Travel Facts

See No Wars Here, and Other Stories

You have a just year in order to experience the breathtaking descent into Hong Kong because the new airport in Lantau will open in June 1998.

If you have a British Passport you will still be able to travel to Hong Kong without having to get a visa. This is not expected to change for the foreseeable future.

See Immigration Regulations, compliments Hong Kong's Islands Orbital

Cost...

The most expensive part about Hong Kong is getting there. Flights in the UK start from around £500 for flights that stop over. i.e. Air Italia
Or £700 for direct flights. Best bets are still Virgin or Cathy Pacific. British Airways seemed very expensive. Consider booking a package that does not include meals.
Once in Hong Kong you can eat like a lord for £3.00 a head. On NO account should you go on any guided tour. My hotel offered a tour of the Islands for £30 +. You can get there yourself for about £3.00 return. Similarly the MTR underground is cheap, clean and very reliable. The same is true of the light railways that run overground into the New Territories. The tram system is a delight to use. On these you may travel across the city for 16 pence. Be sure to have change for the buses and trams. They take exact fare only.

Don't be scared to go out into Hong Kong by yourself. Everywhere is safe and you won't get pestered by aggressive hawkers trying to sell you postcards and trinkets etc. Anyone who has travelled to the Mediterranean, Turkey etc will appreciate this relief. That said, some Hong Kong Chinese could sell you their grandmother if the price is right and they are knowledgeable and skilled salespeople. They won't rip you off, however, and will take great delight in negotiating a deal. If you intend to buy electrical goods, do your homework before you go. Some things are cheaper in the UK. Chinese electrical goods are not always a great buy. They can lack quality control.

Finally, the ubiquitous McDonalds is everywhere and very cheap. I don't recommend it exactly but it is a useful pit stop until you suss the local cuisine.

Return to 1997 SUMMER Index