government, one belongs to Commercial Television (CR), and 3 belong to Metro Radio. The broadcast languages ??are mainly Cantonese and English. Radio Television Hong Kong has recently started broadcasting Mandarin programs.
The emergency hotline in Hong Kong is 999. In case of an emergency, you can also call the patrol police for help.
Shopping introduction
Hong Kong’s shopping, whether in terms of price, variety or service, ranks among the best in the world. Hong Kong is a free port, and goods come from all over the world. Since most items are not subject to tariffs, the prices of goods in Hong Kong are correspondingly lower. It has always been called a "shopping paradise". Moreover, there are many seasonal sales promotions here every year, which can provide tourists with real benefits, so you will definitely enjoy satisfactory services when shopping in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s shopping areas can be roughly divided into two areas: "Hong Kong Island" and "Kowloon". Kowloon is divided into four subway areas: "Tsim Sha Tsui", "Jordan", "Yau Ma Tei" and "Mong Kok" Hong Kong Island is focused on four locations on the MTR line: "Central", "North Point", "Admiralty" and "Causeway Bay", as well as Sheung Wan, which reflects Hong Kong's unique culture. The shops here sell products with different characteristics from all over the world, and most of the service employees have received professional training, are friendly and customer-oriented, and the prices of the products are reasonable, much lower than in other countries. Among them, DFS Global Duty Free is a must-visit brand center.
There are many famous shopping streets in Hong Kong that gather similar shops in one place. For example, Nathan Road in Kowloon mainly sells gold jewelry, Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok mainly sells audio-visual equipment, and the Lotus Store in Sheung Wan Lee Wood Road is home to many antique shops.
If you go to Hong Kong, you must go to a gold store. The quality of Tse Ruilin, Chow Tai Fook and Chow Sang Sang is the most guaranteed.
In addition, there are large shopping malls in various locations, such as Langham Place in Mong Kok, Peninsula Hotel Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui, Harbor City, New World Center, Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong; Landmark Plaza in Central, Swire Plazas, Times Square and Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay; New Town Plaza in Shatin, etc. Generally speaking, most of the shopping malls in the Central area are relatively high-end, with high-grade products and naturally low prices; while Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui are good places for ordinary people to shop; as for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, the quality of goods is not high and the prices of goods are not high. Less expensive.
Roadside stalls are also a beautiful sight in Hong Kong’s shopping scene. There are a number of clothing markets and professional streets gathered in the Central area. In addition, there are also Yau Ma Tei’s Women’s Market, Temple Street Night Market, Jade Market, Shanghai Street, and New Street. The open-air market on Reclamation Street, Fa Yuen Street and Yuen Po Street in Mong Kok, Jardine's Place, Jardine's Street and Stanley Market in Causeway Bay, etc.
There are export clothing stores in all major shopping areas, especially in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Cameron Road, Granville Road and Hung Hom in Tsim Sha Tsui. The store sells a variety of ready-made clothing for export, and even clothing designed by famous designers. (For details, please refer to the shopping guide list and recommended products)
Hong Kong’s supermarkets are relatively developed, including Parknshop, Wellcome, Mannings, China Resources, etc., as well as chain convenience stores such as OK and 7·11. Located throughout Hong Kong, they mainly sell daily necessities, especially snacks, and are open 24 hours a day.
Friendly reminder:
ΔBefore arriving in Hong Kong, make a list to understand what you want to buy, and understand the prices in the mainland as a reference for shopping in Hong Kong.
ΔTry to choose shopping malls and restaurants with the "Excellent" mark posted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. These merchants have high-quality service guarantees, clearly marked products, and can also give consumers certain discounts. Don't shop at stores that don't clearly indicate the price of the product.
After buying something, keep the receipt and credit card deposit slip, and carefully check whether the goods put into the shopping bag are the goods you purchased to avoid the merchant's subcontracting.
ΔAll member travel agencies under the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council have a 100% refund commitment. If you are dissatisfied with the purchase during a shopping event arranged by a tour group, you can first deal with it through the tour guide, or complain to the council within 14 days of purchase, and return the goods completely unused and fully packaged, and you can apply for a full refund. . Remember to keep the original documents.
ΔMost stores in Hong Kong do not accept complaints or returns after leaving the counter, so ask clearly about the details of returns and exchanges before paying to avoid unnecessary trouble.
ΔIf you have a dispute with a merchant while shopping, do not argue in the store. Take the shopping receipt and complain to the Consumer Council. If the situation is serious, you can directly dial the 24-hour emergency hotline 999.
ΔConsumer markets, shoe stores, restaurants, etc. are places where there are more thieves, so you must be vigilant and it is best not to act alone.