The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) offers a wealth of free information for travelers.
HKTB Online: You can have a virtual visit to Hong Kong at HKTB's home page, www.discoverhongkong.com. The site provides a comprehensive overview of Hong Kong -- maps of the region, major attractions, a detailed weekly calendar of performing arts and festivals, listings for hotels and restaurants, suggested itineraries, and guided tours. It also provides links to e-ticketing services so you can book shows, events, and concerts online before your arrival.
HKTB Overseas: Although the information stocked by HKTB offices abroad is sometimes not as up-to-date or as thorough as that available in Hong Kong itself or through the Internet , it's worth contacting a local HKTB office before leaving home for general information and a map.
In the United States: General information can be obtained by calling tel. 800/282-4582. HKTB offices are located at 115 E. 54th St., 2nd floor, New York, NY 10022-4512 (tel. 212/421-3382; fax 212/421-8428; nycwwo@hktb.com); and 5670 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1230, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (tel. 323/938-4582; fax 323/938-4583; laxwwo@hktb.com).
In Canada: 9 Temperance St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5H 1Y6 (tel. 416/366-2389; fax 416/366-1098; yyzwwo@hktb.com).
In the United Kingdom: Mutual House, 6th House, 70 Conduit St., London W1S 2GF, England (tel. 207/432-7700; fax 207/432-7701; lonwwo@hktb.com).
In Australia: Hong Kong House, Level 4, 80 Druitt St., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia (tel. 02/9283-3083; fax 02/9283-3383; sydwwo@hktb.com).
HKTB in Hong Kong: Three HKTB counters are located in the arrival halls of the Hong Kong International Airport, all open daily from 8am to 9pm. In town, two HKTB Visitor Centres are on both sides of the harbor. On the Kowloon side, a convenient office in Tsim Sha Tsui is right in the Star Ferry concourse, open daily from 8am to 8pm. On Hong Kong Island, you'll find a convenient office if you're going to Victoria Peak (and who isn't?), occupying a vintage tram car on the plaza outside the Peak Tower, that's open daily 9am to 9pm.
If you have a question about Hong Kong, you can also call the HKTB Visitor Hotline (tel. 852/2508 1234) daily from 9am to 6pm. After hours, a telephone-answering device will take your call and a member of HKTB will contact you the next day at your hotel.
In addition to HKTB's free map, HKTB publishes a wealth of free, excellent literature about Hong Kong. Visitor's Kit is a booklet that gives a brief rundown of Hong Kong's major tourist attractions and information on shopping and dining, while Hong Kong Kaleidoscope outlines HKTB's current free classes and seminars in its excellent "Meet the People" program. Discover Hong Kong by Rail is useful for trips to the New Territories, while Hong Kong Walks is designed for those who like to explore on foot. For families, the Hong Kong Family Fun Guide highlights children's sights and activities. In addition, invaluable leaflets are available showing the major bus routes throughout Hong Kong, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, and for current ferry schedules to the outlying islands.
If you're traveling with a Wi-Fi-enabled phone or laptop and want to know more about a landmark you're passing or a good spot for lunch, you can surf HKTB's website for free at more than 7,000 PCCW Wi-Fi hot spots around town, including most MTR platforms, Starbucks and Pacific Coffee outlets, 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores, and PCCW phone booths (browsing does not include hyperlinks to third-party websites). Through the service you can also download free tourist apps, such as the Hong Kong Mobile Travel Guide, with information on sightseeing, dining, and shopping.
To find out what's going on during your stay in Hong Kong, pick up HKTB's free weekly leaflet What's On -- Hong Kong, which tells what's happening in theater, music, and the arts, including concerts and special exhibitions in museums (you can also access HKTB's event calendar at www.discoverhongkong.com). Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department (www.lcsd.gov.hk) also puts out its own monthly Event Calendar. The South China Morning Post, a local newspaper, carries an events and exhibition section in its Sunday edition. HK Magazine, aimed at a young expat readership and distributed free at restaurants, bars, and other outlets around town, is a weekly that lists what's going on at the city's theaters and other venues, including plays, concerts, exhibitions, the cinema, and events in Hong Kong's alternative scene. Where Hong Kong, CityLife, and bc are other free magazines published monthly with information on Hong Kong. Where Hong Kong and CityLife are distributed to guest rooms in major hotels and are also available at HKTB offices; bc is distributed to bookstores and restaurants.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
