Practicalities in Hong Kong
Doing Business
Doing Business in Hong Kong (Asialink Business)
Hong Kong Country Starter Pack (Asialink Business)
Passport and Visas
Australian nationals whose passports have at least six months validity can enter Hong Kong for a period of up to three months without a visa. Those who wish to stay longer must apply for a visa from a Chinese Consulate at least six to eight weeks prior to departure.
Please ensure you check with the Chines Embassy for any changes to visa requirements before departure: Chinese Embassy, Australia
Banking
![Edwin Leong [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0010/2084599/HK.jpg "Edwin Leong [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Exchanging Money
You can exchange your currency for Hong Kong dollars at any authorised money exchanger. For extra peace of mind, look for a money exchanger that is accredited by the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme. At Hong Kong International Airport, currency exchange counters are open from early morning until late at night and many located within the city stay open into the evening. ATMs are widespread and operate 24 hours. Exchange rates fluctuate daily depending on currency markets.
Traveller's cheques and credit cards
Traveller's cheques are accepted by most leading banks and hotels. International credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Diners Club and MasterCard are also welcome at many hotels, retail shops and restaurants. Such premises usually display stickers showing the credit cards they accept at their entrances.
ATMs
ATMs can be found almost everywhere. Many take international cards and some HSBC 'Electronic Money' machines provide 24-hour cash withdrawal (HK$) facilities for Visa and MasterCard holders.
Language
Hong Kong can mostly thank its colonial history and international harbour for the rich blend of cultures that give it its unique character. While the majority of the city’s population are Chinese speakers, simply walking the streets will expose you to a medley of Asian and European languages.
Chinese
Cantonese, a minority dialect of Mainland China, is spoken by 88 per cent of people in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, other Chinese dialects, such as Hakka, Taishanese and Teochiu are also present, as is Mandarin – China’s official dialect, which has become more widely spoken in Hong Kong since reunification in 1997.
English
Today, English is the language of preference in government, business and tourism sectors. All official signs and public transport announcements, as well as most menus, are bilingual. As a visitor, you can expect to encounter minimal problems communicating in English as most taxi drivers, salespeople, tourism industry employees and police have reached competent levels of the language.
Some other Suggestions:
Getting Around
There are plenty of ways to get around Hong Kong, whether it’s by taxi, ferry, rail, bus or tram. The city claims one of the world's safest, most efficient and frequent public transport systems and a convenient payment method in the form of the Octopus Card.