Thorn Tree travel forum

Hong Kong and Macau FAQs

Hong Kong
Visa Information for Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, UK citizens still get different treatment--180 days on arrival.
Most foreigners can enter Hong Kong visa-free for 14 to 90 days, depending on their nationality. Details at this website: Hong Kong Immigration Department Although Hong Kong immigration rules do require visitors to hold onward or return tickets (unless transiting to the Mainland or Macau), HK immigration does not normally ask to see the actual ticket out of the country. However, check-in staff may question anyone travelling to HK on a one-way ticket, since airlines are responsible for returning passengers who arrive without proper documentation.
Visa Information for China (Traveling from Hong Kong)
There's a border between Hong Kong and Mainland China and each side administers separate immigration controls; Hong Kong is part of China but crossing the border is like traveling from one country to another for immigration purposes. Thus, if you arrive in Hong Kong and want to visit the Mainland, you'll need a Chinese visa when you cross to the Mainland, though you can return to Hong Kong visa-free. And if you start on the Mainland, visit Hong Kong, then return to the Mainland, you'll need a new (or double/multiple entry) Chinese visa to re-enter the Mainland.
Most nationalities (not US passport holders) can get a 5 day visa for Shenzhen at the border crossing. This visa is only valid for Shenzhen.
Chinese Visa Applications in Hong Kong.
In person from:
Visa Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (7th Floor, Low Block, China Resources Building in Wanchai, Hong Kong Island)
Agencies include:
CTSHK with many branches around town.
Forever Bright Trading in Tsim Sha Tsui East.

General Information
Discover Hong Kong This is the Hong Kong Tourism Board website with very comprehensive coverage.
Chaskemp's Hong Kong pages is a good starting point for budget travellers to the city.
Transportation
(1) From Airport
Airport Buses go to most destinations in Hong Kong. They are air conditioned, comfortable double decker buses, with room for luggage. Buses useful for travellers include A21 (HK$33) to Hung Hom (for Kowloon), A11 (HK$40) for North Point (for Central and Causeway Bay) and A43 (HK$28) to Fanling (for Sheung Shui if travelling to Lo Wu). Journey time to Tsim Sha Tsui on the A21 is around one hour.
Airport Express is the fast train from HKIA to Kowloon and Hong Kong island taking around 24 minutes. Single fares are HK$100 to Hong Kong station, but discounts are often available if two or more people travel together. Free Shuttle buses operate from Kowloon and HK station to major hotels.
Taxis are another option. A taxi to Tsim Sha Tsui is around HK$300.
+(2) Octopus Cards
Visitors to Hong Kong will find an octopus card very useful. The first time you get one it costs HK$150 (including HK$50 deposit). There is a handling fee of HK$7 if you return it within 3 months of issue. Octopus cards can be used on nearly all forms of transport in Hong Kong, as well as supermarkets and convenience stores. Tourist cards are available, but are not a good deal unless you use the airport express and the MTR extensively.
(3) Other Transport +
Hong Kong has one of the best public transport systems in the world. Of interest to visitors are the Star ferry, which operates between Hong Kong island and Kowloon, The Peak tram, which provides an exciting route up to the Peak, the normal trams on Hong Kong island, and the ferries to the outlying islands such as Lamma, Cheung Chau and Lantau. Comprehensive details all Hong Kong transport can be found at the HK Government Transport Department

List of Consulates in Hong Kong
As at 1.10.2007, there are 57 Consulates-General, 57 Consulates and 5 Officially Recognised Bodies in Hong Kong: See Protocol Office in Hong Kong
Details of Consulates of Interest to Travellers
Indian Consulate
26 Floor, Unit A, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Tel 25272186
Visa Applications accepted 0930-12 noon
Pick up passport 1700-1730
Cost for 6 month tourist visa is HK$315, US passport holders pay HK$475. Non HK residents may also have to pay HK$100 towards telex/fax charges.
Make sure you have photocopies of your passport and HKID card. If you have no HKID card it will take 5 days to process.
The consulate can get busy with a 45-60 minute wait not unusual.
Vietnamese Consulate
15/F Great Smart Tower, 230 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 25914517 Fax: (852) 25914524
From thorntree report: It takes 2 days for 1 month visa and costs HK$300. Express service takes only 15 minutes, but the visa only last for 14 days and it costs an extra HK$500.
Thai Consulate
8th Floor, Fairmont House, 8 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2521-6481-5 Fax: 2521-8629
US Consulate
8 Garden Road
Admiralty
Tel: 2523-9011
British Consulate
3 Supreme Court Road
Admiralty
Tel: 2901 3000
Airlines in Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific is the main airline serving Hong Kong international airport. It has direct connections to Europe, North America, Australia as well as much of Asia. Dragon Air is a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific and has flights to Mainland China and other Asian destinations. If you wish to fly to Mainland China from Hong Kong, it is usually cheaper to fly from Shenzhen Airport. Oasis is a long haul budget airline operating out of Hong Kong, with flights to London Gatwick and Vancouver. Air Asia currently flies from Macau and Shenzhen, but has plans to start flights from Hong Kong in 2008.
Zuji is an online travel agency.
+ Getting to Macau+
Fast ferries operate between Hong Kong and Macau. Turbojet run 24 hours a day from Sheung Wan on Hong Kong island. First Ferry sails from kowloon from early morning to late evening. Prices for both companies start from around HK$142 one way. Prices go up in the evening and at weekends. If you are returning to Hong Kong, travel agents at the Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan sell packages including a night in a hotel and two return ferry tickets from around HK$900.
+ Getting to Shenzhen+
There are many ways to get to Shenzhen from Hong Kong. Your choice depends on factors such as where you are in Hong Kong, where you are heading in Shenzhen, the time of day, and how much luggage you have.
(1) KCR Train from TST East to Lo Wu. Travel time around 44 minutes. Operating hours from 0528 to 2305 (border at Lo Wu open from 0630 to 2400). there is also a spur line to Lok Ma Chau (border opening time 0630 - 2230). Cost HK$33 (Hung Hom to Lo Wu). This border can get busy at peak times and holidays. You can connect to the Shenzhen subway at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, and Shenzhen bus and railway stations are near Lo Wu.
(2) Ferry from Hong Kong or Kowloon to Shenzhen and other ports. Operators include Turbojet and Chu Kong Passenger Transportation. This is a more expensive but easier way of crossing.
(3) Cross border Coaches leave from several places in Hong Kong including Prince Edward and Wanchai ferry pier to a range of destinations in Guangdong. On any cross border bus service, you need to get off at the border for immigration formalities.
+ Direct ferries from HKIA

The skypier at the HKIA offers direct ferry connections to Macau, Zhuhai, Shenzhen and other cities in the Pearl river Delta without having to pass through Hong Kong immigration.
Travelling by Train to China+
There are direct trains from Hung Hom station to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing and other cities with the KCRC. The Guangzhou route is bookable online (cost HK$190 one way), although the Beijing or Shanghai ones are not. Immigration formalities for both Hong Kong and China are done at Hung Hom station. For more details of Chinese trains see Seat61
+ Booking Travel Tickets for China in Hong Kong +
You can get Chinese rail tickets in Hong Kong from CTSHK, although they charge around HK$100 commission per ticket.
You can use services such as Elong in Hong Kong (or anywhere else in the world), but as yet they do not deliver to Hong Kong addresses. This mean you have to pay by credit card to buy the flight tickets.